WHIPPETS FALL TO DELAWARE INVADERS  by Paul Sarpen
9/9/2005

On the 2nd Friday night of September, the Whippets of Downingtown West were soundly defeated by the Cavaliers of Middletown, Delaware.  This was the opening game for Middletown, who went 9-4 last season- which included a run into the Delaware state playoffs.  I gather that Middletown will be there again this fall, as they are a complete team.
 
This game got out of hand very quickly.  After a scoreless first quarter ended with Middletown driving, the second quarter started with one of two James Shrewsbury field goals (35 yards and 24 yards).  Shrewsbury had 6 kickoffs for touchbacks, and had a 45 yard punt 'to boot'.  The Cavalier defense snuffed Downingtown West's offense in the first half, as the Whippets only crossed midfield once, resulting in a missed field goal.  After the 2 Shrewsbury field goals, Middletown quarterback Chuck Walker scored from 3 yards out capping an short drive to make it 14-0.  A blocked punt later in the 2nd quarter led to a 47 yard touchdown pass from Chuck Walker to Vince Tiberi made it 21-0 for the visitors.
 
The 2nd half was no better, but West did make a game of it momentarily.  After a Chuck Walker 19 yard run, the Whippets closed within 28-14- with 5 yard touchdown runs by Roshaan McCain and Robbie Gerlach. 
 
In the end, it was just too much Middletown.  The Cavaliers scored twice in the fourth quarter on an 11 yard run by Dan Shine, and a 31 yard run by Michael Young.  Up next for Middletown (1-0) is Delaware power Caesar Rodney, and up next for Downingtown West  (0-2) is Chester at Kottmeyer Stadium.
 
In talking with Middletown coach Mark DelPercio, kicker James Shrewsbury is heavily recruited, and has numerous scholarship offers.
 
Return back to the 2000-2002 seasons, with the monster Downingtown offensive line- this is Middletown.  One TE is 6'7 245, their starting Offensive Line was 6'2 240, 6'5 295, 6'4 290, 6'1 295, 6'5 260, 6'7 245.
 
GAME STATS
DWHS-            0-0-14-0- 14
M-TOWN(DE)-  0-21-7-14- 42

Q1- NO SCORING
Q2- MHS- James Shrewsbury 35 yd field goal
      MHS- James Shrewsbury 24 yd field goal
      MHS- Chuck Walker 3 yd run (Shine run)
      MHS- Vince Tiberi 47 yard pass from Walker (Shrewsbury kick)
Q3- MHS- Chuck Walker 19 yard run (Shrewsbury kick)
     DHSW- Roshaan McCain 5 yard run (Long kick)
     DHSW- Robbie Gerlach 5 yard run (Long kick)
Q4- MHS- Dan Shine 11 yard run (Shrewsbury kick)
      MHS- Michael Young 31 yard run (Shrewsbury kick)
 
First Downs
DHSW- 14
MTOWN- 21
 
Comp-Att-Int-Yards
DHSW- 10-28-2- 151
MTOWN- 5-11-0- 176
 
Rushes- Yards
DHSW- 26-110
MTOWN- 45-322
 
Total Yards
DHSW- 261
MTOWN- 498
 
Turnovers
DHSW- 4 (2 fumbles, 2 int)
MTOWN- 2 (2 fumbles)
 
Penalties
DHSW- 4-17
MTOWN- 9-75
 
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing
MTOWN- Chuck Walker- 5-47 2TDs, Adam Wright 1-2, Calvin Suggs 8-72, Zach Wolfe 6-25, Marc Vannicola 6-19, Justin Osborn 1-1, Dan Shine 6-24 1TD, Michael Young 5-68 1TD, Jerome Dunn 2-14, Sean Adkins 2-26, Julius Taylor 1-7, Stanford Demby 1-9, Ashton Daviston 1-5.
DHSW- Roshaan McCain 16-57 1TD, Marquies Butterfield 2-27, Pete Hamill 1-0, Robbie Gerlach 2-7 1TD, Kirchgasser 1-9, Ryan Miller 3-5.
 
Passing
MTOWN- Chuck Walker 5-11, 176 yards, 1 TD
DHSW- Marty Johnson 0-2, Nolan Kearney 10-26 151 yards,  2 INT
 
Receiving
MTOWN- Vince Tiberi 2-110 1TD, Dan Shine 1-5, Justin Osborn 2-61
DHSW- McCain 1-10, Jon Connell 3-64, Adam Ballester 5-72, Rhett Bull 1-5
 
NOTEWORTHY
First ever meeting between schools.  Middletown had 13 different players run the football.
 
QUOTES
Mark DelPercio (Middletown Coach)-
On Middletown's physical play "We take pride in our physical play, and our work ethic- particularly in our offseason program"
On the top 7 rbs "No running back won or lost the job, we needed all 7 of them in there"
On Downingtown West's comeback "We were on our heels there after that turnover and score to make it 28-14, they did not quit.  That touchdown by Dan really was a momentum shifter"
 
Mike Milano (Downingtown West Coach)-
On Allentown Central Catholic loss last week- "We did not have much emotional baggage from that game.  Yes there was a controversial call at the end of the game, but we should not have been in that predicament.  I discussed this with the team"
 
On the game tonite- "We had a great week of practice, we rebounded well in practice from the ACC loss"  "We struggled, and did not execute."
 
On starting QB Brian Burke's injury "He suffered a broken left (non throwing) hand on the 4th play of our first scrimmage.  He is in a club cast.  We just got him back this week, but he is not game ready yet.  Maybe linebacker might be an option with his club cast, but not in game shape yet"
 
On starting QB Nolan Kearney- "He is the solution to our quarterback position.  He is a hell of a quarterback now, and can only get better.  He was not the reason we lost tonight, it was just a physical failure on both sides of the ball."

*****************************

Bethlehem Catholic- 28, Coatesville- 16
CJ Gray (RB-Coatesville) did not play in Saturday night's game between Bethlehem Catholic and Coatesville.  Clinton Gray was benched for the game due to him missing practice on Labor Day.
 
Downingtown East- 34, William Tennent- 7
Downingtown East reserve quarterback Leonard Hamilton was 7-9 for 54 yards and Richie Walls ran for 165 yards, as Downingtown East downed visiting William Tennent 34-7.  Pat Devlin should be cleared to play for this Friday night's game @ Elizabethtown.  Devlin suffered a mild shoulder sprain, and has been held out of the Cougars' first 2 games for precautionary measures.