Stream Pennsylvania High School Football on the NFHS Network
 
 

West Chester East erupts in battle of the Vikings

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

| September 6, 2025

The West Chester East Vikings have been frequently relying on Swiss Army knife Chase Szollose this season. This happened again on Friday (9/5), when they took down Upper Merion, 34-13. Szollose totaled three touchdowns, with one being on defense. 

Turnovers have been common for the Upper Merion offense so far this season. One fumble and one interception started the game. On the interception, Chase Szollose took it back to the endzone for the pick six. 7-0, West Chester.

Nearing the end of the first, West Chester East had the ball again. Another touchdown was patted onto the scoreboard. This time, QB Logan Cummings took it in from the one-yard line, 14-0.

The Vikings of West Chester East then took up almost the entire second quarter with offensive possession time and scored twice while doing so. The first time around came near the midway point, Chase Szollose scored another, this time a short rush, 21-0.


The next touchdown came closer to the closing of the quarter. A short pass from Cummings fell right into the lap of Aj Fina. The Vikings in red and yellow were playing shutout at this point, and went into the half that way, 27-0. 

West Chester East received the second-half kickoff. It wasn’t long before Upper Merion WR/CB Kylee Hill intercepted Logan Cummings and gave his squad a spot to crawl back. The Vikings took advantage of this opportunity and were able to put some points on the board. QB, Rudolf Wilhelm ran it in himself, 27-7.


It did not take long for a response. West Chester East drove right down the field and added to its lead. Chase Szollose, a name you are probably tired of hearing by this point, got his third and final touchdown of the game, a short yard run from the red zone. The third quarter wrapped up right about then, and West Chester was still in the driver’s seat, 34-7.


Upper Merion scored a late-game touchdown. After a long drive, Rudolf Wilhelm capped it off with a pass to Zion Smith for six, 34-13. That was the final, and the Vikings in red and yellow secured the victory.


West Chester East capitalized on both sides of the ball Friday evening, making plays on both sides of the field. Talking to Upper Merion head coach Marquis Weeks after the game, he mentioned that the team he saw out there was not the one he knew.

“It wasn’t us; we have played better football than that, previously. That is our worst half of football (first half). The positive thing is that we came out strong in the second half and won. They scored once, we scored twice. In the past, our culture was to lie down in the second half as well, which only made things worse and let it snowball. We talked to the guys in the locker room, we gave them the option to do that, that’s not us anymore.”

One thing about the coach is that he knows what it’s like to lose, having played in the NFL and college. He has the experience of a warrior and never loses hope. 

The Upper Merion Vikings look to get their first win of the season next week at home against West Chester Henderson. Another out-of-PAC opponent presents an excellent opportunity to get in the win column at Viking Stadium.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
PA Football News Scoreboard presented by NFHS Network
 
GoRout
 
Showcase by Circle W Sports
 
Football Legends board game
 
 
x