Ha!!..good question. In a rivalry game like this one, throw everything out the window!
Downingtown essentially brings back last year’s team excepting new QB Thomas Mattioni with a vet backfield of Barr, Riddick. Most of last year’s receivers are gone but Barr, Riddick are excellent receivers, well integrated into the system. They return something like 18-19 starters, almost all the defense. QB Mattioni isn’t like McNulty who could really wing it. Mattioni can throw it but has more running skills, kind of like Pagel two years ago so that will be a factor for Coatesville to contend with especially with good receivers coming out of the backfield. Downingtown will present a lot of problems for most teams being diverse and having the size to bang with anyone.
Coatesville has the best duel threat QB around in Jordan Young, a game changer running or passing. Big dude at 6-3, 215-220. But the skill is new in soph WR Avery Young, frosh RB Aaron Young, Jordan’s brothers. The line returns G, C and TE with this year’s edition considered a team strength, highly regarded by Coach Ortega. The defense is veteran along the line, great size, also return returning 1 LB and 1 CB so they’re vulnerable there particularly with Mattioni’s scrambling skills.
Schedule-other: Edge to Downingtown at Kottmeyer, some revenge factor losing 47-33 last year. Downingtown hasn’t played a hard opponent since Neshaminy 3 weeks ago, routing Mifllin Cty 42-14 and Kennett 61-20 (Kennett!?) last week. Coatesville is coming off Roman and Henderson last week. Polar opposite of West but had to play a disciplined game last week facing Henderson’s triple option. Will need that discipline this week. Young presents some of those threats as well. At a neutral field, I’d toss is up but at Kottmeyer with their veterans, I’d lean to Downingtown. Heck of a game!