Coatesville

The Red Raider defense forced three and outs on f ive consecutive Downingtown West possessions. The Whippets ended up punting the football eight times on the night and nothing Downingtown West did offensively in the second half clicked. The Whippets were held to just 159 yards of total yards on the night.

And it was the punting game that played a very big part in the game in the third quarter. With the Whippets in punt formation, a high snap went over the Whippet punter’s head and ended up out of the end zone for a safety, allowing Coatesville to draw closer at 14-9, late in the third period.

Downingtown West then kicked off to the Red Raiders and Coatesville’s Abdul Sabur-Stewart took the free kick down the right sideline for a big return. Add on a late hit call on the Whippets, and Coatesville was in business at the West 28-yard line.

Four straight punishing carries from McClainJackson brought the ball to the Downingtown West 1-yard line, and two plays later, Susi went in from a yard out to give Coatesville a 22-14 lead.

Downingtown West had one last chance at tying the game, with the ball at its own 43-yard line with 44 seconds to play in the game. But the Coatesville defense sacked Wickersham, one of three sacks on the night, and the Red Raiders had their revenge.

“We knew coming in they had a lot of two-way players,” said Coatesville head coach Matt Ortega. “And we played to the strength of our team and we feel that is our defense. We challenged the kids and they really came through tonight. And to all the high school football players out there they deserve a ton of credit to go through everything we have had to go through.

“And these kids came in and did this for each other and for the community,” Ortega said. “Just having the chance to play a football game is special and tonightwas a celebration of that.”