Is ground game being passed over for aerial attacks?

By PETER DiGIOVANNI

cpn11716@comcast.net

With three big Suburban One League schools -- North Penn, Pennsbury and Neshaminy -- all getting blown out this past week, is it time to rethink the SOL’s brand of ground-and-pound football? It seems that high-powered passing teams like Downingtown East and St. Joseph’s Prep are taking advantage of some of these defenses.

Is the game changing or is it just that the balance of power in southeastern Pennsylvania shifting away from the traditional powers? We will see for sure in November.

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Kennett racked up over 400 yards of total offense in a 20-0 win over Twin Valley and are 3-0 for the first time in history. Now, truth be told, the Blue Demons’ early schedule does not match North Penn’s, but progress is progress and head coach Scott Green has done a wonderful job in his two-plus years at the helm.

Former head coach and current Coatesville athletic director Jim Donato, who started the Kennett program, took the approach to play the best teams he could find. Donato’s teams played West Chester Henderson, Interboro, and many other top notch programs. As good a job as Green has done, let us not forget that Donato began from scratch and did a very good job there in his time. Two approaches, you decide which one is better, if one is actually better, maybe they are just different.

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Big week in Chester County coming up as Downingtown East travels to Coatesville, Rustin goes to Unionville and Malvern hosts the top-ranked school in Class AAAA, La Salle. The two Ches-Mont League games will likely decide the two division champions and fans should not miss these games because they are rivalry games that really mean something.

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Octorara and head coach Jed King went to Pequea Valley and beat up on a friend of mine in Evan Breisblatt and the Braves, 25-6. Octorara got a huge game from quarterback Alex Gooden, who ran for 202 yards on 18 carries. It was nice to see the Braves bounce back from a tough loss the week before to Bishop Shanahan.

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Downingtown West goes to Camden, Delaware and bad things happen. Head coach Mike Milano gets tossed from the game and the Whippets get called for everything. No surprise there, it has been happening to schools who go to the first state for sometime. It is really a shame that a Ches-Mont school has to go to Delaware to find a game instead of playing a crossover game within the Ches-Mont League.

Former West Chester Henderson assistant and Marple Newtown head coach Jim Smith passed away last week. “Smitty” will be missed by all who had the good fortune of coming in contact with him. They say the good die young and his passing really proves that. Rest in peace, my friend.

 

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Football Top 10

Records through Sept. 15
1.Downingtown East (3-0) -- Another big win for Cougars against Pennsbury.

2.Malvern Prep (2-1) -- Friars face stern test with highly regarded La Salle.

3.Coatesville (2-1) -- Red Raiders score late to beat Central Dauphin East.

4.Unionville (2-1) -- Indians get ready for annual W.C. Rustin war.

5.W.C. Henderson (3-0) -- Wariors prove me wrong by downing PlymouthWhitemarsh.

6.W.C. Rustin (3-0) -- The Golden Knights have given up 14 points in three games.

7.Downingtown West (2-1) -- Tough trip to Delaware for Whippets as they lose to Caesar Rodney.

8.Conestoga (1-2) -- Pioneers need a win badly after loss to Ridley.

9.Kennett (3-0) -- Blue Demons look for four in a row this week.

10.Great Valley (2-1) -- Patriots bounce back against Penn Wood.

Follow Peter DiGiovanni at twitter.com/dlnsports