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Cougars show no mercy despite slow start, down Cahillites

Written by: Paul Sarpen on Saturday, September 8th, 2018. Follow Paul Sarpen on Twitter.

In the final week of non league games, the Downingtown East Cougars defeated the Cahillites from Roman Catholic, 42-7 at Kottmeyer Stadium. The win kept Downingtown East undefeated at 3-0 on the season and their seventh straight win over the Cahillites.

The Cougars’ special teams started the game off slowly and almost put them in a two score hole off the bat. Despite forcing a punt on Roman’s opening possession, Downingtown East fumbled the punt at their own 15 yard line. It took the Cahillites one play to take a 7-0 lead, as Ivan Thorpe hauled in a 15-yard strike from Rhyme Robinson..

Things went from bad to worse on the ensuing kickoff, as it was fumbled by the Cougars at their own 25. Like they did the rest of the night, Downingtown East’s defense stiffened, and it led to Downingtown East finally getting on the board. Following a punt on Downingtown East’s first possession, linebacker Connor Noble jumped a bubble screen and returned it 55 yards to cut the lead to 7-6.

From there, it was Downingtown East’s defense smothering Roman, and capitalizing on field position due to short punts by the Cahillites. Luke Davis scored on a quarterback sneak and on an option run (34 yards) to expand the lead to 20-7. Zach Hamilton scored from two yards out to push the lead to 27-7 at halftime.

Coming out of half, Garvey Jonassaint scored untouched on a 24-yard screen pass from Luke Davis to swell the Cougar advantage to 34-7. On their next possession, Davis hit Matt Harootunian from 20 yards out. Garvey Jonassaint’s two-point conversion put the lead at 42-7, invoking the mercy rule.

The mercy rule was not needed, however, as the game was ended with 2:37 left in the third quarter, on account of multiple lightning strikes in the area.

GAME SUMMARY-

Roman- 7- 0- 0-NA- 7

Down E- 13-14-15-NA- 42

RC- Thorpe 15 pass from Robinson (Flaherty kick)

DE- Noble 55 yard interception return (kick blocked)

DE- Davis 1 run (Murlless kick)

DE- Davis 34 run (Murlless kick)

DE- Hamilton 2 run (Murlless kick)

DE- Jonassaint 24 pass from Davis (Murlless kick)

DE- Harootunian 20 pass from Davis (Jonassaint run)

DE RC

First downs 13 7