Sorry I had to divide these teams up like I did. The board has format-limiting features.
Downingtown West 6-5; Would you believe the defending Ches-Mont National champs fielded their best offense at 38ppg since 2007’s 10-2 team that also averaged 38ppg? You would if you knew they won the title starting seven sophomores and returned 16, repeat, 16 starters from that group entering the 2014 season. Right, they were replacing league MVP Nick Pagel who threw for 1217 yards (63%, 8/3 Td-Pick) and rushed for another 528 yards. But that void was more than adequately filled by Tyler McNulty (6-2, 195, sr), who made them forget concerns there, completing 62% of his passes for 2398 yards while rushing for 400 yards. So, how did the team that came into the season loaded with returning starters and a quarterback that ultimately assuaged worries at the position manage to win only six games, dropping to third at 3-3 in the National? Although they had an offense that could outscore most teams, they could not outscore them all and therein lies the problem. The defense allowed on average 25ppg, making it their worse defense since 2004’s 4-7 team that allowed 26ppg. Defense has been their Achilles Heel four of the last five years scanning year end averages since from 2010 to the present that show yields of 24ppg back-to-back, 16 in 2012, 20 in ‘13 and 25 in 2014. They could score points all night but couldn’t stop the quality teams with losses coming to Henderson 28-20, Great Valley 41-35 in ot, D-town East 34-14, Coatesville 47-33 and in the first round of Districts where a basketball game broke out, losing to Pennsbury 63-55. Their average points scored in these five losses was 31.4. The prolific offense got them off to a good start, winning their first three games then three of the next four to stand at 6-2 before the bottom fell out in a 0-3 finish.
Something else the Whippets haven’t had the last five years is a featured, breakaway back. And it showed up on their won-loss going 4-6, 7-3, 7-4, 8-3 and 6-5 since 2010; 32-21 total W/L. Only one back, Zach Barr gained over 1000 yards (1450 in 2011) in a season since 2010. From 2006 through 2009 when they had a running-back gain over 1000 yards in each season, excepting 2007, the won-loss was 10-2, 10-2, 11-2 and 10-2 or 41-8 totaled. In 2007, Jared Heller rushed 167 times for 928 yards, fighting for carries with dual threat Nolan Kearney under center. Kearney (Tight-end, Wm-Mary) rushed 75 times for 558 yards while passing for 2240 yards. In 2006 they had Roshaan McCain (Ship) who rushed for 1842 yards; in 2008 Jared Heller got 1282 and in 2009 Kessan Christopher (GW transfer) rushed for 1353 yards. McNulty masked a lot of concerns but he couldn’t cover the gaping issues of a porous defense or a backfield lacking a Kessan Chrostopher or Roshaan McCain. Speaking of backs, that’s the one area where they are loaded with the return of quality backs in Michael Riddick (5-9, 185, jr) their leading rusher with 685 yards, Jake Barr (5-9, 170, sr) with 446 yards and Braden Harper (5-11, 185, sr) with 134. Barr was their second leading receiver with 31 catches for 482 yards. He and Riddick with 18 catches for 198 yards will give QB Thomas Mattioni (6-1, 175, sr)….or whoever, every chance of success. Most of their linebacker and secondary return with DT Billy Hammond (5-11, 280, sr) who they’ll build the D-Line around.
Great Valley 12-2; Last year’s 12-2 team was only the third occasion in school history where they hit the double digit win mark, having done so in 1989 at 10-2 and 2004 with an 11-1 record. In 2004, Great Valley (11-0) got past Bok Tech (7-3) in the first round 35-0 then lost to Upper Merion on missed extra points 20-19. UM (10-3) went on to lose to Berwick (12-2) the following week 47-16. The Dawgs then lost to Manheim Central (13-2) 16-13 who lost in the final to Thomas Jefferson (14-2) 56-20.
Last year’s group got off to a strong start, beating Phoenixville (1-9) 54-0, Avon Grove (0-10) 42-13, Penn Wood (0-11) 61-12 and Octorara (5-6) 33-7. The trouble there was that beating teams by an average score of 48-8 (combined won-loss 6-36) probably got Rustin’s attention in a big way. That’s the last thing the upstart Patriots needed with Rustin then 3-1, coming off a 28-12 home loss to Downingtown East (9-4). Being the first quality opponent the Patriots encountered, it wasn’t pretty, with the Golden Knights rolling 54-13 in Malvern. But the Pats proved resilient, coming back strong the following week at home against Downingtown West (6-5), winning in overtime 41-35. Nice rebound! They rolled thereon, blowing out the next seven teams including Octorara, Bishop Shanahan and Springfield in the playoffs by an average score of 39-12 before getting crushed by Archbishop Wood (14-1), 44-7 who went on to win 3A. So it was a good season, winning Districts and setting a record in the win column. And now, most of that team graduated, including all their primary runners, receivers and quarterback Zach Ludwig (5-10, 185). Zach was a fine high school quarterback, completing 64% of his passes for 2050 yards and rushing for 639 yards. He was integral to the offense. Another was River Johnson with 860 yards rushing and 19 receptions for 132 yards. Top receiver Nasir Adderley caught 68 passes for 1019 yards while rushing for 302 yards. And with most of the defense gone and a total of 27 seniors graduating, it’s a full rebuild for the Patriots.
