Coatesville 13-1; Coach Matt Ortega has established himself as one of our state’s top coaches while lifting Coatesville in status as one of the best programs in the district and state. Being from his home area I’ll admit to a bias for Coach Ortega who was born in Steelton and graduated from Central Dauphin. To say that area is crazy about football, particularly those two schools is probably an understatement. Us natives are proud seeing one of our own doing well. Enough! Since his inaugural season in 2009, the program has rocketed in the district to become relevant in the state. People ask “how’s Coatesville lookin this year”….at least in the Harrisburg area they do and I suspect in other football savvy districts as well. Following an inaugural 5-5 season, the Red Raiders went 8-3, 9-3, 13-3, 9-2 and 13-1 last year, making the playoffs in Coach’s second year and going 9-5 in post season play since his arrival. Getting to the PIAA AAAA final in your fourth year is no small feat either, despite getting throttled by North Allegheny (16-0) 63-28. One thing you can bank on with a Coach Ortega team is a high octane offense that incorporates the passing game into a strong running attack. But, rest assured that defense will always be the first priority as it is with Coach McNamee at Central Dauphin (Ortega’s alma mater) where playing your best athletes on D is a forgone conclusion. Any points scored by the offense are bonus points. Defense and special teams, an old formul. With no fear throwing the forward pass it’s very exciting football as this area has come to see. Gotta throw some! From 2009 to the present, the Raiders averaged 21, 27, 34, 39, 30 and 35ppg last year. And anytime you get a point differential of 18, you’re going to see a team with a lot of wins. In Coatesville’s best years, 2012, going to the state final and last year going to the district final, their “margin” was 19 in 2012 and 18 last year. With few exceptions, that applies to any team. His last two years at York High (2007-2008, formally called William Penn), before coming to Coatesville saw the Bearcats go 10-2 consecutively, with an offense averaging 29 and 44 points per game. Here they played in the York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA), mercifully called the York Adams with teams like Dallastown, Red Lion, Central York and South Western. Keep your eye on South Western’s Mustangs who will be lighting things up this year at “The Corral”.
Coming into this season, Coatesville’s losses while significant don’t appear fatal. The receiver corps is a wipe out with the graduation of five players who caught 197 total passes for 2587 yards, along with their best back in Jadan Hudson (5-11, 175), who had 208 carries for 1120 yards and 266 yards in receptions on 26 catches. The big news is the return of one of the most exciting players in this part of the state in quarterback Jordan Young (Temple). He and Council Rock North’s Brandon McIlwain (South Carolina) will give us some great highlights to watch this year! At 6-3, 215 pounds he is essentially a fullback with stats in support rushing for 669 yards on 147 attempts. Compounding things for defensive coordinators is his completion percentage of 64% (208/324) for 2720 yards. As a senior, his 20 to 8 Td to Pick ration should improve. Defensively, they lost a few losing DE Amir Ealey (6-4, 230, 46 stops, Syracuse), MLB Stephen Pawling (62-210, #1 at 94 tackles, Ship) and hard hitting safeties Jay Stocker (6-2, 195, 46 tops, Pitt) and Ricky Southcott (6-0, 185, 61 tackles). Had some nice corners too; Steve Pugh (5-10, 160, 27 tackles) and Ahkema Evans (5-10, 170, 31 stops, RI). DE Steve Lentz (6-3, 200, 44 tackles) is also gone. With an offense that gave it very little rest, a 17ppg averaging defense was pretty good stuff, especially in their conference. It should be pretty good stuff again with the return of senior DLs Javon Sampson (6-0, 255, 18 tackles), Nate Luvice (5-11, 285, 10 tackles), and tough NG Isaiah Hall (5-8, 200. jr, 16 stops). Linebacker Chris Jordan (6-0, 210, sr, 40 tackles) and DE Jelil Norman (6-2, 235, sr, 16 stops) return along with Kevin Kirk (5-11, 170, sr, 15 tackles). So, there is something to build on! And with the continued maturity of Jordan Young, opposing defenses better keep it honest. They’ll be favored to win the conference along with Downingtown East and be a force in the postseason.
