COUGARS USE GROUND GAME TO 'WHIP' WHIPPETS 28-0

 

For the second year in a row, the Downingtown East Cougars won the "Battle of Downingtown" over the Downingtown West Whippets 28-0 at Kottmeyer Stadium.  For the first time in three meetings, the game was one sided (West won the first ever game between the two 13-10 in 2003, East won 28-14 last year).

 

This time, it was not the Pat Devlin Air Show.  Devlin threw the ball only four times (completing two) for 23 yards- unlike last week when Devlin threw for 442 yards opposite Interboro.  Due to lousy weather, and a muddy field- Devlin and the Cougars took to the ground, and ran roughshod over the Whippets, amassing 339 yards rushing on 55 carries.  Richie Walls toted the rock 23 times for 162 yards and a touchdown, Devlin had 116 yards, and Mike Burke added 59 yards and 2 touchdowns.

 

This game could have been a lot worse for Downingtown West, as two long Cougar drives ended in downs inside the Whippet 10 yard line.  One of those long drives came after a 38 yard punt, pinning East inside their 20.  The Cougars promptly marched to the Whippet 9, where the defense held East.  The other drive stalled on the Whippet 3 yard line, when East failed to convert a fourth and 13.

 

The third rendition of the "Battle of Downingtown" was not only one sided on the scoreboard, but on the stat sheet as well.  East outgained West 363 yards to 130, dominated time of possession by about 2 to 1, outrushed them 339 to 15.  The only bright spot for the Whippets was the passing of sophomore quarterback Nolan Kearney (9-14, 115 yards, 2 INT).

 

Up next for the Cougars (5-1, 1-0 Ches-Mont), is a road game at Coatesville.  For West (3-3, 0-1), West Chester East comes to "The Kott" for a league game.

 

GAME NOTES

- This was the 3rd meeting between Downingtown East and Downingtown West since Downingtown split after the 2002-03 school year (East leads 2-1).

 

- 339 yards rushing is a rivalry record, and I believe a Downingtown East team record

 

- First time both teams entered the game with winning records (East was 4-1, West 3-2)

 

- Pat Devlin is not the only Cougar attracting Division 1 attention.  2 way lineman Mike Lukenda is getting interest from 1-AA schools Northeastern, Towson State, and Delaware among others.

 

QUOTABLE-

Mike Lukenda (Downingtown East 2 way lineman)- "West was bigger than us, but I am not suprised we pushed them around. It was the most complete game we played all year."  (On the running game being so successful) "Everyone knows we can pass, they forget we can run."  (On next week's game @ Coatesville) "We have been waiting for this for an entire year, after watching them spit on our field after the game was an insult to us."

 

Mike Matta (Downingtown East coach)- "We played Downingtown Football tonight."  (On a budding rivalry with Downingtown West) "The kids were fired up for this game, we threw a few wrinkles in tonight's game." "This is what I want to see come out the rivalry, a mutual respect, the hugs after the game."  (Playing Coatesville next week)  "There will be no hugging next week, we have been waiting 365 days for this game.  We have been preparing since January 2nd for this game.  Everything we have been doing since, has been to get ready for Coatesville." (On both RBs Richie Walls and Mike Burke) "We have 2 good backs, people know about Walls, but underestimate Burke."

 

Mike Milano (Downingtown West coach)- (On tonight's game) "They ran outside the hash marks well, for a lot of big plays."  "Downingtown East was the better team tonight, and it showed."  (On the drive before halftime) "We needed to score a touchdown on that drive to make it 13-7, the sack obviously hurt."

 

SCORE SUMMARY & STATS

DEHS- 0-13-8-7-  28

DWHS- 0-0-0-0-    0

Q1- NO SCORING

Q2- DEHS- Richie Walls 36 yard run (O'Connor kick)
      DEHS- Pat Devlin 9 yard run (conversion failed)

Q3- DEHS- Mike Burke 4 yard run (Burke run)

Q4- DEHS- Mike Burke 8 yard run (O'Connor kick)

 

TEAM STATS

FIRST DOWNS

DEHS- 18

DWHS- 6

 

PUNTS/AVG

DEHS- 2/29

DWHS- 6/38

 

PENALTIES/YARDS

DEHS- 3/32

DWHS- 4/35

 

COMP/ATT/INT/YDS

DEHS- 2-4-0-23

DWHS- 9-14-2-115

 

RUSHES/YARDS

DEHS- 55/339

DWHS- 24/15

 

TOTAL YARDS

DEHS- 363

DWHS- 130

 

SACKS

DEHS- 3

DWHS- 1

 

INDIVIDUAL STATS

PASSING

DEHS- Devlin 2-4, 23 yards

DWHS- Kearney 9-14, 115 yards, 2 INT

 

RECEIVING

DEHS- Blye 1-13, Burke 1-10

DWHS- McCain 1-0, Connell 5-91, Butterfield 1-9, Ballester 2-15

 

RUSHING

DEHS- Devlin 17-116 TD, Burke 14-59 2TD, Walls 23-162 TD, Woodford 1-2

DWHS- Kearney 10-(minus 11), McCain 12-33, Butterfield 1-(minus 8), Bull 1-1

FUMBLES/LOST