Fueled by a tough loss to Downingtown East, Coatesville came together to dominate powerful Unionville
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
Coatesville High School football coach Matt Ortega addresses his team, Saturday, after an emotional and dominating 42-0 win over Unionville. Kyle Carrozza photo.
EAST MARLBOROUGH – If last week’s one-point loss to Downingtown East was the definition of a heartbreaking defeat, Coatesville’s 42-point win at Unionville on Saturday was the definition of a blowout victory.
Going into Saturday’s game, one had to wonder if the Red Raiders would be disheartened by last week’s result, which saw the Red Raiders battle back from a 21-point first quarter deficit, only to have victory snatched away on the last play of the game as East converted an extra point with no time left.
On the first play of this week’s game against Unionville, junior Daquan Worley put those wonders to bed in a resounding fashion. Showing good vision and breakaway speed, Worley returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. Junior Jon Bollenbach converted the extra point, and much like Worley on the return, the Red Raiders never looked back on en route to a 42-0 rout.
“He’s a hard worker, an unbelievable kid in practice,” head coach Matt Ortega said of Worley.
Led by Worley’s consistent success from his running back position and senior quarterback Emmett Hunt’s impressive game both running and passing the ball, the Red Raiders would take a 21-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Along with sophomore fullback Rahjier Miles-Eubanks, Worley’s running allowed Coatesville to control the ball and the clock for most of the game
The running back would not take sole credit for his performance, though. “My offensive line created the holes, and all I had to do was hit them,” Worley said.
Not to be outdone, the Red Raiders’ defense had an equally impressive day. They forced three and outs on Unionville’s first two possessions, and junior defensive back Isaiah Flamer grabbed an interception on the third. Through equal parts run and pass defense, Coatesville earned the shutout, including two forced and recovered fumbles in the second half and multiple fourth down stops.
The inspired game showed that the Red Raiders are better than their 3-2 record may suggest.
“It was an emotional week,” Ortega said about bouncing back from last week’s result. “I told the kids ‘we’re an impressive team; we just have to believe.’ ”
“We have to believe in the system,” Worley said, echoing his coach’s words. “We have to believe in the team.”
Coatesville will take that belief with them on Friday, facing Bishop Shanahan for the homecoming game.
