American Division takes stand in Week 1

There were many impressive performances on the opening night of the scholastic football season, but maybe none any better than Unionville going on the road and handling a good SpringFord squad, 2617, avenging a tough loss to the Rams in the the 2016 opener.

The Indians were led by Joe Zubillaga, who did it all.

The Indians’ senior rushed for 152 yards, totaled 39 receiving yards and led the Unionville defense with seven tackles. Unionville’s strength is its defense and the highpowered Rams were generally grounded by the Unionville effort. The Indians get to settle another 2016 score this week when Academy Park, a perennial district playoff team, comes calling on the indians. Unionville has won the past two Ches-Mont American Division titles and if opening week is nay indication, the Indians are going to be tough to deny again this season.

Another Ches-Mont American Division team that had a big opening week was the Oxford Hornets. All the Hornets did was stroll into J. Oscar Dicks Stadium and knock off West Chester Henderson, 34-27, by scoring a late fourth quarter touchdown. Henderson had won its previous 16 season openers, but the Warriors would not get to 17.

Oxford senior quarterback Chandler England was terrific as he threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns and the Hornets signal caller also rushed for two touchdowns, The Hornets appear to have a bevy of fine recovers as Brandon DeShields and Julian Nadachowski had big games for Oxford.

But the game was basically won up front as Oxford controlled both lines of scrimmage against the Warriors. Henderson scored all four of its touchdowns on big plays. When the Warriors could not hit the big strike, they struggled to move the ball on the Hornet defense. C.J. Preston rushed for 145 yards, but take away the 97-yard touchdown run in the second period and the Hornets defense did a great job against one of the best runners in the area.

Kennett, another Ches-Mont American Division team, also knocked off a National Division squad as the Blue Demons gave new head coach Josh Kaufman a win in his first game. The Blue Demons won the game on a 32-yard field goal by James Tuley, a career long, to take the thrilling 2523 verdict over Avon Grove.

For Kennett, quarterback Jake Dilcher did it all. The senior ran for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to Mitch Kosara, who finished the night with four catches for 69 yards. Avon Grove running back Kevin Francis had a big night rushing the football for the Red Devils, but Avon Grove must find a passing game to complement Francis.

Balance may be coming to the Ches-Mont League and maybe the times are changing as the Ches-Mont American, which usually gets kicked around by the National, went 2-0 against the National in opening week action.

Maybe Downingtown East got tired with all the Coatesville talk as the Cougars scored the first four times they had the football and cruised to an easy 47-6 over PlymouthWhitemarsh, which was a 6A playoff team last year. The Cougars host North Penn this Friday and the Knights are coming off a 28-14 loss to powerful La Salle.

Peter DiGiovanni covers high school football for Digital First Media. You can reach him at pdigiovanni07@gmail. com. Follow him on Twitter @ PeteDLN.