Downingtown West 6-5; Would you believe the defending Ches-Mont National champs fielded their best offense at 38ppg since 2007’s 10-2 team that also averaged 38ppg? You would if you knew they won the title starting seven sophomores and returned 16, repeat, 16 starters from that group entering the 2014 season. Right, they were replacing league MVP Nick Pagel who threw for 1217 yards (63%, 8/3 Td-Pick) and rushed for another 528 yards. But that void was more than adequately filled by Tyler McNulty (6-2, 195, sr), who made them forget concerns there, completing 62% of his passes for 2398 yards while rushing for 400 yards. So, how did the team that came into the season loaded with returning starters and a quarterback that ultimately assuaged worries at the position manage to win only six games, dropping to third at 3-3 in the National? Although they had an offense that could outscore most teams, they could not outscore them all and therein lies the problem. The defense allowed on average 25ppg, making it their worse defense since 2004’s 4-7 team that allowed 26ppg. Defense has been their Achilles Heel four of the last five years scanning year end averages since from 2010 to the present that show yields of 24ppg back-to-back, 16 in 2012, 20 in ‘13 and 25 in 2014. They could score points all night but couldn’t stop the quality teams with losses coming to Henderson 28-20, Great Valley 41-35 in ot, D-town East 34-14, Coatesville 47-33 and in the first round of Districts where a basketball game broke out, losing to Pennsbury 63-55. Their average points scored in these five losses was 31.4. The prolific offense got them off to a good start, winning their first three games then three of the next four to stand at 6-2 before the bottom fell out in a 0-3 finish.
Something else the Whippets haven’t had the last five years is a featured, breakaway back. And it showed up on their won-loss going 4-6, 7-3, 7-4, 8-3 and 6-5 since 2010; 32-21 total W/L. Only one back, Zach Barr gained over 1000 yards (1450 in 2011) in a season since 2010. From 2006 through 2009 when they had a running-back gain over 1000 yards in each season, excepting 2007, the won-loss was 10-2, 10-2, 11-2 and 10-2 or 41-8 totaled. In 2007, Jared Heller rushed 167 times for 928 yards, fighting for carries with dual threat Nolan Kearney under center. Kearney (Tight-end, Wm-Mary) rushed 75 times for 558 yards while passing for 2240 yards. In 2006 they had Roshaan McCain (Ship) who rushed for 1842 yards; in 2008 Jared Heller got 1282 and in 2009 Kessan Christopher (GW transfer) rushed for 1353 yards. McNulty masked a lot of concerns but he couldn’t cover the gaping issues of a porous defense or a backfield lacking a Kessan Chrostopher or Roshaan McCain. Speaking of backs, that’s the one area where they are loaded with the return of quality backs in Michael Riddick (5-9, 185, jr) their leading rusher with 685 yards, Jake Barr (5-9, 170, sr) with 446 yards and Braden Harper (5-11, 185, sr) with 134. Barr was their second leading receiver with 31 catches for 482 yards. He and Riddick with 18 catches for 198 yards will give QB Thomas Mattioni (6-1, 175, sr)….or whoever, every chance of success. Most of their linebacker and secondary return with DT Billy Hammond (5-11, 280, sr) who they’ll build the D-Line around.
Great Valley 12-2; Last year’s 12-2 team was only the third occasion in school history where they hit the double digit win mark, having done so in 1989 at 10-2 and 2004 with an 11-1 record. In 2004, Great Valley (11-0) got past Bok Tech (7-3) in the first round 35-0 then lost to Upper Merion on missed extra points 20-19. UM (10-3) went on to lose to Berwick (12-2) the following week 47-16. The Dawgs then lost to Manheim Central (13-2) 16-13 who lost in the final to Thomas Jefferson (14-2) 56-20.
Last year’s group got off to a strong start, beating Phoenixville (1-9) 54-0, Avon Grove (0-10) 42-13, Penn Wood (0-11) 61-12 and Octorara (5-6) 33-7. The trouble there was that beating teams by an average score of 48-8 (combined won-loss 6-36) probably got Rustin’s attention in a big way. That’s the last thing the upstart Patriots needed with Rustin then 3-1, coming off a 28-12 home loss to Downingtown East (9-4). Being the first quality opponent the Patriots encountered, it wasn’t pretty, with the Golden Knights rolling 54-13 in Malvern. But the Pats proved resilient, coming back strong the following week at home against Downingtown West (6-5), winning in overtime 41-35. Nice rebound! They rolled thereon, blowing out the next seven teams including Octorara, Bishop Shanahan and Springfield in the playoffs by an average score of 39-12 before getting crushed by Archbishop Wood (14-1), 44-7 who went on to win 3A. So it was a good season, winning Districts and setting a record in the win column. And now, most of that team graduated, including all their primary runners, receivers and quarterback Zach Ludwig (5-10, 185). Zach was a fine high school quarterback, completing 64% of his passes for 2050 yards and rushing for 639 yards. He was integral to the offense. Another was River Johnson with 860 yards rushing and 19 receptions for 132 yards. Top receiver Nasir Adderley caught 68 passes for 1019 yards while rushing for 302 yards. And with most of the defense gone and a total of 27 seniors graduating, it’s a full rebuild for the Patriots.
