Downingtown West

By PETER DiGIOVANNI

cpn11716@comcast.net

The 2013 edition of Downingtown West took a lot of people by surprise. With a relatively small physical group, the Whippets also did not have any big pre season and Division 1 college prospects. All the Whippets did was win the Ches-Mont League title outright and defeat West Chester Henderson, Downingtown East and Coatesville late in the season to capture the title.

The Whippets were forged by a tough, physical, smart bunch of football players who made up for their lack of size with heart, grit and determination. No scouting combine or college scout could see what was inside the hearts of the Whippet players. All they did was play football better than anyone in the Ches-Mont League and capture a Class AAAA District 1 playoff spot.

“We sure did not scare anyone getting off the bus and we will not do that this year either,” Downingtown West head coach Mike Milano said. “We just have some tough, hard nosed football players and we have some key people back that we think can do some good things.

“And winning the Ches-Mont crown last year has energized everyone around the program and the community. We have had big numbers out for football and the energy has been good. We are very excited about this season and we expect to defend our title.”

Fueling the coach’s optimism is senior quarterback Tyler McNulty, who takes over for last season’s Ches-Mont National Player of the Year, Nick Pagel. McNulty can throw the football, and likes to go deep when the situation arises. McNulty also has running backs Jake Barr and Jimmy DiSantis back and both can churn up the yardage and keep defenses honest.

“The pattern has been that the Ches-Mont team with the senior quarterback who has seen some reps in the previous seasons has gone on to win the league,” Milano said. “And we like Tyler. He can do some things on the football field. He can throw the deep ball and stretch a defense. We feel good about our offensive backfield and we have some tough guys up front.

“Defensively, we have Lucas McMahon at linebacker and he is one of the best in the league. Up front, Tom O’Brien is back and he did a good job for us last season. Tom Mattioni will also be back in the secondary as well as being used in the backfield.

Milano sees the Ches-Mont National as a very tough division again and he broke down the three teams he feels will be his Whippets chief competitors.

“West Chester Henderson has a lot of people back and they have the junior quarterback (Matt Dinacci), who played all last season and the big guy, Bryan White, up front. Downingtown East is big up front and they will be back. Coatesville has that Division 1 secondary and the junior quarterback Jordan Young, so they will be tough also.”

The Whippets’ nonleague schedule is challenging to say the least. Downingtown West will open with Central League entrant Haverford, which is coming off back-to-back nine- win seasons. Then, defending District 1 champ Neshaminy comes calling with Villanova-bound running back D’Andre Pollard. District 6 champion Mifflin County comes to Kottmeyer Stadium, while their crossover game is against Great Valley and new coach Dan Ellis.