Here are some “Quick Hits” giving St. Joseph’s Prep the respect deserved with an expanded write up for putting together another great season to win their third state title in four years! Also included more information on Coatesville who are one of the real favorites to win district one and perhaps more. Otherwise, just a few short entries with some general information of interest and a stab at the Top 10 6A teams in the East and West. As always feel free to jump in or on with corrections and opinions. Thanks.
THE EAST
1 St. Joseph’s Prep 14-0: 6A champ
St. Joseph’s won their third state title in the last four years with a thorough destruction of previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Central Catholic 42-7. This is the second time they’ve handled the Vikings, beating them in the 2013 final 35-10 for their first PIAA state title. The following year they held on to defeat Pine Richland’s powerful array, 49-41. So it’s been quite a run. And with a decent core returning, who knows!
Last year’s record setting offense scored 40ppg, their best in at least 25 years. At 40ppg, the closest group to this was 2002’s great team that went 13-0 scoring 38ppg, allowing 8.
With the loss of last year’s special offensive line, super back D’Andre Swift (1566 yds) and receiver Terrence Green (656), duplicating last year’s offensive punch will be difficult. But the cupboard is not bare.
Key returns on offense include quarterback Marquez McCray (6-2, 205, sr) and one of his principal receivers from last year, Darryl Simmons (6-3, 200, 536 yds, sr). WR James Cherry (5-8, 160, sr) gives them speed outside to combine with McCray’s duel threats, passing for 2164 yards and rushing for another 422. It’s a wipe out of an outstanding O-Line (tackle to tight end) but they have significant numbers returning to the defense where they could be special.
DT Ryan Bryce (6-4, 285, sr) and DE Rayshad Wallace (6-0, 210, sr) are up front with LBs Bradley Cobaugh (6-1, 200, sr), their leading tackler with 84, Phil O’Connor (6-0, 210, sr) and Myles Talley (5-9, 185), last year’s outstanding sophomore. Dawson DeIuliis (5-9, 190, sr) and DeJuan Dandridge (6-0, 175, sr) return to the secondary.
Beginning the season with an experienced quarterback and a solid defensive front is not a bad way to be especially with their history of reloading well. The defense was an outstanding unit last year allowing 16ppg. Pretty good stuff playing Oaks Christian, Don Bosco Prep, Archbishop Wood, LaSalle twice then Parkland, North Penn and Central Catholic, winning by an average score of 43-20.
Looking ahead, the opener with Jesuit (12-1, 5A, Tampa) should be interesting. Good timing personnel wise with Jesuit graduating most of their record setting offense that scored 46ppg including quarterback Daniel Boon (1566yds, 62%) and Malik Davis (UF) who had 2472 yards rushing. Lead WR Travell Harris with 604 yards also graduated.
Known for strong defense (11ppg last year) they return good numbers with their leading tacklers in MLB Braden Gilby (6-2, 225,138 tackles, sr) and OLB Nick Terrana (6-3, 210, 95 tackles, sr) back….plus LB Reid Clark (5-11, 190, 24 tackles, sr), DEs Anthony Nellson (6-2, 235, 81 tackles, sr) and Blake Courtade (6-2, 220, 28 tackles, sr), DT A.J. Pinion (5-9, 230, 39 tackles,, sr), FS Dane Belton (6-1, 180, 54 tackles, jr) and SS Nick Polo (5-10, 170, 44 tackles, jr). Last year saw them lose in the 6A semifinal to American Heritage 21-14. To gage Jesuit’s pedigree through their strength of schedule, here are American Heritage’s (Plantation campus) impressive wins from last year, bearing in mind the narrowness of Jesuit’s loss to them….and that AH would go on to win their 3rd state title in 4 years; Don Bosco Prep 21-0, Colquitt County, GA 17-14 and Northwestern (Miami) 34-32 in the regular season, then Cardinal Gibbon (9-2, Lauderdale), Bishop Moore (11-2, Orlando) and Ponte Vedra (13-1 outside Jacksonville) in the final. Jesuit’s 5 year won-loss is 48-15, going 13-1 and 12-1 the last two years.
This looks like a defensive battle with both fielding veteran units where only one returns a veteran quarterback. Then again it’s at Jesuit who will have two games under their belt having played Gaither (7A, 5-5, Tampa) and Durant (7A, 8-3, Plant City) giving the new QB a few throws and game experience. Plus Tampa is typically summer-like hot on the Gulf Coast in September where it usually gets anywhere from 85 to the low 90s. After this comes St. Peters Prep-NJ and Archbishop Wood.
