Week two of the District 1 playoffs are here and many area teams are still alive in their quest to win a coveted district title. Malvern Prep is also traveling to Springside Chestnut-Hill in search of its third straight outright Inter-Academic League title. Here is a look at all the playoff action.
Friday games 6A
Council Rock South at Coatesville, 7 p. m. – Coatesville got its quarterback back from injury last week and Matt Ortega, Jr., threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the Red Raiders’ 27-10 win over Perkiomen Valley. This should be a tougher matchup for Coatesville as Council Rock South has only one loss on the season, a 21-14 loss to North Penn on August 28.
The Golden Hawks allow just 11.5 points per game and are a senior-laden squad. But the Raiders rushing tandem of Andre Watson and Sage Bradshaw should be able to do some damage. Coatesville did not allow Perkiomen Valley to run the football, limiting the Vikings to just negative-19 yards on the ground last week. This will be a tough test for the Raiders, but they should get a close win at home.
Pick: Coatesville.
Downingtown East at Pennridge, 7 p. m. – The Cougars travel to play the top-seeded Rams. Penridge went all out to get a 22-21 win over the 16th-seeded Colonials of Plymouth-Whitemarsh in the opening round. The Rams only loss on the season was a 28-14 decision to Central Bucks West on October 17.
Pennridge likes to run the football with senior and Princeton University recruit Ryan Rowe, who has over 1,200 yards rushing this season. Quarterback Noah Keating has a live arm and he also likes to run the football. The Cougars should be able to match the Rams up front, and Abe Seasy will be counted on to put heat on Keating.
Juelz Chiron-Robinson will see plenty of carries as usual and he is a home run hitter that should give the Rams defense trouble. PW ran the ball well against the Rams in the opening round and if the Cougars can do the same out of their power I formation, they could pull off the upset.
Pick: Downingtown East.
5A
Kennett at West Chester Rustin, 7 p. m. – West Chester Rustin has not given up a point in its last four games and the Golden Knights defeated Kennett, 31-10, back on September 20. Rustin averages a little over 300 yards rushing per game offensively, but the Blue Demons defense – which allows just 11.2 points per game – is very good against the run.
Kennett held a potent Oxford rushing attack to just 67 yards on the ground in the 35-6 win over the Hornets in the opening round. On offense, the Demons feature a very talented quarterback in junior Garrett McCracken, who has thrown for 18 touchdown passes this season. Joalex Carabajal is one of the best receivers around and Rustin will have to watch for the big play from McCracken.
Rustin’s Wing-T offense rushed for 418 yards in the Knights’ 42-0 rout of West Chester Henderson in the opening round. Will Garner has over 1,300 yards rushing on the season. Tommy Boland and Colin Baldesari round out a very dangerous backfield.
Pick: W.C. Rustin.
Unionville at Strath Haven, 7 p. m. – Strath Haven has only allowed more than 10 points in a game once this season and that came in the opening round last week as the Panthers downed Upper Moreland 35-21. The Panthers allow just 6.8 points per game and will be a big test for a Longhorns team that scores over 28 points per game.
Running back Brody McLaughlin has over 1,700 yards of total offense and he will try to crack the stout Panthers defense. The Panthers’ Wing-T rushes for over 200 yards per game and the Longhorns will have their hands full with Strath Haven’s vaunted ground game. Unionville will have to stop the run in order to get the Panthers off the field and give its own offense a chance to move the football.
Unionville quarterback Tommy McGinnis will have to hook up with Drew Puleo and his other receivers to open the running game up for the Longhorns.
Pick: Unionville.
4A
Bishop Shanahan at Pope John Paul II, 7 p. m. – Bishop Shanahan has a tall task as Pope John Paul II has already beaten 5A power West Chester Rustin, and 6A playoff team, Owen J. Roberts, and six 5A teams on its schedule. Pope John defeated the Eagles 28-21 on September 12 in a game the Eagles rallied to almost overtake the home team.
The Eagles rushed for 240 yards against Interboro in the opening round and allowed the Bucks just 129 yards of total offense. Eagles’ quarterback Anthony Aquila threw for 115 yards and a touchdown in the win over Interboro. He is a dual-threat for the Eagles, who moved the ball well in the first game against Pope John Paul II.
Pick: Bishop Shanahan.
Saturday game
Malvern Prep at Springside Chestnut-Hill, 1 p. m. – Malvern Prep has blown through its inter-Ac rivals and this should be no different as the Friars go for their third title in a row. The only Malvern loss was in the season opener to La Salle.
Malvern Prep routed Penn Charter 42-14 last week and the Friars have only given up 14 points their last three games. The Blue Devils have only one league loss but do not have the defense to slow down the Friars’ rushing attack or the offensive line to move the ball on a stout Malvern defense.
Pick: Malvern Prep.
Source: Berkshire mont
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