Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Red Raiders top Cougars in an instant classic
BRYANT HAULS IN GAME-WINNING TD WITH 3 SECONDS LEFT AS COATESVILLE BEATS DOWNINGTOWN EAST IN THRILLER
DOWNINGTOWN » The Ches-Mont League game of the year had already lived up to the hype, and then some, as quarterback Ricky Ortega and Coatesville lined up for one last play, trailing by a single point.
Seconds later, the game of the year became a game no one will ever forget.
Ortega hit receiver Dapree Bryant with a beautiful, lofted 20-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline with just three seconds left on the clock, sending the visiting fans at Kottmeyer Stadium into a delerious celebration on their way to a 38-27 National Division win Friday night.
The touchdown actually gave Coatesville, ranked fifth in the most recent Pa. Prep Live Top 20, a 32-27 lead. But No. 4 Downingtown East fumbled on a desparation kickoff return as time expired, leading to another touchdown and the final margin.
“When they scored with 49 seconds left, there was no doubt we would come back and score,” Ortega said. “We just knew
“We had Aaron Young run the safety off and I hit Dapree (Bryant) in the end zone with the pass. He is the absolute best receiver in the state and he got the job done tonight when we needed it.” — Coatesville’s Ricky Ortega
we had too many playmakers for them to stop. We had Aaron Young run the safety off and I hit Dapree in the end zone with the pass. He is the absolute best receiver in the state and he got the job done tonight when we needed it.”
It looked like Downingtown East (4-1 Ches-Mont National, 8-1 overall) had the game won when Brassir Stocker scored on a three yard run up the middle on a fourth-and-one play with 49 seconds left. But much like NFL fans who say “you left too much time for Tom Brady,” the Cougars left too much time on the clock for the electrifying Coatesville (5-0, 8-1) offense.
The Cougars defense had played well all night and it looked like Coatesville was in trouble until the late heroics.
Coatesville has clinched at least a tie for the National title. They can capture it outright with a win next Friday at home against Bishop Shanahan.
“We ran the ball pretty well to start the game, but then they clamped down on us,” Aaron Young said. “But, we knew we would score after they did. It’s just us that way. We are a real family and we stuck together. They had Stocker spying me the whole game tonight.”
The game was a sight to behold before an overflow crowd at Kottmeyer. The hitting was ferocious and the two teams showcased their athletes and showed why they are two of the best Class 6A teams in the state.
Coatesville rushed for 268 yards and Ricky Ortega threw for 176 more as the vaunted Coatesville offense did its job, but the defense — which was the secondranked 6A unit in District 1, allowing just nine points per game — did not hold the Cougars down. Downingtown East totaled 334 yards of total offense.
East more than held its a own, thanks largely to a big night from junior running back Garvey Jonassaint, who rushed for 110 yards on 15 carries and had touchdowns runs of 25, 23 and 10 yards.
The game was tied at halftime, but the Cougars took a 21-14 lead when Jonassaint burst through a big hole in the middle of the defense to score.
Coatesville came right back on a long drive of its own with the big play being a third down completion to Avery Young for 34 yards and a first down at the Cougars three. Two plays later, Ortega went in from a yard out, but Coatesville missed the extra point and trailed, 21-20.
Coatesville kept the pressure on. Downingtown East responded after a Bryant three-yard TD run early in the fourth. Going on a fourminute, 32-second drive that culminated in Stocker’s touchdown.
“Our kids played their hearts out,” Downingtown East head coach Mike Matta said. “But, we always play that way. I know our kids deserved better than that tonight.”
Coatesville head coach Matt Ortega looked drained after the hair-raising win, and was impressed with his club’s resilience.
“This was a great game and that last touchdown play shows what kind of team this is,” he said. “They are a tough group that plays for each other and they did that again tonight.”