2 Coatesville 11-2:The Ches Mont champ had a heck of a run last year with such a young team dismantling Abington and Ridley in the postseason before losing to North Penn in the district semifinal 35-13. There was a notable trend losing to power teams like Cumberland Valley 41-21 and North Penn 35-13 (per youth?) by an average score of 17-38 while winning all other games by an average score of 43-16.
For this season the main elements of that offense return, led by the powerful triumvirate of QB Ricky Ortega, running back Aaron Young and wide out Avery Young. Ortega (6-0, 185, so) passed for 2224 yards and 25 Tds while rushing for 596 yards with another 12 tds. Aaron Young (5-11, 190, sr ) rushed for 1410 yards and brings elite speed (4.5/40) with the clear ability to break it on any play. Avery Young (6-2, 195, sr) gives them a real threat receiving with 38 receptions last year for 733 yards. He is a superior talent in the secondary. Mekhi Alexander (5-9, 175, sr) and Dapree Bryant (5-9, 175, jr) can both motor from their SB position and secondary.
The line lost some good ones, particularly Alex Vondra (6-2, 265), Owen Kline (6-1, 250) and Tyler Brown (6-2, 225); some played both ways. Receiver Jaden Hudson is a loss at receiver and the D will definitely miss NG Isiah Hall (5-10, 215), MLB Taun Evan (5-11, 215) and Tyler Brown (6-2, 225) at DE. DB Ed Clark (5-10, 180) is also gone. LBs Jimmy Limper (6-2, 210, jr) and Nikolas Thompson (6-1, 210) are back, Limper at DE with NG Alex Raimondo (5-10, 220, sr) also back. With last’s average score of 39-17, many, many players got playing time, making this a highly experience and deep team.
They’ll be more mature and veteran this year with 6A challenges coming from Downingtown West (4-6) and Downingtown East (9-3). A look at the all-important “schedule read” sees them at Downingtown West in the Whippets home opener after visiting Perk Val, Wayne Val (NJ) and Neshaminy, making for one raucous opener at Kottmeyer. Later in the season Downingtown East closes their home schedule against Coatesville, putting the Raiders in another emotion packed setting perhaps with playoff implications for the Cougars.
They open at Gratz then a tough one at Mechanicsburg across the river from Harrisburg against West Shore power Cumberland Valley. CV is CV, always strong along the lines, running the Wing-T like few teams in this state. Nice chance for some payback but it’s tough winning at Chapman Field behind the school before a packed house where it will be SRO!
THE EAST
1 St. Joseph’s Prep 14-0: 6A champ
St. Joseph’s won their third state title in the last four years with a thorough destruction of previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Central Catholic 42-7. This is the second time they’ve handled the Vikings, beating them in the 2013 final 35-10 for their first PIAA state title. The following year they held on to defeat Pine Richland’s powerful array, 49-41. So it’s been quite a run. And with a decent core returning, who knows!
Last year’s record setting offense scored 40ppg, their best in at least 25 years. At 40ppg, the closest group to this was 2002’s great team that went 13-0 scoring 38ppg, allowing 8.
With the loss of last year’s special offensive line, super back D’Andre Swift (1566 yds) and receiver Terrence Green (656), duplicating last year’s offensive punch will be difficult. But the cupboard is not bare.
Key returns on offense include quarterback Marquez McCray (6-2, 205, sr) and one of his principal receivers from last year, Darryl Simmons (6-3, 200, 536 yds, sr). WR James Cherry (5-8, 160, sr) gives them speed outside to combine with McCray’s duel threats, passing for 2164 yards and rushing for another 422. It’s a wipe out of an outstanding O-Line (tackle to tight end) but they have significant numbers returning to the defense where they could be special.
DT Ryan Bryce (6-4, 285, sr) and DE Rayshad Wallace (6-0, 210, sr) are up front with LBs Bradley Cobaugh (6-1, 200, sr), their leading tackler with 84, Phil O’Connor (6-0, 210, sr) and Myles Talley (5-9, 185), last year’s outstanding sophomore. Dawson DeIuliis (5-9, 190, sr) and DeJuan Dandridge (6-0, 175, sr) return to the secondary.
Beginning the season with an experienced quarterback and a solid defensive front is not a bad way to be especially with their history of reloading well. The defense was an outstanding unit last year allowing 16ppg. Pretty good stuff playing Oaks Christian, Don Bosco Prep, Archbishop Wood, LaSalle twice then Parkland, North Penn and Central Catholic, winning by an average score of 43-20.
