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Sports

Warriors look to rise to the top of the National Division

Henderson needs to defeat Downingtown East to win Ches-Mont division title outright while loss could mean three teams will wear the crown

While the post-season awaits area high school football teams a week from now, the focus will be on West Chester Henderson’s Dicks Stadium this Friday night when the Warriors of Joe Walsh attempt to win the Ches-Mont League National Division title outright.

While that might sound easy, it is far from it as the Warriors (7-2 overall) host the Downingtown East Cougars who, if they defeat Henderson, will be co-champs along with the Warriors and probably Coatesville as well.

 The Warriors are 5-0 in National Division play while the Cougars (8-1 overall) and Red Raiders are 4-1. Coatesville faces a scuffling Avon Grove team so if the Red Raiders win and Henderson loses to Downingtown East, all three would be 5-1 and considered co-champions. A victory by the Warriors eliminates that log jam and Henderson would take its first National title since 2008.

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 The clash of Henderson and Downingtown East has been on a head-on collision for weeks now. The Warriors knocked Coatesville from the unbeaten ranks a few weeks ago after the Red Raiders had handed the Cougars their lone league loss.

 Henderson is paced by Zach Jones on offense, who leads the Warriors with 710 yards and 10 touchdowns.   Quarterback Jake Richards has rushed for 464 yards and scored six times and Derek Matoni has added 367 yards and a TD to the Warriors’ potent Veer offense.

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 Richards has completed 19-of-40 passes for 461 yards and six touchdowns Jones catching seven for 211 yards and a TD.

 Downingtown East has had to re-invent itself offensively after stud running back Drew Harris suffered a knee injury in the loss to Coatesville in week four. The Cougar offense is paced by junior quarterback Kyle Lauletta, who has thrown for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns. His favorite target is usually Jay Harris who has hauled in eight TD tosses—including four two weeks ago against rival Downingtown West. The running game has been taken over by a sophomore, Ryley Angeline, who has 323 yards and  five touchdowns.

 No matter what the outcome, all three of the top National Division teams will head to the District 1 AAAA playoffs starting next weekend.

 The latest rankings have the Warriors, Cougars, Red Raiders, West Chester Rustin, and Unionville all in the top 10 spots. 16 teams enter the playoffs with the top 8 teams getting a home game in the first round. Pairings will be released over the weekend.

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