Kennett, Unionville meet with lots on the line

By PETER DiGIOVANNI
cpn11716@comcast.net

Week 10 is here and this marks the last game of the regular season for area teams. Many squads will be playing in next weekend’s Class AAAA and AAA playoffs and the outcome of this week’s games will go a long way toward determing who makes the postseason and, in other cases, where and who teams will be playing.
Downingtown West will make the Class AAAA playoffs if they defeat Bishop Shanahan on Saturday, and in the Ches-Mont American Division, Kennett hosts Unionville in a huge contest. Unionville (5-0, 7-2) can win its first Ches-Mont League title with a victory and Kennett can make the Class AAAA playoffs for the first time and share the league crown if they can defeat the Indians.
Kennett head coach Scott Green talked about how tough a foe Unionville will be and said his group is just taking the game like the previuos nine.
“Unionville is a very tough opponent that can beat you in a lot of ways,” Green said. “Their quarterback Pancoast (Tom) is very good running and throwing the football and last week Pechin (Brad) had a real good game.
“They present a lot of problems and they always play very good defense. I am familiar with Unionville because when I was at Garnet Valley we played them a lot of times. This is a very goood Unionville team.
“But, we will take it like any other game and not worry about what happens if we win. We know what is at stake and I have to give our senior leadership credit. They are very level headed and they have a lot of character. It just is a great group of kids.
“But it will be business as usual and we do not have a sense of accomplishment yet. We know what we are playing for and we feel our business is not done yet. This will be a good football game.”
Pick: I think Kennett is a very good team and Unionville has been giving up a ton of points lately and I feel this one goes down to the wire and I’ll take the Blue Demons in a minor upset.
 Pick: Kennett 28, Unionville 27

Avon Grove (1-8) at Coatesville (7-2)
Coatesville has been a wrecking crew the last five games (all wins) and the young Red Devils probably are just happy the season is over. Emmett Hunt should continue his aerial assault on the Ches-Mont.
 Pick: Coatesville 48, Avon Grove 7

Upper Darby (4-5) at Conestoga (5-4)
Conestoga lost its chance at a playoff spot by losing to Haverford last week but the Pioneer offense should have another big game tonight against the Royals. Pioneers receiver Andrew DeStefano had another big game last week against Haverford.
 Pick: Conestoga 35, Upper Darby 21

W.C. Henderson (7-2) at Downingtown East (9-0)
The Henderson gang has beaten the Cougars the last two years in this same spot. But, East can wrap up the top seed in the Class AAAA playoffs with a win and I think they get the job done this time. Henderson will be in the Class AAA playoffs next week, win or lose.
 Pick: Downingtown East 28, W.C. Henderson 14

Sun Valley (4-5) at Great Valley (5-4)
Great Valley’s goal of reaching the Class AAAA playoffs fell short, but quarterback Chris Geiss has too much firepower to lose to a Vanguard team that gives up a lot of points.
 Pick: Great Valley 31, Sun Valley 21

Octorara (1-8) at W.C. Rustin (7-2)
A Golden Knights win likely gives Rustin a home playoff game and the Braves should not stand in their way. Rustin is too strong up front for the visitors.
 Pick: W.C. Rustin 35, Octorara 10

Oxford (4-5) at W.C. East (1-8)
West Chester East has been having trouble on both sides of the ball but I think the Vikings can score enough on the Hornets to get the home win. Oxford is looking for a .500 season.
 Pick: W.C. East 24, Oxford 21

Saturday’s games
 Downingtown West (6-3) at Bishop Shanahan (3-5)
Downingtown West has had a very tough last two weeks as the Whippets played Downingtown East and Coatesville back to back. The Whippet defense gave up 87 points in those two games, butWest should get the win here and garner a coveted Class AAAA playoff spot.
 Pick: Downingtown West 28, Bishop Shanahan 14

Malvern Prep (5-3) at Haverford School (6-2)
The Friars need this win to have any chance at sharing the Inter-Ac title. Malvern had trouble moving the football last week against Episcopal, but this is easier.
 Pick: Malvern Prep 24, Haverford School 21

Follow Peter DiGiovanni at twitter.com/dlnsports.