Henderson 8-4; Henderson had a solid team last year that except for the 28-27ot loss to Rustin the second week of the season, were looking at a 7-0 start! Still, 6-1 is good stuff and so is a 8-4 record given the slate of teams played where nine of twelve ended the year as winners. Eight made the playoffs. Following Rustin, they put a 35-0 hurtin on Solanco (South Lancaster County), a AAA in Quarryville, PA, equidistant (10 miles) between Lancaster and the Maryland line. Known as the Golden Mules, they were an ornery bunch, having their first winning season in eight years with close call losses to Triple-A’s Lampeter Strasburg (8-3) and Lancaster Catholic (4-6) before upsetting Cocalico (10-4), 14-7. Next for Henderson came two impressive road wins, beating Downingtown West 28-20 at Kottmeyer and Unionville 30-12 before returning home for wins against Bishop Shanahan 21-7 and West Chester East, 35-14. They were 7-1 heading to Coatesville with their option offense (Mid Line and Veer) where they were defeated 21-3. They had no answer for Coatesville’s speed (shut down the veer) or their 4-4 D (looks 6-2 with OLBs down) being held to a season low 144 yards rushing. Had some success with the Mid Line going up the middle (QB, FB) but little outside (QB, FB, Wingback) on the pitch. They ended the regular season beating Avon Grove 41-14 then getting handled by Downingtown East 28-7. The postseason saw them shock Suburban One power North Penn 40-13. The SOL doesn’t see much option but 40-13!? Second round action dealt them a bad hand, getting Coatesville for the second time in four weeks with results that were almost predictable as the Red Raiders prevailed 56-28. All in all the Warriors were a scrappy bunch, scoring 28ppg, a three year high and allowing 19 in the high octane Ches Mont. They accomplished that with some nice parts, beginning with then senior Fullback Tre Green (5-11, 185) who rushed for 1619 yards on 227 carries. Noah Richards (6-2, 195) who rushed for 537 yards on 76 attempts also graduated. Quarterback Matt DiNacci (6-1, 200, sr) whose leadership will be needed this year returns for his third year as a starter. He passed sparingly in the option, completing 26 of 58 for 341 yards (45%), with an eye popping 1 to 9 Td to Pick ratio. Everyone who caught a pass graduated, except one, Tight-end Jason DePhillips (6-2, 220, sr). He and Sam Vogel (6-2, 235, sr) are the return lineman for the coming season with the other starters graduated; Bryan White (6-2, 280), James McDonald (6-4, 280), Connor Logan (6-3, 220) and Jeff Hudson (6-4, 295). Definitely gonna miss those hogs who paved the way for 3362 total rushing yards at 6.5 yards per carry. They also took some big hits to the D losing DLs Bryan White (6-2, 280, 100 tackles), Jack Dingfelder (6-2, 200, 77 tackles) and Bryem Wesley-Norman (5-10, 210, 34 tackles). Linebackers Cole Bement (6-0, 190) with 124 stops and Kyle Klause (6-0, 190) with 88 stops were their #1 and #3 tackles. Both graduated. The secondary was wiped out, losing Nick Rizzo, Tre Green and Brian Armstrong who combined had 145 tackles. Bottom line, Henderson graduated a pretty good team. But knowing they’ve had one losing season in the last fourteen years (2006, 5-6), suggests they’ll find a way.
