In the first of two Homecoming games in the Downingtown Area School District @ Kottmeyer Stadium (Downingtown West's is next week), before the Downingtown Civil War on 10/23, two rivals met for the first time since 2005.  The schools would be Downingtown East and Malvern Prep, and odd things happen when the teams meet on the field.  The last time the teams met, Pat Devlin was shattering the Pennsylvania record books and the Cougars almost escaped Quigley Field with a win on a version of the Miracle in Memphis.

This year, the players are different, Malvern is coached by a different Pelligrini (Gamp retired, son Kevin is the head coach now), but the Cougars held on to win, 27-17.  The game was a lot closer than the score indicated, as Downingtown East scored 20 points on 2 big pass plays and a blocked punt.  To Malvern Prep's credit, the Friars have been the only team to shut down Downingtown East's running game, limiting the Cougars to 86 yards (26 carries), and Drew Harris to 97 yards and about 4.5 yards per run.

Malvern Prep was able to move the ball effectively, mixing a short passing game with misdirection on a consistant basis.  The Friars were able to stake claim to a 3-0 lead after their first drive on a 31 yard Mark Tiberi field goal.  Both teams then traded touchdowns- as Downingtown East took a short lived 7-3 lead when Trey Lauletta hit Blaise Santangelo with a 69 yard touchdown pass, and Malvern Prep answered when Bob Scarmuzza scored on a 2 yard plunge.  The extra point was blocked, but Malvern had a 9-7 lead.  The lead was short lived, as the Cougars took the lead for good when Trey Lauletta and Blaise Santangelo hooked up yet again, this time from only 60 yards out.  Blaise Santangelo's only 2 catches of the game went for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Downingtown East took a 20-9 lead into halftime, when Joe Miller (who also recovered a fumble later in the game) blocked a Malvern punt, and Max Narewski took it in from 31 yards out.  To the chagrin of the Cougars- Malvern Prep would not go away, as the Friars closed the gap to 20-17, when halfback Adam Spencer scored on a counter from 6 points out and converted a 2 point pass from Gunther to Tiberi.  Downingtown East cemented the Homecoming win, when Drew Harris scored from 12 yards out.

QUOTABLE:

Malvern Prep head coach Kevin Pelligrini-

It was a well played game, they hit 3 big plays on us (the two long passes and the blocked punt), the kids played hard.  Downingtown East is a good team, and very well coached.  My kids played their hearts out tonight

Downingtown East head coach Mike Matta-

I am proud of our kids tonight, they worked hard.  They competed.  Malvern came to take away the run, and they did that.  They were the first team to do that this season.  It made us throw more.  We were unable to wear them down like we wanted to, because of summits on every play.  We are rarely penalized, 7 is uncharacteristically high for us.

Downingtown East quarterback Trey Lauletta- Blaise Santangelo stepped up big time for us tonight.  We had a kid quit the team.  I give all the credit to our offensive line- they did a real good job protecting me tonight.

Key Stats-

Lauletta 10-16 passing, 280 yards, 2 tds

Santangelo 129 yards receiving, 2 tds (2 catches).

Tyler Kroft 4 catches- 74 yards.

Drew Harris 97 yards, 1 td

Downingtown East- 366 yards of offense.

Malvern Prep

Hill- 94 yards rushing, 101 total yards.