Coatesville celebrates 56-7 homecoming blowout

Through wind and rain, Raiders’ running backs carry team to victory

By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times

Daquan Worley cuts across the field en route to a 66-yard touchdown. Coatesville’s committee of running backs has been unstoppable all year. Photo by Justine Newman

CALN – Some games, not only does one team look stronger on paper, but it also benefits from the lucky bounces – and even the weather.

Everything went Coatesville’s way in its 56-7 homecoming victory over Kennett on Friday night.

During an evening of what can be described as ‘football weather,’ the rain came down and the wind blew through the cool night, forcing both teams to keep the ball on the ground. Coatesville Coach Matt Ortega said that the conditions played into his team’s hands.

“With this team being built around defense and a run game, this kind of weather really doesn’t bother you,” he said. “With the style of offense that we play this year and the kids we have, I wasn’t really worried.”

This confidence was clear from the opening drive.

Senior running back Daquan Worley started the game with a 17-yard run, which was followed up by a 37-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jordan Young to junior wide receiver Jay Stocker to put Coatesville at Kennett’s 15 early. Two more Worley runs, and Coatesville was in the endzone. Perhaps caused by the wet conditions, the home team botched the snap, but quick thinking allowed senior tight end Tyler Burke to get open and convert the two, putting Coatesville up 8-0 with just over a minute played.

“We had two bad weeks where we didn’t feel like we played to our potential, and this was a week Coach Ortega and all the coaches stressed to us, let’s get back to where we belong, and let’s play how we usually play,” said Worley.

Kennett’s attempt to answer back was foiled by a stifling Coatesville run defense and the wet weather conditions. A couple of runs stopped behind the line, a high snap, and two false start calls forced them to punt from their own two.

From there, the night would only get tougher for the visiting side.

On the first play of Coatesville’s next drive, Worley took an outside handoff to the right, got into the secondary, and brought the ball across the field, racing down the left sideline for a 66-yard touchdown.

“I was just following my o-line. Whatever I was there, I was hitting it,” said Worley.

Early on, the wet ball forced Kennett out of its option game, causing them to stick to inside runs, which played into the hands of a Coatesville defense that has been playing in opposing backfields all year. Though senior running back Noah Turner found some room on a toss for a good gain, the play would be negated by a holding call. A high snap on the punt attempt gave Coatesville the ball back deep in Kennett territory.

A couple of Worley runs set up a 4-yard touchdown on a Young keeper to make the score 22-0. The rest of the first half would continue in much the same style. In addition to Worley’s unstoppable running, Coatesville got good contributions on the ground from senior Isaiah Flamer, junior Jalen Hudson, and even senior wide receiver Jay Stocker, who took an endaround 38 yards for a second-quarter touchdown.

Worley said that the running-back-by-committee helps keep defenses on their heels. “It’s helping the team out real good. And it’s helping me out because I’m getting a breather and he’s [Isaiah Flamer] getting a breather. We’re both good backs, and we can exploit defenses together,” he said.

Two more touchdowns from Hudson made the score 50-0 at halftime.

The second half went better for Kennett. With the rain letting up, the Blue Demons were able to find some success through the air, and the offensive line created holes in the defense for Turner to run through.

Senior quarterback Nick Dunleavy looked particularly strong, showing awareness in the pocket that enabled him to spot open receivers and scramble when there were none. His play established a rhythm for the offense, allowing Kennett to drive down the field for a 1-yard touchdown run by senior full back Liam Clarke.

Running the ball from heavy 3-back formations, Kennett looked solid for much of the second half, and the defense contained the opposition’s strong running game. Coatesville’s only touchdown came off of an interception that allowed the home team to start a drive inside the Blue Demons’ 1.

With the ball deep in Kennett’s territory at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Dunleavy floated a pass to his left, but Coatesville’s junior cornerback read the play well, jumping the route and nearly returning it for a touchdown.

Sophomore running back Chris Jordan punched the ball in to cap off the scoring at 56-7.

Coatesville remains undefeated. At 7-0, they look poised to continue their run through the Ches-Monts to the playoffs next week at Henderson. At 2-5, Kennett will look to play to the strengths the team found in the second half, playing at home against Octarara next week.