Downingtown East 9-4; The Cougars bounced back in a big way last year, falling a game short of a double digit win season after finishing 4-6 the year before. Not bad against a schedule full of winners, nine to be exact out of thirteen teams played. West Chester East went 6-6. One of those losing teams was Roman Catholic (5-7) who lost to Downingtown 40-38 in ot and Coatesville by three, 24-21. Downingtown East’s losses came to Bishop Shanahan (8-4), 17-10, Coatesville (13-1), 15-9 then aagain 31-12 in the postseason and Haverford School (9-1) 54-26. You can make a strong case that those three losses came to teams enjoying their finest seasons, particularly Bishop Shanahan (8-4) with their most wins, best team (3rd winning season since the 2001 restart, 6-5, 7-4) and defense ever at 15ppg. Haverford School at 9-1 had their most wins, best offense and defense at 38ppg and 13ppg in over 25 years and they bring back a lot for 2015. Coatesville’s 2012 team which advanced to the state final edges last year’s district runner-up.
Coming into this season, the greatest loss for the Cougars is at quarterback where Andrew Hudson graduated along with their excellent wide-out Dan Chisena. Hudson threw for 1403 yards, completing 55% of his passes as Dan Chisena caught 25 passes for 434 yards. His extraordinary speed will be missed. Two months ago in Shippensburg (5/24/15) at the PIAA-AAA Track and Field Championship he won gold medals in the 100 meters, the 200 and also the 4 x 100 relay. But TE Cary Angeline (6-7, 235, sr, So Cal) returns after snagging 37 passes for 539 yards to lead the Cougars in receptions. As one of the top tight ends in the country, everyone was recruiting him. Jack Kincade (5-8, 175, sr) and Nick Alvado (5-9, 155, sr) return to the backfield. Whoever gets the nod under center, probably Saunders Healy (6-4, 180, sr) or Tom Walsh (5-10, 150, jr) and Bryce Lauletta (6-0, 175, so), will operate behind four veteran senior lineman; Michael Clark (6-7, 280, MD commit), Mike Rachlin (6-3, 260), Jay Ingram (6-2, 235) and tight end Cary Angeline (6-7, 235). Incidentally, Bryce Lauletta is the youngest brother of Trey (6-1, 200, three time All Conf) who played at Bucknell and Kyle (6-3, 210), a R/S Soph at Richmond, both at QB. Kyle threw for 5243 yards and 64 Td in two years. Bryce led the Marsh Creek Eagles (14-2) all the way to Disney in 2011 where they lost in the Junior Pee Wee Division II National Championship, The Pop Warner Super Bowl, to Port St. Lucie, FL (17-0), 12-8. Good seeing another Lauletta coming up through the ranks.
Defensively, they lost a few linebackers (Tyler Buban and Adam Stata) but return Brody Wilson (6-2, 230, sr). The D lost two good linemen in Thad Stevenson (6-2, 240) and Caleb Fell (6-3, 240) who will play at Colgate. DLs Pat Matte (5-10, 180, sr) and Chris Hartoonian (6-5, 260, sr) are back with CB Justin Cohen but Kevin DiStefano is gone from the Secondary. They don’t look as solid as last year when they returned six of their starting front seven but a good nucleus returns plus a powerful O-Line to control things on that side until the new quarterback settles in. If Downingtown finds a quarterback and they always do, they’ll be a force.
Coming into this season, Coatesville’s losses while significant don’t appear fatal. The receiver corps is a wipe out with the graduation of five players who caught 197 total passes for 2587 yards, along with their best back in Jadan Hudson (5-11, 175), who had 208 carries for 1120 yards and 266 yards in receptions on 26 catches. The big news is the return of one of the most exciting players in this part of the state in quarterback Jordan Young (Temple). He and Council Rock North’s Brandon McIlwain (South Carolina) will give us some great highlights to watch this year! At 6-3, 215 pounds he is essentially a fullback with stats in support rushing for 669 yards on 147 attempts. Compounding things for defensive coordinators is his completion percentage of 64% (208/324) for 2720 yards. As a senior, his 20 to 8 Td to Pick ration should improve. Defensively, they lost a few losing DE Amir Ealey (6-4, 230, 46 stops, Syracuse), MLB Stephen Pawling (62-210, #1 at 94 tackles, Ship) and hard hitting safeties Jay Stocker (6-2, 195, 46 tops, Pitt) and Ricky Southcott (6-0, 185, 61 tackles). Had some nice corners too; Steve Pugh (5-10, 160, 27 tackles) and Ahkema Evans (5-10, 170, 31 stops, RI). DE Steve Lentz (6-3, 200, 44 tackles) is also gone. With an offense that gave it very little rest, a 17ppg averaging defense was pretty good stuff, especially in their conference. It should be pretty good stuff again with the return of senior DLs Javon Sampson (6-0, 255, 18 tackles), Nate Luvice (5-11, 285, 10 tackles), and tough NG Isaiah Hall (5-8, 200. jr, 16 stops). Linebacker Chris Jordan (6-0, 210, sr, 40 tackles) and DE Jelil Norman (6-2, 235, sr, 16 stops) return along with Kevin Kirk (5-11, 170, sr, 15 tackles). So, there is something to build on! And with the continued maturity of Jordan Young, opposing defenses better keep it honest. They’ll be favored to win the conference along with Downingtown East and be a force in the postseason.