Looking ahead, the opener with Jesuit (12-1, 5A, Tampa) should be interesting. Good timing personnel wise with Jesuit graduating most of their record setting offense that scored 46ppg including quarterback Daniel Boon (1566yds, 62%) and Malik Davis (UF) who had 2472 yards rushing. Lead WR Travell Harris with 604 yards also graduated.
Known for strong defense (11ppg last year) they return good numbers with their leading tacklers in MLB Braden Gilby (6-2, 225,138 tackles, sr) and OLB Nick Terrana (6-3, 210, 95 tackles, sr) back….plus LB Reid Clark (5-11, 190, 24 tackles, sr), DEs Anthony Nellson (6-2, 235, 81 tackles, sr) and Blake Courtade (6-2, 220, 28 tackles, sr), DT A.J. Pinion (5-9, 230, 39 tackles,, sr), FS Dane Belton (6-1, 180, 54 tackles, jr) and SS Nick Polo (5-10, 170, 44 tackles, jr). Last year saw them lose in the 6A semifinal to American Heritage 21-14. To gage Jesuit’s pedigree through their strength of schedule, here are American Heritage’s (Plantation campus) impressive wins from last year, bearing in mind the narrowness of Jesuit’s loss to them….and that AH would go on to win their 3rd state title in 4 years; Don Bosco Prep 21-0, Colquitt County, GA 17-14 and Northwestern (Miami) 34-32 in the regular season, then Cardinal Gibbon (9-2, Lauderdale), Bishop Moore (11-2, Orlando) and Ponte Vedra (13-1 outside Jacksonville) in the final. Jesuit’s 5 year won-loss is 48-15, going 13-1 and 12-1 the last two years.
This looks like a defensive battle with both fielding veteran units where only one returns a veteran quarterback. Then again it’s at Jesuit who will have two games under their belt having played Gaither (7A, 5-5, Tampa) and Durant (7A, 8-3, Plant City) giving the new QB a few throws and game experience. Plus Tampa is typically summer-like hot on the Gulf Coast in September where it usually gets anywhere from 85 to the low 90s. After this comes St. Peters Prep-NJ and Archbishop Wood.
2 Coatesville 11-2:The Ches Mont champ had a heck of a run last year with such a young team dismantling Abington and Ridley in the postseason before losing to North Penn in the district semifinal 35-13. There was a notable trend losing to power teams like Cumberland Valley 41-21 and North Penn 35-13 (per youth?) by an average score of 17-38 while winning all other games by an average score of 43-16.
For this season the main elements of that offense return, led by the powerful triumvirate of QB Ricky Ortega, running back Aaron Young and wide out Avery Young. Ortega (6-0, 185, so) passed for 2224 yards and 25 Tds while rushing for 596 yards with another 12 tds. Aaron Young (5-11, 190, sr ) rushed for 1410 yards and brings elite speed (4.5/40) with the clear ability to break it on any play. Avery Young (6-2, 195, sr) gives them a real threat receiving with 38 receptions last year for 733 yards. He is a superior talent in the secondary. Mekhi Alexander (5-9, 175, sr) and Dapree Bryant (5-9, 175, jr) can both motor from their SB position and secondary.
The line lost some good ones, particularly Alex Vondra (6-2, 265), Owen Kline (6-1, 250) and Tyler Brown (6-2, 225); some played both ways. Receiver Jaden Hudson is a loss at receiver and the D will definitely miss NG Isiah Hall (5-10, 215), MLB Taun Evan (5-11, 215) and Tyler Brown (6-2, 225) at DE. DB Ed Clark (5-10, 180) is also gone. LBs Jimmy Limper (6-2, 210, jr) and Nikolas Thompson (6-1, 210) are back, Limper at DE with NG Alex Raimondo (5-10, 220, sr) also back. With last’s average score of 39-17, many, many players got playing time, making this a highly experience and deep team.
They’ll be more mature and veteran this year with 6A challenges coming from Downingtown West (4-6) and Downingtown East (9-3). A look at the all-important “schedule read” sees them at Downingtown West in the Whippets home opener after visiting Perk Val, Wayne Val (NJ) and Neshaminy, making for one raucous opener at Kottmeyer. Later in the season Downingtown East closes their home schedule against Coatesville, putting the Raiders in another emotion packed setting perhaps with playoff implications for the Cougars.
They open at Gratz then a tough one at Mechanicsburg across the river from Harrisburg against West Shore power Cumberland Valley. CV is CV, always strong along the lines, running the Wing-T like few teams in this state. Nice chance for some payback but it’s tough winning at Chapman Field behind the school before a packed house where it will be SRO!
