Red Raiders’ ground game stifles Titans’ second half comeback attempt
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
Jalen Hudson carries in a three-yard touchdown run to cap off scoring Friday night. Hudson has combined with Daquan Worley and Isaiah Flamer to yield an unstoppable running game for the offense.
CALN – Football is often referred to as a game of two halves—that is, halftime adjustments can make up for early shortcomings and allow a losing team to change the momentum of a game.
But it was Coatesville’s strong start gave it the 46-13 home win over Central Bucks South at home on Friday night.
Combined efforts from sophomore quarterback Jordan Young and seniors Isaiah Flamer and Daquan Worley put the Red Raiders up and gave their team a 27-0 lead after the first half. CB South’s halftime adjustments put the visitors within two touchdowns, but they could not overcome the hole they had to work from. Coatesville ran the ball and the clock to victory.
A strong opening drive provided the foundation that Coatesville would work with for most of the game. Solid gains from Worley runs and Young passes allowed the home side to move the ball 71 yards in less than a minute-and-a-half and go up 7-0 off of a 12-yard Young scramble.
Defensively, Worley, committed to play cornerback at Penn State next year, made sure momentum stayed on his team’s side. CB South lobbed a long pass on its first drive. Too far for the receiver, Worley’s speed allowed him to run under the pass and make the interception.
On the ensuing drive, his efforts on the ground set up Flamer’s 28-yard touchdown run.
“My offensive line opened up great holes. We came together as the night came on,” said Worley.
Though the Titans had some success gaining first downs, they did not pose much of a threat in the first half, never getting much past midfield. Their inability to backup Coatesville’s defense provided opportunities for special teams.
Junior returner Jalen Hudson seized his opportunity.
In the middle of the second quarter, Coatesville’s swarming defense stopped a CB South drive at the offense’s 26. The Coatesville return man took the punt from inside his own half, cut across the field, and brought the ball back to the Titans’ 16. Two Worley runs later, Coatesville was up 20-0.
The Coatesville defense kept swarming. On the next drive, senior linebacker Tyler Burke stripped the ball from the quarterback, getting the Red Raiders the ball back in enemy territory.
“The back was offset; we moved and slanted our line based on where he was, and we got that penetration,” said Coach Ortega.
A penalty, a sack, and a fumble only moved Coatesville backward, but consecutive 17-yard completions to Worley and Burke dug the team out of the hole, eventually winding up in a fourth down completion from Young to junior wide receiver James Clark for a 20-yard touchdown.
An interception by each team—Coatesville’s provided by Burke—took the game into the half with the Red Raiders leading 27-0.
The complexion of the game changed early in the second half. On the first play, CB South gained 28 yards off of a pass. Using options, play action, and short passing, they maximized the returns of their passing success, going 80 yards on the opening drive for a touchdown.
A stalled Coatesville drive gave the away team another opportunity to continue its success, finding open space left by aggressive linebackers to pass their way to another touchdown, cutting the lead to 27-13.
Content to stop the run, Ortega was unfazed.
“When you come up with a scheme to hold him [CB South’s running back] to -9 yards, you’re going to be giving up certain things,” he said. “That’s one of the best tailbacks in the state, and he didn’t have a rushing yard. You pick and choose what you’re going to do.”
The strategy paid off with Coatesville’s first half lead establishing the basis for a second half offense based on running—not a bad option considering Coatesville’s running game.
“We tried to keep fighting back through all that adversity so we could make big plays as a team,” said Worley.
Where most teams would be content with running out the clock, Worley allows Coatesville to pose a scoring threat with every carry. His 51-yard touchdown run near the end of the third quarter showed just how hard it is to come back against a side that can run the ball so well.
“We didn’t make any adjustments; we just had to find it deep in ourselves to fight back,” said Worley.
Two tackles for losses and an incomplete passed forced a Titans three-and-out on the next drive, and Coatesville’s run game just kept marching on.
Eight straight running plays were capped off with a six-yard touchdown pass from Young to Clark at the beginning of the fourth quarter, ending any lingering hopes of a comeback or a close game.
Burke grabbed another interception, and Hudson ran in another touchdown for good measure, making the final 46-13.
Though Worley and Ortega claim they do not look at the rankings and feel no pressure to perform given last year’s results, one has to wonder if the Red Raiders are poised to make another deep playoff run. One of the best running games in the state has an even better defense to provide a counterpoint. And though new players have been brought in at quarterback and receiver, Coatesville does not seem to have suffered much. Look for their passing game, and look for the coach to open up the playbook as the season goes on.
I think I would agree that this team is better than last year’s. The defense seems noticeably better, as are the running backs. The passing game may have been a bit stronger last year, but that being said, I don’t think Ortega’s opened up the playbook all the way yet. I’m curious to see if he tries some more mid-range and deep passes tomorrow night.
This team is as good as last year. Looking at the schedule, I see them as going undefeated and another trip to Hershey. Coach Ortega has formed something very special and solid for years to come.