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Downingtown East earn Ches-Mont Championship over Rival Downingtown West

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| October 27, 2023

Downingtown East Vs Downingtown West is arguably one of the most thrilling matchups in Pennsylvania, some might even say in the country.  The matchup tonight is to determine who will claim the 2023 Ches-Mont Championship title.  

This is the 21st meeting between the two teams and The Cougars extended their lead in the series 13-8 in tonight’s 35-7 win over Downingtown West in the “Battle of Brandywine”.

The Whippets offense was on the field to begin the game and mustered a solid drive until Downingtown East forced a fumble and recovered on the East 41-yard line.

East capitalized with a ten-play drive to put up the first score of the game by Ayden Harris, which wouldn’t be his last.  Harris finished the game with three touchdowns and 176 yards on the ground.

Cougars’ defensive leader, Mike Leo recorded and interception in the first quarter, which set up a JJ Helverson touchdown pass to Tanav Appapogu to extend the lead 14-0.  Harris’ counter-part Owen Lammy scored on a 42-yard run to go up 21-0. 

The Cougars were up 28-0 going into the half, and The Whippets were a better second half team throughout the season and they showed a glimpse of that coming out the half. They forced Downingtown East to a three and out, and Whippet’s quarterback Quinn Hennicle threw a perfect ball into the back of the endzone to Dean Hangey for a 36-yard Touchdown.

Whippets head coach Mike Milano said, ” My message to my kids at halftime was short term goals.  We needed a stop and score, and we weren’t good enough to make up a 28-point deficit and that [Downingtown East] is as good as it gets in District 1″.

With a 9-0 perfect record, this marks the first time the Cougars have been undefeated and won the Ches-Mont Title since 2015.  The stout Cougars defense was to thank for that, they held Downingtown West to 12o yards of total offense, even though they gave up their first points scored since week three against Delaware Valley.

Senior OLB Dimitiri Soublis had a crucial sack within the final minutes of the 1st half and led the Cougars feeling confident towards the end of the game.

“We’ve been working for this ever since December and every year after the season, the seniors sit in the room and set goals, and this was one of them.  It feels amazing to accomplish it, but we are far from done,” said Soublis.

Cougars head coach Mike Matta has held his team to a standard every week and this week was finish. 

“Every year we have that meeting, and they say that this is one of their goals and this group put in the work.  When the season starts, you are playing and all of a sudden here comes the last game of the year and we want to finish strong, with our head up high and finish proud, and think we did that,” said Matta.

The Cougars finish their perfect season 9-0, clinch two home games as the #2 seed in the district 1 6A playoffs.  The Whippets finish with a strong 8-2 winning season with a possibility of hosting one home game as the #6 seed currently.

 

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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