Downingtown East 9-4; The Cougars bounced back in a big way last year, falling a game short of a double digit win season after finishing 4-6 the year before. Not bad against a schedule full of winners, nine to be exact out of thirteen teams played. West Chester East went 6-6. One of those losing teams was Roman Catholic (5-7) who lost to Downingtown 40-38 in ot and Coatesville by three, 24-21. Downingtown East’s losses came to Bishop Shanahan (8-4), 17-10, Coatesville (13-1), 15-9 then aagain 31-12 in the postseason and Haverford School (9-1) 54-26. You can make a strong case that those three losses came to teams enjoying their finest seasons, particularly Bishop Shanahan (8-4) with their most wins, best team (3rd winning season since the 2001 restart, 6-5, 7-4) and defense ever at 15ppg. Haverford School at 9-1 had their most wins, best offense and defense at 38ppg and 13ppg in over 25 years and they bring back a lot for 2015. Coatesville’s 2012 team which advanced to the state final edges last year’s district runner-up.
Coming into this season, the greatest loss for the Cougars is at quarterback where Andrew Hudson graduated along with their excellent wide-out Dan Chisena. Hudson threw for 1403 yards, completing 55% of his passes as Dan Chisena caught 25 passes for 434 yards. His extraordinary speed will be missed. Two months ago in Shippensburg (5/24/15) at the PIAA-AAA Track and Field Championship he won gold medals in the 100 meters, the 200 and also the 4 x 100 relay. But TE Cary Angeline (6-7, 235, sr, So Cal) returns after snagging 37 passes for 539 yards to lead the Cougars in receptions. As one of the top tight ends in the country, everyone was recruiting him. Jack Kincade (5-8, 175, sr) and Nick Alvado (5-9, 155, sr) return to the backfield. Whoever gets the nod under center, probably Saunders Healy (6-4, 180, sr) or Tom Walsh (5-10, 150, jr) and Bryce Lauletta (6-0, 175, so), will operate behind four veteran senior lineman; Michael Clark (6-7, 280, MD commit), Mike Rachlin (6-3, 260), Jay Ingram (6-2, 235) and tight end Cary Angeline (6-7, 235). Incidentally, Bryce Lauletta is the youngest brother of Trey (6-1, 200, three time All Conf) who played at Bucknell and Kyle (6-3, 210), a R/S Soph at Richmond, both at QB. Kyle threw for 5243 yards and 64 Td in two years. Bryce led the Marsh Creek Eagles (14-2) all the way to Disney in 2011 where they lost in the Junior Pee Wee Division II National Championship, The Pop Warner Super Bowl, to Port St. Lucie, FL (17-0), 12-8. Good seeing another Lauletta coming up through the ranks.
Defensively, they lost a few linebackers (Tyler Buban and Adam Stata) but return Brody Wilson (6-2, 230, sr). The D lost two good linemen in Thad Stevenson (6-2, 240) and Caleb Fell (6-3, 240) who will play at Colgate. DLs Pat Matte (5-10, 180, sr) and Chris Hartoonian (6-5, 260, sr) are back with CB Justin Cohen but Kevin DiStefano is gone from the Secondary. They don’t look as solid as last year when they returned six of their starting front seven but a good nucleus returns plus a powerful O-Line to control things on that side until the new quarterback settles in. If Downingtown finds a quarterback and they always do, they’ll be a force.
