Henderson Shines in Victory Over Downingtown West

The Henderson High School football team delivered a top-shelf performance in a big spot Friday night, knocking off previously undefeated Downingtown West, 38-14, to take control of the Ches-Mont National Division at J. Oscar Dicks Stadium.

Big-play speed demon ZacK Jones now has nine touchdowns in the last three games, scoring three while amassing 253 rushing yards as the Warriors moved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the league, topping a Whippets team that had won the previous three head-to-head contests.

“It was a big game.  You have to beat Downingtown West,” said Henderson coach Joe Walsh, whose offense generated over 300 rushing yards and 22 first downs.  “Downingtown West did some good things, but we came back and regained the momentum when we needed to.”

Henderson dominated the first quarter, grabbing a 10-0 lead with the Whippets running only five offensive plays.  Midway through the second, Downingtown West stopped Henderson quarterback Jake Richard short on a fourth and three at its own 25 and shifted into gear offensively with a Ken Fuhrman to Tom Calamaro flea-flicker good for 45 yards.  Standout running back Zack Barr did most of the rest of the work with runs of 12, 4 and 2 for the touchdown and the Whippets were back in the game.

Henderson regained control late in the second, springing Jones for a 19-yard run before Richard scrambled free on a second and seven and found tight end T.J. White alone in the end zone for a 32-yard score that put the Warriors up 17-7 heading into the lockerroom.

“The quarterback kept the play alive and they got the touchdown.  That was a big one,” offered DWest coach Mike Milano.  “They’re a strong team and we didn’t match their physicality.”

White, a Division I linebacker prospect, wowed the crowd earlier, running down Fuhrman to prevent a first down on a key third down play in the second quarter and then blocking the ensuing punt to keep Henderson on the Downingtown West side of the field.

“Our mindset changed after the loss to Plymouth-Whitemarsh,” White stated after the game.  “The captains (White, Jones and Richard) called a meeting and we talked it out.  We weren’t going to let them (D-West) get in the way of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Jones had opened the scoring with an eight-yard TD run and Kyle Morton hit a 33-yard field goal later in the first quarter.  Jones stretched the score to 23-7 early in the third with a three-yard touchdown run, but the Whippets responded again as Barr ripped off a 19-yard scoring run to bring the score to 24-14.  That’s when Henderson showed its stuff, launching a 10-play, 73-yard drive behind Derek Matonti and the right side of the offensive line – Nick Gustaitis, Kevin Regan and Max Perisse.  Jones converted a big fourth and one over the right side along the way and Henderson went up 31-14 at the start of the fourth quarter.

When all was said and done, Mattonti had 82 yards on 18 carries and Jones finished with 25 carries and two pass receptions for total yardage of 273.

Henderson’s quest for an increasingly memorable season continues Friday night at home with the rivalry game against West Chester Rustin at 7:15 p.m.  The battle for control of the Ches-Mont National Division takes place on Friday, Oct. 21, at Coatesville.