PIAA District 1 Playoff Preview: 6A Round 3

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

Michael Pietrangelo | November 16, 2023

”And then there were four,” I said as the clock reached zero this past Friday night. We’ve made it to the semifinals of the 6A bracket in District One and we have two very intriguing matchups this week. There will be a representative from Central Bucks & Downingtown in the Championship next week. In our first matchup, #1 Central Bucks West (12-0) has a home rematch of their week nine opponent and rival #5 Central Bucks South (11-1) whose only loss came at the hands of the Bucks 40-29. Our second game features #6 Downingtown West (10-2) at #2 Downingtown East (11-0).  These two teams are also rivals and faced off in week nine of the regular season where East won 35-7. Can the Titans get revenge for their earlier loss? Will the Cougars continue their perfect run? Will the loss of Conor McFadden hinder the Bucks? Are the Whippets capable of the upset?

The Matchups

#5 Central Bucks South Titans @ #1 Central Bucks West Bucks

#1 Central Bucks West (12-0,7-0)

About the Bucks: The Bucks got it done in round two with their nail-biting overtime victory 28-27 over #8 seed Garnet Valley who they also beat in week one of the regular season 17-13. In the victory senior quarterback Cooper Taylor was a one-man wrecking crew. He rushed for 190 yards with 4 scores, had a key interception on defense, and blocked a PAT in overtime to help secure his team’s victory. Junior  running back Ryan Clemens rushed for 147 yards and was a perfect 4/4 on PATs.  The Buck’s offensive line, which is comprised of Senior Hayden Mulligan, Junior Finn McGowan, Junior Christian Pudlo, Junior Cole Patterson, and sophomore Gio Pellegrino continues to pave the way for the Bucks’ dominant rushing attack. The Bucks are averaging 30.8 points per game on offense while only yielding an average of 11.6 points per game. The Bucks dispatched the Titans in week nine 40-29 behind a 318-yard rushing effort. The only difference in this matchup is the absence of West’s Conor McFadden to a torn ACL, who rushed 8 times for 111 yards & two scores.

#5 Central Bucks South (11-1,6-1)

About the Titans: The Titans are on a three-game winning streak since their week nine loss to undefeated CB West. In round two the Titans took care of business when they handed number four seed Spring-Ford a 35-19 loss. South rushed for 353 yards & four scores. Senior running back Anthony Leonardi paced the Titan backfield with 141 yards followed by senior Corey Moore who had 123 yards & 3 TDs. Quarterback, junior Owen Pinkerton added 89 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball senior Adam Oscar, junior Jim Wade, and senior Sean Moskowitz led the team in total tackles with six a piece. Wade had three TFLs and Moskowitz had one TFL. Jack Mauz had a fumble recovery and touchdown on the opening kickoff. In week nine, despite all that was thrown at him, junior Owen Pinkerton threw for 104 yards & two touchdowns. He also ran for 218 yards & two more scores. Leonardi rushed for 118 yards and caught a 58-yard pass for a touchdown.

#6 Downingtown West Whippets @ #2 Downingtown East Cougars

#2 Downingtown East (11-0,4-0)

About the Cougars:

The calling card for Michael Matta’s Downingtown Cougars has always been their power running game, this year the lights out Cougar defense has been the talk of District 1. In nine District 1 games the defense has allowed 7 points or .778 points per game. While the defense has rightly garnered the spotlight led by players like Ryan Shannon, Felix Mason, Mike Leo, Owen Lammey and Jack Griffiths, the offense seems to have taken a back seat in the public eye. First year Offensive Coordinator Jeff Whitaker has quietly put up 85 offensive points in the first two rounds of the playoffs. With RB Ayden Harris (1800 yards/33TDs) and QB JJ Helverson (with a ridiculous 77% completion rate) leading the way and grabbing the headlines throughout the season, the veteran O line have been road grading their opponents. The line, coached by legendary coach Rick Daniels, consisting of all Seniors Ryan Moses, Ryan Konchek, Cody Zarelli, Emerson Baker, Luke Fowler and Adham Abouraya, along with FB Mike Brown and TE Jack Noble, have allowed the Cougars to pound the ball and control the clock.

#6 Downingtown West (10-2,3-1)

About the Whippets: 

Mike Milano’s Downingtown West Whippets get a rare chance at redemption facing their rivals the Cougars of Downingtown East. In a week 10 meeting this year the Cougars handled the Whippets 35-7. This will be only the second meeting of the two Downingtown schools in the playoffs, last year the Cougars were able to avenge a week 10 loss to the Whippets, in the second round of the playoffs. In order for West to exact revenge they will rely on the big play capabilities of their outstanding QB Quinn Henicle and their star wide outs Dean Hangey and Jake Kucera. After a sluggish 17-0 victory over CR South, in the first round of the playoffs, the Whippet’s exploded for 391 yards of offense and 34 points in round 2 of the playoffs. West also has an outstanding special teams unit, last week Kucera took a kickoff 95 yards to the house, going the distance untouched. West’s defense will have to stop East’s potent running game, if they want to upset the Cougars.

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