Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Coatesville piles up 546 yards in rout
CALN » Coatesville had a couple of things working against them coming into Thursday night’s game against Middletown (NJ) South. The high heat and humidity were going to make things tough to start on top of the fact that the Red Raiders were playing on extra short rest, having played Harrisburg last Saturday.
But as much as the situation called for a grind of a game that might find some weary Coatesville players by game’s end, it really didn’t matter, as Coatesville (2-0) had the game well in hand by halftime, then cruised to a 6214 Mercy-rule win over the Eagles.
“We’re 2-0 right now, and we’ve got some guys banged up,” said Raiders coach Matt Ortega. “It was good to get some guys a little rest and still come away with a win. It was a long week turning around on short rest but the guys came out and did what they had to do.”
The Coatesville offense was on fire in the early going, hitting big play after big play. Before you knew it, the Raiders had 35 points on the board despite only having run about a dozen offensive plays.
Dapree Bryant (4 catches, 107 yards) was the first one to find the end zone, hauling in a 55 yard pass from quarterback Ricky Ortega. The it was Ortega’s turn, taking a keeper and running it 34 yards down the sideline for another score. Ortega finished the night with 142 yards and two TDs on 8-11 passing, while tacking on 89 yards on four carries and the TD rushing.
Aaron Young notched the next two scores, taking one to the house from 81 yards out, then again on a two-yard plung. Young finished with 107 yards on four carries.
With well over five minutes to play in the first half, Bryant put the score at 35-0, finding paydirt on a 45-yard punt return.
“I saw a seam, and I hit it,”
said Bryant. “Once I hit it, I knew I was going to score.”
When the score was still just 14-0, the Eagles had a golden opportunity to get themselves right back in the game, having found a ground game that put up yards. Middletown put together a 70yard drive, highlighted by big runs from Vincent Condito and Jamie Petrillo. All of a sudden, the Eagles were inside the ten and looking like they might cut the margin in half.
But Coatesville refocused, and stopped them short on three straight plays.
“Mostly it’s the offense that gets a lot of the attention for us,” said Ortega. “But our defensive guys are really a tough, veteran group, and they always seem to come up big when we need them.”
With the game well in hand early, Coatesville had a chance to get some younger guys significant playing time, and
big plays proved contagious. Frankie De Los Santo had just three carries, but they were good for 105 yards and a touchdown. Eric Kirk joined in on the fun with a 47-yard score. And Demetirus McClain-Jackson included a 31yard scamper in his 52 yards on four carries.
“We like to come out and take command early,” said Bryant. “The best games are when we can build up a big lead, let the JVs get some time, and we can celebrate and cheer them on.”
The Red Raiders next game is unlikely to afford that chance. Coatesville will play host to perennial Mid-Penn powerhouse Cumberland Valley, who edged the Raiders in a heartbreaker last year.
“They’ve had our number the last couple years,” said Ortega. “but we’re really excited to have them come here and get another chance at them.”