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Downingtown West Triumphs Over North Penn in District One Title Game

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

| November 23, 2024

Featured photo courtesy of Markayzee Sports Photography

Downingtown— In the ’70s, legendary head coach Bear Bryant coined, “Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships.” The adage was proven last night when the Whippets defense shifted the tides in their favor late in the game, ultimately securing their second district championship in the past six years. The second-seeded Whippets handled business over the visiting Knights 35-16. After the conclusion of last season, legendary head coach Mike Milano stepped down, and Tom Kline, who has been on the Whippets staff for the past ten seasons, took over with high expectations.  While the head coach feels great about his accomplishments in year one, he couldn’t be prouder of his team and wanted this win for them most of all. Last season, the Whippets lost to Central Bucks South 27-7 in the title game, and everyone on the team had one thing in mind: make it back and win it!   Win it, they did.
The Whippets opened up the scoring midway through the first quarter when junior quarterback Cole Bricker found a wide-open Darian Smith in the back of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown. After the PAT, the Whippets led 7-0 with 6:38 remaining in the quarter.

North Penn’s offense couldn’t get much going on their first drive and was forced to punt, but their defense would come up big moments later when Christian Johns-Wallace sacked Bricker, forcing a fumble and setting up the Knights at the Whippet 14-yard line.  Junior Matt Pownall tied the game up with 52 seconds left in the quarter when he crossed the goal line from four yards out. The quarter ended all knotted up.

The second quarter saw North Penn force another Downingtown punt after sacking Bricker on third down to stop the drive. The Knights moved the ball but couldn’t put it into the endzone and had to settle for a Ryan Bocklet 35-yard field goal with 3:44 remaining in the half. The Knights took the 10-7 lead. Not to be outdone, the Whippet offensive attack moved the ball downfield, and senior Tommy Miller walked in from nine yards out.

The PAT would make it 14-10 with under a minute to play in the half. The Whippets closed out the half with another sack of Bucksar.

The Whippets received the second-half kickoff and wasted no time getting down to business. Five plays after the drive started, and with 7:42 left in the quarter, Bricker found Smith again. This time, it was an eight-yard touchdown to extend the lead. North Penn’s next possession was a success. Matt Pownall leaped over the pile for a one-yard touchdown to close the gap. The Knights went for two but were unsuccessful on the conversion, so the score stayed at 21-16 with 1:15 left in the third quarter. Neither squad would muster anything for the remainder of the quarter.

We headed to the fourth with a tight game. North Penn tried to move the ball, but Downingtown’s Tommy Miller intercepted Bucksar to end the Knight’s momentum. The Knight’s defense, however, kept them in the game and forced another three and out. Forcing a Whippet punt that would be downed at the Knight’s nine-yard line.  Bucksar stepped back to pass, but senior linebacker Andrew Brown hit him at the five-yard line, jarring the ball loose. Brown pounced on the ball in the endzone and secured the touchdown. With 6:55 left in the game, the Whippets extended the lead to 28-16 after the converted PAT.

North Penn tried to move the ball and score but failed and turned the ball over. Downingtown capitalized on the field position, and senior Spencer Dunn raced around the end for a 21-yard score with 4:09 left in regulation. The defense would hold out and shut down the Knights’ offense and closed out the victory 35-16. Downingtown now heads to the State Semifinals to face off against perennial powerhouse and reigning State Champion, St. Joe’s Prep next week for a chance to play in the State Championship at Cumberland Valley.

 

*Don’t forget to check out all of the game action caught by Markayzee Sports Photography here  

 

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