Henicle-Kucera Connection Carrys Downingtown West Over Perkiomem Valley

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

Willie McGonigle | September 2, 2023

DOWNINGTOWN: Downingtown’s West Quinn Henicle and Jake Kucera share a connection that only best friends can have. On Friday night at Kottmeyer Stadium the best friend combo proved too much for Perkiomen Valley as the host Whippets downed the visiting Vikings 35-14 in a non-league showdown of District 1 6A powers.

“My connection with Jake is special,” Henicle said of the bond the two share. Adding “I’ve played Pee-Wee Football with him he’s my guy, It’s just awesome him and Dean(Hangey) they both are my best friends.”

“We’ve worked on it a lot whenever we aren’t at football, on weekends we’re here throwing with each other just throwing on our own.” Kucera said, adding that “on top of that it helps the connection isn’t only on the field but off the field we’re best friends, have been for a while that definitely helps.”

The duo connected seven times Friday with Kucera hauling in 234 of Henicle’s 298 yards and three touchdowns.

After forcing the Vikings to punt on the game’s opening drive the Henicle-Kucera connection got things started on the Whippets’ second drive of the game striking for the first time with a 70-yard touchdown.

From there both defenses would force punts before Vikings QB Patrick MacDonald would tie the ball game up with his two-yard touchdown run.

In the second quarter, Henicle once again found Kucera for another big touchdown this time from 74 yards out. With just about two minutes left in the first half it appeared the Vikings would force the Whippets to punt but were flagged for a running into the kicker penalty keeping the drive alive and from there, the Whippets marched 52 yards before finding the endzone with Kucera using his legs to push the lead to 21-7 on a five-yard run.

Henicle found his other best friend Hangey (5 receptions-55 yards) for a nine-yard touchdown to extend the Whippets lead to 28-7 after three quarters.

MacDonald and the Vikings cut the Whippets lead to 28-14 with 9:44 left to play with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Tracanna, But Henicle and Kucera put an end to any momentum the Vikings had with the third touchdown of the game this time from 34 yards out to seal the victory for the Whippets.

Next week the Whippets (2-0) will travel to Neshaminy while the Vikings (1-1) will have their home opener against Delaware power Smyrna High

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