West Chester East 5-6; Like a number of teams, East had a few games if won, could have really turned things around. They were neck and neck with Bishop Shanahan the fourth week of the season, down 24-21 when Shanahan scored in the final quarter to ice it 31-21. The following week saw them almost pull a major upset against Downingtown East. Leading 31-27 with six minutes left in the game, quarterback Jon Jon Roberts threw an interception returned 47 yards for the winning score, allowing the Cougars to escape with the win at home 34-31. Realistically they just didn’t have it against the better teams losing to Rustin 34-13, Shanahan 31-21, DT East 34-31, then Henderson 35-14, DT West 62-7 and Coatesville 34-14. But at least they’re now treading water, going 5-6 last year and 6-5 the year before following a six year run where they won as many games, 11, out of 65 played! Last year was head coach Dave Gueriera’s first season so we’ll see how things go. It helped having a quarterback like Jon Jon Roberts (5-9, 160, 1397py, 61%, 13/9) keeping defenses off balance with his ability to flat out fly, motoring for 554 yards on 74 carries. That’s 7.5ypc and that ain’t bad! And, he’s the second all-time leader in passing yards in the Ches Mont at 5391 yards behind Pat Devlin (2002-2005) with 8162 yards. Now, if they can just put a little more around him particularly on the defensive side (allowed 26ppg), you’ll see something. Last year’s offense purred along at 27ppg, behind a big O-Line featuring people like Tavis Peterson (6-0, 260, sr), Kevin Murphy (6-3, 275, graduated, UConn), Nate Yarnall (6-0, 255, sr), Tom Gormley (6-0, 270, sr) et al. As things stand now, they’re a scaled down version of Council Rock North with the ability to get after you offensively while getting clobbered defensively. This makes for one exciting football game that often leaves both on the short end of the stick against “quality”. Entering this season they lost their leading rusher and receivers but return a pile of running backs, plus the linemen mentioned and their quarterback. Losing a tackle like Kevin Murphy is a loss to any team. The schedule is challenging, swapping Penn Wood for Academy Park (also of the Del-Val) in the opener at home followed by a copy of last year’s schedule for the first four games; (H) Kennett in game #2 with roadies at Rustin (10-2) and Shanahan (8-4). Rustin and Shanahan look diminished but still tough, tough road games. Same with Academy Park (8-3), a little dip in the charts early looking for a quarterback but returning a loaded backfield. Kennett (1-9) has a three year starting senior quarterback in Nick Dunlevy who passes well enough and runs like a deer to lead a wildly young team from last year to better things this year. The schedule is back loaded, catching Coatesville, Downing West/East and Henderson in games 6, 7, 9 and 10 respectively.
Bishop Shanahan 8-4; Good things happened at Bishop Shanahan last year as they recorded their third winning season ever, getting to the postseason for only the second time in school history, advancing to the second round where they lost to Great Valley (12-2) 20-0 after thumping Upper Moreland (8-4) in the first, 37-7. The other playoff visit was during quarterback Ryan Egolf’s years (2008-2011, Towson, Dequesne) in 2010 with a 7-4 campaign that ended against Springfield (8-4), 56-49. Egolf passed for over 2100 yards that year, ending his career as the 4th ranked passer in the Ches Mont with 5022 yards. That was a nice team that actually upset Rustin (11-2) 40-37 in the second week but it wasn’t as balanced and had nowhere near the defensive prowess this group had. In fact, in terms of points allowed, this is the best defense they’ve ever had, allowing 15ppg or, 175 total points. Their average ppg was the best in the Ches Mont, the entire Ches Mont, National or American, ahead of Rustin and Coatesville who allowed 17ppg, Great Valley at 18 and Henderson who allowed 19. Last year also marked the fourteenth year the school has been playing football, having restarted the program in 2001 following a 34 year hiatus when football was dropped in 1967. The school opened in West Chester in 1956 and started playing football in 1961. In 1998 the school was moved to Downingtown. The coming year sees them replacing most of their starters particularly at running back where their principal backs have graduated including Kevin Stine, Cody Smith, Nick Pascanis, Ryan Johns and Jerry Ricardo. Key receivers in Jeff Zebroski and Pat Corcoran also graduated. Versatile quarterback Danny Murphy is gone after completing 78 of 130 passes (60%) for 1014 yards and rushing for 324 yards on 80 carries. Those stats are incomplete after reviewed games to find all except those for Penn Wood and Octorara. The schedule is favorable with their first three games at home verses Germantown Academy, Olney and West Chester East. But GA gave them fits last year with a young team and with East having savvy, senior quarterback Jon Jon Roberts looking to reverse last year’s bitter 31-21 loss, the Eagles have their work cut out for them.
