By BRAD SPAHR
bspahr@dailylocal.com
DOWNINGTOWN - The Downingtown West High School football team was looking to take out a whole lot of frustration on somebody a week after suffering its first loss of the season on the road at Ceasar Rodney (Del.), and that certainly wasn’t good news for winless Penn Wood.
Downingtown West rushed for a whopping 277 yards, and basically did whatever it wanted on the way to a 42-0 nonleague blowout over the visiting Patriots on Friday night at Kottmeyer Stadium in a contest that saw the mercy-rule kick in effect for the majority of the second half.
The Whippets (3-1 overall) got a big night from junior running back Jonathan Reyes, who rushed for a game-high 88 yards on nine carries and scored two touchdowns. Junior running back Mitch Meleski also was a force offensively, as he rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Passing wasn’t much of a problem either for Downingtown West. Junior quarterback Nick Pagel was a perfect 5-of-5 through the air for 86 yards and a score.
“We were a very motivated bunch after last week’s loss,” said Downingtown West defensive coordinator John Carroll, who was filling in for head coach Mike Milano as he served his one-game suspension. “We had a great week of practice for this game. We were ready to explode on somebody.
“Our offensive line did a great job blocking tonight, and our kids really ran hard behind them. It was a strong all-around team effort from top to bottom.”
Reyes scored on a pair of touchdown runs in the first half to help the Whippets seize a commanding 28-0 lead at halftime over the Patriots (0-4). Reyes went in from 7 yards out with 2:51 left in the first quarter to open the scoring. Meleski then added a 1-yard scoring run with 35 ticks on the first quarter clock to extend the lead to 14-0.
Reyes’ 12-yard run into the end zone early in the second quarter made it 21-0, and then Justin Schmitt hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Pagel to close out a dominant opening half.
“We were pretty fired up for this one,” said Reyes. “We had plenty of motivation. We wanted to win this one for coach.
“We played full speed the entire time. Our offensive line did an amazing job too. Without them the running backs are nothing.”
Downingtown West added two more touchdowns in the third quarter. Jimmy DiSantis scored on a 1-yard run, and then Evan Wolf intercepted a pass and took it back 62 yards to the house.
Penn Wood was led by Akinshola Jolaoso, who had a team-high 23 yards rushing.
The Whippets were once again outstanding defensively. They allowed only 129 yards and forced three turnovers. In its three wins so far this season, West has given up a combined seven points.
It was a strong final tune-up for the Whippets, as they’ll now gear up to open Ches-Mont League play next Friday night at West Chester East.
“This was a really good win for us going into league competition,” said Carroll. “Hopefully we have another great week of practice and I’m sure the kids will be ready to go for their first Ches-Mont game.”
Downingtown West 42
Penn Wood 0
Penn Wood 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Downingtown West 14 14 14 0 -- 42
Scoring
DW-Reyes 7 run (Caruso kick)
DW-Meleski 1 run (Caruso kick)
DW-Reyes 12 run (Caruso kick)
DW-Schmitt 16 pass from Pagel (Caruso kick)
DW-DiSantis 1 run (Caruso kick)
DW-Wolf 62 interception return (Caruso kick)
Team Totals
PW DW
First downs 7 18
Yards rushing 61 277
Yards passing 68 86
Total yards 129 363
Passing 10-18-2 5-5-0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties 5-30 2-15
Punts-Avg. 3-28.0 1-32.0
Individual Statistics
RUSHING - Penn Wood: Jolaoso 6-23; Zahnee 5-13; Gonwoe 1-11; Lucas-Tillery 4-10; Ringgold 4-4. Downingtown West: Reyes 9-88, 2TDs; Meleski 12-86, TD; Pagel 6-45; Sauder 2-19; Harlow 1-13; DiSantis 4-12, TD; Hess 2-12; Speca 1-2.
PASSING - Penn Wood: Johnson III 10-18, 68 yds, 2INTs. Downingtown West: Pagel 5-5, 86 yds, TD.
RECEIVING - Penn Wood: Broach 6-45; Roberts 3-20; Willingham 1-3. Downingtown West: Meleski 2-57; Schmitt 2-30, TD; Reyes 1-(-1).
INTERCEPTIONS - Downingtown West: Domblesky, Wolf.
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