DOWNINGTOWN — The Coatesville football team strolled into Kottmeyer Stadium Friday night with an undefeated record. The Red Raiders left the stadium with one loss and they also lost senior quarterback Matt Ortega, Jr., to an ankle injury incurred in the first period.
All this, plus a fired up defensive effort from Downingtown East, enabled the Cougars to post a convincing 15-0 win over the Raiders in a Ches-Mont North Division game.
Coatesville (0-1 Ches-Mont North, 7-1 overall) totaled just seven first downs and 115 yards of total offense against a Cougars’ (1-0, 6-2) defense that was punishing the Raiders with an impressive display of physical football.
“It really feels amazing to shut out a team as good as Coatesville,” Cougars’ defensive end Abe Sesay said. “We have been working for this since January 2nd. All the hard work paid off. We had a couple games where our defense was not up to standard but we fixed things this week and had a great game plan.”
The Cougars jumped out to a 6-0 lead when quarterback Ethan Ellis scored on a one-yard plunge with 3:36 left in the first period. Ellis’ touchdown came after Oretga, Jr., was knocked from the game on a sack by Sesay. The score completed a nine-play, 60-yard drive.
Without Ortega Coatesville had to rely on the running game. The Cougars would have none of it, however. With Sesay, Ryan McGowen and Caleb Akins leading the way, the Cougars held the potent Raiders rushing attack to just 73 yards on the ground.
The Coatesville defense tried to do its part by stopping the Cougars three times within the five yard line in the first half. Paul Selden added a 19-yard field goal to make it 10-0 at halftime.
“This is an amazing feeling to beat a team as good as those guys,” Ellis said. “Their defense has so many big guys and they are really tough. We wanted this win very badly but the job is not finished. We still have two very good teams coming up on our schedule and we are going to have to be ready.”
The second half saw Coatesville go to the Wildcat formation with Sage Bradshaw and Andre Watson taking snaps from center. Bradshaw finished with 45 yards on eight carries while Watson had 55 yards on 13 carries, but neither could break off a big play.
The combination of Ortega, Jr., and backup quarterback Jahsier Bryant were sacked three times and finished with minus-16 yards rushing and only 42 yards passing for the game.
The Cougars’ offense was mostly running plays by Juelz Chiron-Robinson who carried the ball 33 times for 94 yards as it was tough sledding trying to run the football against the Raiders’ defense.
Downingtown East got two 42-yard field goals from Selden in the second half. One field goal came in the third period and the second with just 5:57 to play in the fourth period for the 15-0 win.
“We played great defense,” Cougars’ head coach Mike Matta said. “You have to tip your hat to Coatesville. You know I think they are a very well coached team and they fought. But coach (Evan Breisblatt) had a great game plan and we were able to stop the run.
“It is great to get a shutout but this one is with an asterisk. Ortega was having a great year but we were stopping them when he was still in the game. Last week we felt we should have beaten (West Chester) Rustin. Tonight, we played the way we are capable of playing defense.”
Downingtown East 15, Coatesville 0
Coatesville 0 0 0 0 – 0
Downingtown East 6 3 3 3 – 15
Scoring
DE— Ellis 1 run (kick failed)
Second Period
DE — Selden 19 FG
Third Period
DE — Selden 42 FG
Fourth Period
DE — Selden 42 FG
Team Totals
C DE
First downs 7 8
Yards rushing 73 119
Yards passing 42 50
Total yards 115 169
Passing 8-19-0 2-7-0
Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0
Punts-ave. 7-39.5 5-35.5
Penalties-yds 13-90 7-35
Individual Statistics
Rushing — C: Watson 13-55; Bradshaw 8-45; Query 1 (-1); Ortega 2 (-16); Bryant 7-0. DE: Chiron-Robinson 33-94; Rios 2-5; Morrin 5-19; Ellis 3-1, TD.
Passing — C: Ortega 4-6-14; Bryant 4-12-28; Bradshaw 0-1-0. DE: Ellis 2-7-50.
Receiving — C: James 3-16; Beckett 4-7; Wiggins 1-20; Watson 2-4; Christino 1 (-2). DE: Schlacter 1-21; Sesay 1-29.
Sack – DE: Sesay, Smith, Massaro.
Source: Berkshire mont
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