West Chester East 5-6; Like a number of teams, East had a few games if won, could have really turned things around. They were neck and neck with Bishop Shanahan the fourth week of the season, down 24-21 when Shanahan scored in the final quarter to ice it 31-21. The following week saw them almost pull a major upset against Downingtown East. Leading 31-27 with six minutes left in the game, quarterback Jon Jon Roberts threw an interception returned 47 yards for the winning score, allowing the Cougars to escape with the win at home 34-31. Realistically they just didn’t have it against the better teams losing to Rustin 34-13, Shanahan 31-21, DT East 34-31, then Henderson 35-14, DT West 62-7 and Coatesville 34-14. But at least they’re now treading water, going 5-6 last year and 6-5 the year before following a six year run where they won as many games, 11, out of 65 played! Last year was head coach Dave Gueriera’s first season so we’ll see how things go. It helped having a quarterback like Jon Jon Roberts (5-9, 160, 1397py, 61%, 13/9) keeping defenses off balance with his ability to flat out fly, motoring for 554 yards on 74 carries. That’s 7.5ypc and that ain’t bad! And, he’s the second all-time leader in passing yards in the Ches Mont at 5391 yards behind Pat Devlin (2002-2005) with 8162 yards. Now, if they can just put a little more around him particularly on the defensive side (allowed 26ppg), you’ll see something. Last year’s offense purred along at 27ppg, behind a big O-Line featuring people like Tavis Peterson (6-0, 260, sr), Kevin Murphy (6-3, 275, graduated, UConn), Nate Yarnall (6-0, 255, sr), Tom Gormley (6-0, 270, sr) et al. As things stand now, they’re a scaled down version of Council Rock North with the ability to get after you offensively while getting clobbered defensively. This makes for one exciting football game that often leaves both on the short end of the stick against “quality”. Entering this season they lost their leading rusher and receivers but return a pile of running backs, plus the linemen mentioned and their quarterback. Losing a tackle like Kevin Murphy is a loss to any team. The schedule is challenging, swapping Penn Wood for Academy Park (also of the Del-Val) in the opener at home followed by a copy of last year’s schedule for the first four games; (H) Kennett in game #2 with roadies at Rustin (10-2) and Shanahan (8-4). Rustin and Shanahan look diminished but still tough, tough road games. Same with Academy Park (8-3), a little dip in the charts early looking for a quarterback but returning a loaded backfield. Kennett (1-9) has a three year starting senior quarterback in Nick Dunlevy who passes well enough and runs like a deer to lead a wildly young team from last year to better things this year. The schedule is back loaded, catching Coatesville, Downing West/East and Henderson in games 6, 7, 9 and 10 respectively.
Bishop Shanahan 8-4; Good things happened at Bishop Shanahan last year as they recorded their third winning season ever, getting to the postseason for only the second time in school history, advancing to the second round where they lost to Great Valley (12-2) 20-0 after thumping Upper Moreland (8-4) in the first, 37-7. The other playoff visit was during quarterback Ryan Egolf’s years (2008-2011, Towson, Dequesne) in 2010 with a 7-4 campaign that ended against Springfield (8-4), 56-49. Egolf passed for over 2100 yards that year, ending his career as the 4th ranked passer in the Ches Mont with 5022 yards. That was a nice team that actually upset Rustin (11-2) 40-37 in the second week but it wasn’t as balanced and had nowhere near the defensive prowess this group had. In fact, in terms of points allowed, this is the best defense they’ve ever had, allowing 15ppg or, 175 total points. Their average ppg was the best in the Ches Mont, the entire Ches Mont, National or American, ahead of Rustin and Coatesville who allowed 17ppg, Great Valley at 18 and Henderson who allowed 19. Last year also marked the fourteenth year the school has been playing football, having restarted the program in 2001 following a 34 year hiatus when football was dropped in 1967. The school opened in West Chester in 1956 and started playing football in 1961. In 1998 the school was moved to Downingtown. The coming year sees them replacing most of their starters particularly at running back where their principal backs have graduated including Kevin Stine, Cody Smith, Nick Pascanis, Ryan Johns and Jerry Ricardo. Key receivers in Jeff Zebroski and Pat Corcoran also graduated. Versatile quarterback Danny Murphy is gone after completing 78 of 130 passes (60%) for 1014 yards and rushing for 324 yards on 80 carries. Those stats are incomplete after reviewed games to find all except those for Penn Wood and Octorara. The schedule is favorable with their first three games at home verses Germantown Academy, Olney and West Chester East. But GA gave them fits last year with a young team and with East having savvy, senior quarterback Jon Jon Roberts looking to reverse last year’s bitter 31-21 loss, the Eagles have their work cut out for them.