WHIPPETS OUT-SLUG SHANAHAN IN SH

Tonight at Kottmeyer Stadium, the Downingtown West Whippets used a strong offense, a bend but don't break defense, a subpar game by Nolan Kearney, and a Kearney onsides kick return- in downing a much improved Bishop Shanahan squad, 44-29. Tonight's game had 862 total yards of offense- 503 for Downingtown West, and 359 for Shanahan. On the season, Shanahan fell to 2-7 with 3 games left on their schedule (Kennett, Academy Park, and West Chester Rustin). However, the Eagles' record is not indiciative of the way they have played in 2007, especially the second half.

Downingtown West's offense opened the game like a bull in a china shop. The Whippets jumped out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter, on touchdown runs by Jared Heller and Matt McLaughlin, and a 23 yard field goal by Owen Phillips. Was this going to be a repeat of the 42-8 decimiation of Shanahan handed to them by the Whippets in 2006? Not so fast, my friends. This is not a Shanahan team that lays down, despite being outmanned and outsized. Two touchdown passes from Shanahan sophomore quarterback Greg Cordivari to Tom Shrader cut the lead to 17-15 going into halftime.

Downingtown West pulled away somewhat in the third quarter, helped out by two Cordivari interceptions. Heller scored two touchdowns, covering 5 and 21 yards, which expanded the Whippet advantage to 30-15. A 26 yard pass from Nolan Kearney to Matt McLaughlin later in the third quarter- and it looked like the Whippets would win going away, as the quarter ended with the Whippets ahead 37-15. However, someone forgot to tell Shanahan that they were done. A touchdown pass from Greg Cordivari to Matt Carlin cut the lead to 37-22, and a third touchdown pass to Tom Shrader closed out the scoring tonight at 44-29.

Normally, a Downingtown West game turns into the Nolan Kearney and Jared Heller show, but Greg Cordivari stole the show tonight. Cordivari threw for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns, on 20 for 36 passing.

Up next for Shanahan is a nonleague game against Kennett, and for Downingtown West is the District 1 playoffs, against an opponent to be named.

Shanahan coach Paul Meyers- "We did not play 4 quarters tonight. If we re-played the 3rd quarter, it would be a different story. They jumped on us early, and we did not quit."

Downingtown West coach Mike Milano- "I feel as if there was no letdown from the Coatesville performance last week. The Shanahan quarterback (Greg Cordivari) was very efficient, and they have some athletes on the offensive side of the ball. It was better to get the sloppy game out of our system now, as the competition gets better now that the playoffs are here- one bad game, and we're out. It is impossible to reach perfection, but when you aim for it, you are likely to achieve excellence."

BSHS- Shrader 5 pass from Cordivari (conversion successful, Cordivari to Sullivan)

Q4- BSHS- Carlin 5 pass from Cordivari (Rush kick)
DHSW- Heller 7 run (Phillips kick)

Receiving- Downingtown West- Heller 1-(minus 2), Ludwig 1-6, Pirri 1-20, Miller 5-137, McLaughlin 2-42 TD

Bishop Shanahan- Shrader 6-123 3td, Branton 1-13, Sullivan 4-67, Carlin 4-41 td, Alderman 5-59, Wolfe 1-31, Remaley 1-16

Rushing- Downingtown West- Kearney 10-62, Heller 20-171 4 td, McLaughlin 4-59 td, O'Toole 2-8, Trexler 1-0.

Bishop Shanahan- Cordivari 4-(minus 40), Vaders 1-0, Carr 6-20, Branton 8-34, Sullivan 2-9