Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Looking ahead to a normal (we hope) ’21 season
The coronavirus pandemic caused the 2020 scholastic football season to hit the pause button back in August. So when the area’s teams began play at different times in October, it almost felt like a little preview of the 2021 football season.
Here is a look at what I think we learned about the various teams, going into what we hope is a full 2021 season in the Ches-Mont League.
In the Ches-Mont League National Division it was clear that Coatesville was the best squad, and the Red Raiders advanced to the first round of the District 1 Class 6A playoffs behind sophomore quarterback Harrison Susi and a very underrated defense. Next year, Coatesville will be one of the favorites to win District 1.
Downingtown West has a large junior class this season and the Whippets will return a ton of experienced talent next year. For the Whippets, Drew Shelton, Ryan Waters, Will Mahmud and others will likely see a return to prominence for the Downingtown West program that seems to have found a quarterback in junior Evan Wickersham.
For Downingtown East next season, the Cougars may have the best back around in Josh Asante. The Cougars seem set at quarterback with impressive sophomore Jamy Jenkins adeptly handling those duties. Jenkins has a big arm and makes very good decisions for a young signal-caller.
Bishop Shanahan did not play enough games before the October 31 deadline to qualify for the district playoffs. The Eagles will return a lot of talent to a team that will finish 4-0. Avon Grove played very hard for firstyear head coach Joe Coffey, and the Red Devils upset a good Unionville squad this season. Things may finally be looking up for the Red Devils.
In the Ches-Mont American, West Chester East will lose a lot of senior talent, but has found a star running back in Mitch
Ragni. West Chester Henderson continued the road back from a winless season, and quarterback Eddie Smink will be back next season for the Warriors, who won their last two games of the season.
Great Valley and Kennett lost a lot of talent from this season but with two good head coaches in place, Jeff Martin at Great Valley and Lance Frazier at Kennett, look for both to be very competitive next season.
The two top dogs of the American will be top dogs again next year, also. West Chester Rustin sreturn junior running back Dayshawn Jacobs and Unionville’s offensive and defensive lines were young this season. Oxford, under head coach Mike Means, won its last game of the season and may be ready to take the next step in the American and contend next year.
So, while the 2020 season was a shortened one, all coaches and players should be commended for getting through it. And the short season gave us a pretty good glimpse at what we might see in a (hopefully) regular 2021 season.