Ortega, Coatesville have chance to do something truly special

With two Chester County teams in their respective District 1 championship games this week — Unionville in Class 5A and Coatesville in 6A — it is going to be about special players making special plays that will propel a team to win a coveted district crown. It is time for the cream to rise to the top and take a district title home.

And the most special player in the area, and possibly the entire state of Pennsylvavania, is Coatesville’s superlative sophomore quarterback Ricky Ortega.

That’s right. It is hard for the rest of District 1 to imagine that they still have two more years to deal with one of the most dynamic quarterback talents the area has ever seen. As a freshman, the highly touted Red Raider burst on the scene and took Coatesville to a Ches- Mont League title and a semifinal appearance in the 6A district playoffs before bowing out to North Penn.

This season has seen the Red Raider star throw 34 touchdown passes with only two interceptions. High school kids, especially sophomores, do not produce like that. Only the truly special ones, like Ricky Ortega do things like that.

Take the last two weeks. Ortega so bewildered a good Downingtown East defense that Cougar head coach Mike Matta said after the 61- 42 loss that Ortega was the one player who made the talentladen Red Raiders truly special. Last week, Coatesville knocked out Pennsbury 42- 2, and Falcons head coach Dan McShane called the Red Raider signal- caller “the total package,” while he shook his head in amazement.

With Ortega, it is not just about the stats or the highlight film. It is just amazing to watch a high school

player have such a high football I. Q.

Some of that comes from being a coach’s son as Coatesville head coach Matt Ortega, who is also one of the best around, is Ricky’s dad. All Matt has done is win the last two Ches- Mont League titles and take his Red Raiders to their third district title game in the last six years with a state final appearance in 2012 on the resume.

Against Pennsbury Friday night, the young quarterback noticed the linebackers and safety cheating to the outside, so he punished the Falcons’ defense with runs up the middle. And he is no lumbering quarterback. Ortega has some get- up in his step and is a threat to go all the way every time he tucks the ball and takes off.

And the Red Raider superstar is also mentored by quarterback guru Jim Catafio, who has made Ortega his special project. No one in the state knows more about quarterback play than the wily Catafio, and he said after the Pennsbury game that the sophomore will have his pick of any college he wishes.

So after leaving Harry S. Truman, Downingtown East and Pennsbury coaches shaking their collective heads and marveling at his exploits, Ortega is poised to take his team — andmake no mistake — the Red Raiders are his team to a coveted District 1 championship with a win over Garnet Valley and a date with either Parkland or St. Joseph’s Prep for a trip to Hershey.

Some people say that the a public school does not have a chance against an all- star team like the Prep. Most teams do not have a chance.

But most teams do not have a special talent like Ricky Ortega who is the brightest star shining on the District 1 landscape. And Pennsylvania is going to find that out in the next three weeks.