Two West Chester teams set to begin district football playoffs

 The District 1 AAAA football playoffs kick off this weekend with no less than five Ches-Mont League teams involved—Coatesville, Downingtown East, Unionville, West Chester Henderson and West Chester Rustin—a situation that has long been reserved for the powerhouse schools of the Suburban One League.

 But not only had this become the Year of the Ches-Mont in football circles, the first weekend of play also features a rematch of the National Division title game between Downingtown East (9th seed) and West Chester Henderson (8th seed) plus West Chester Rustin’s (6th seed) facomg perenniel powerhouse North Penn.

Downingtown East (8-2) at West Chester Henderson (8-2)

Friday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m.

 At J. Oscar Dicks Stadium, West Chester Henderson

Backstory: it was just a week ago Friday that the two squads met in the title contest which was won by Henderson, 42-20. The Cougars took a 20-7 halftime lead only to see the Warriors score 35 unanswered points to become National champions.

Stats: the Cougars have scored 336 points and allowed 213 with their loss coming to Coatesville (20-14 on Sept. 23) and to Henderson, 42-20, last Friday. The Warriors have scored 316 while allowing just 108 with losses coming to Plymouth-Whitemarsh (20-0) on Sept. 16 and West Chester Rustin (30-28) on Oct. 14. Over the last three games, Henderson has scored 98 points.

Coaches: Mike Matta (Downingtown East), Joe Walsh (West Chester Henderson)

Key players: WCH quarterback Jake Richard (524 yards for season) had a career night last week and is part of a three-pronge running attack that also includes Zach Jones (731 yards) and Derek Matonti (416 yards). Richard has also passed for 461 yards as well.

The Cougars are led by QB Kyle Lauletta (271 yards rushing, 1,489 passing) and running back Ryley Angeline (370 yards), who has filled in for the injured Drew Harris. Lauletta’s favorite target is Jay Harris, who has caught 37 passes for 613 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Storyline: the Cougars had all kind of problems stopping the Warriors ground attack but moved the ball the first half  through the air. Undoubtedly, Henderson will change little as they manhandled DTE during the second half. Downingtown’s loss dropped them from a number two seed to number nine.

 One thing to keep in mind is it is always tough playing the same team on back-to-back weeks. The winner of this game gets to play whomever wins the Upper Dublin-Council Rock South contest on week two. The Rock is the number one seed in the AAAA playoffs.

North Penn (8-2) at West Chester Rustin (9-1)

Saturday, Nov. 5 1 p.m.

At West Chester Rustin

Backstory: Rustin is in the AAAA bracket this season thanks to being just three male students over the enrollment line for AAA. North Penn (11th seed) has given coaches in District 1 both indigestion and sleepless nights for years as the Knights have been the premiere football program in suburban Philadelphia.

Stats: North Penn’s two losses came to no slouches…. LaSalle High on Sept. 3 (44-27) and St. Joe‘s Prep on Sept. 17 (51-33). Since then, the Knights have won seven straight games and the Suburban One Continental Division crown while scoring 338 points on the year and allowing just 133. Rustin’s lone loss was to Downingtown East (42-13) on Sept. 10 and have won eight straight while taking the American Divison title, scoring 296 points and surrendering 137 to opponents.

Coaches: Mike St. Clair (West Chester Rustin), Dick Beck (North Penn)

Key players: North Penn, as always, features a grind-it-out game and is reflected in the running yardage of Kyle Mayfield who is closing in on 1,000 yards and has scored eight times. The Knights air attack has been bolstered by Corey Ernest who has thrown for 1,661 yards and 21 scores.

Rustin’s Golden Knights have been led by 990 yards rushing from Cordairo Taylor and 713 from Connor Burke. Mike DeLancey, at quarterback, has completed 43-of-88 passes for 670 yards with Anthony Nash catching 27 of them for 409 yards and six TDs.

Storyline:  Rustin gets to host one of the top schoolsever in Pennsylvania football play who can do it all. Rustin will have to play errorless football and not let NP capitalize on mistakes, which they have a habit of doing. The winner of the contest will play either Unionville or Neshaminy next Friday night in the second round.