CALN — In a strange regular-season finale that was more notable for who didn’t play or who saw limited action, Coatesville’s running game got back on track as Andre Watson ran for 115 yards and a touchdown for a 28-7 Ches-Mont League North Division victory over Bishop Shanahan.
The contest also saw a pair of rarities with two safeties and a near touchdown run by Red Raiders offensive lineman Max Hiller.
The Eagles held out star quarterback Anthony Aquila as well as their best running back, Nate Bracken. Coatesville’s QB Matt Ortega, Jr. played only a few snaps in his return after missing time due to an ankle injury. Ortega misfired on his two pass attempts.
“We had some guys banged up, especially on the offensive line. We were going to be down four starters,” said Shanahan coach Paul Meyers. “We made the decision to get ready for the playoffs.
Our biggest goal is to be ready for the playoffs and be healthy.”
The Red Raiders (1-2 North, 8-2 overall) took the opening kickoff and drove 64 yards in seven.
Watson broke open on the first play from scrimmage for 24 yards to the Shanahan 40-yard line.
Watson took a screen pass from backup quarterback Jahsier Bryant for 17 yards on the drive.
Watson cashed in the march with a seven-yard run for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
“We’re extremely happy,” said Watson. “We knew we had to get back on track. The past two weeks have been rough, but we got this win. I think my night was good. I know I had to do something to the team back on track. I couldn’t do anything without my o-line. I’m proud of every one of my guys.”
No one was able to score and the first quarter ended with Coatesville holding a 7-0 lead.
The Coatesville ground game was featured again midway through the second. Watson and Sage Bradshaw combined for 59 yards to get to the Shanahan 5.But they failed to connect on a third-down pass. Logan Bernardo connected on a 22-yard field goal to bump the lead to 10-0.
Shanahan got on the board on the next possession, QB Michael Miller hit Owen McGrory on a 22-yard pass to the Coatesville 12. On the next play, Daniel Keenan swep around left end and got in just inside the pylon to score and cut the deficit to 10-7.
The Eagles (0-3, 6-4) nearly tied it up at the end of the half. A 32-yard pass from Miller to Civitella set them up in Coatesville’s end. However, they missed the field goal and the half ended at 10-7.
“The young guys stepped up,” added Meyers. “It’s not easy when you put a sophomore quarterback in against a good, athletic team like that. He moved the ball a little bit for us, which we needed him to do. They kept battling. I’m proud of them.”
After Shanahan had to punt deep in its end, Qwan James gathered in the punt and raced 38 yards to the end zone and the lead grew to 17-7. Shanahan got the ball back and was stymied again in the shadow of its goal line. The punt was blocked by Terry Wiggins and went out of the end zone for a safety.
Coatesville took the free kick and was deep in Shanahan’s end when things became weird. Ortega, Jr. was hit as was trying to throw. The ball landed into the hands of lineman Max Hiller, who electrified the crowd as he took off and started to rumble to the end zone before he was stopped on the five.
“I just saw the ball in the air and I grabbed it,” explained Hiller. “It felt like muscle memory, because I played running back until I was about 14. So, it was just muscle memory. When I went down I was like, ‘fudge,’ I thought I was going to score. I was trying.”
Coatesville didn’t convert on a fourth-and-goal at the three and turned the ball over.
On the first play, Dominic Minniti was swallowed up in the end zone for another safety.
James galloped for a 26-yard score on the first play of the fourth quarter to wrap up the scoring.Ortega made just two brief appearances, but it gave his offense a spark they were missing as the postseason beckons.
“It was great,” said Hiller. “I feel like him being back brings a lot more energy and we can get back on track.”
Coatesville 28, Bishop Shanahan 7Bishop Shanahan 0 7 0 0 — 7Coatesville 7 3 11 7 – 28ScoringCoatesville – Watson 7 run (Bernardo kick)Coatesville – Bernardo 22 FGShanahan – Keenan 12 run (Caruso kick)Coateville – James 38 punt return (Bernardo kick)Coatesville – Safety; punt blocked out of end zoneCoatesville – Safety; Minniti tackled in end zoneCoatesville – James 26 run (Bernardo kick)Team TotalsBS CFirst downs 7 12Yards rushing 25-7 34-158Yards passing 85 31Total yards 92 189Passing 6-20-1 3-10-1Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-1Punts-avg 3-32.3 4-30.5Penalties 5-46 13-135Individual StatisticsRushing: Bishop Shanahan – Belfie 7-15; Keenan 2-11 TD; Minniti 6-8; Snyder 1-7; Wagner 5-(-5); Miller 3-(-29). Coatesville: Watson 17-115 TD; James 1-26 TD; Bradshaw 4-15; Hiller 1-13; Hommack 2-2; Boggs 1-1; Hampton 1-0; Irons 1-0; Bryant 2-(-3); Kryworuka 1-(-6); Team 2-(-2).Passing: Bishop Shanahan: Miller 6-20-1 85 yards. Coatesville: Bryant 2-4-0 30 yards; Bradshaw 1-1-0 0 1 yard; Ortega, Jr. 0-2-0; James 0-1-0; Boggs 0-2-1 0 yards.Receiving: Bishop Shanahan – Civitella 2-40; McGrory 2-22; Keenan 1-20; Wagner 1-3. Coatesville – Wiggins 1-13; Christino 1-1; Watson 1-17.Sacks: Bishop Shanahan: McGrory. Coatesville: Saliant 2, Wiggins, S. Beckett.Interceptions: Bishop Shanahan – Moore. Coatesville – James.
Source: Berkshire mont