There were five lost fumbles in the game, three committed by East. The Cougars fumbled the ball away twice in the first quarter, and one led to seven Red Raiders points.
That score pushed the Red Raiders' advantage to 14-0, Coatesville having taken the lead on the game's opening series on 52-yard touchdown run by Dae-Hon Cheung. That came after the Red Raiders converted a gutsy fake punt from their own 14-yard line, a play that punter/backup QB Emmett Hunt tucked for a 36-yard gain.
By halftime, Downingtown East pulled to 14-6 after junior quarterback Kyle Lauletta connected for a 40-yard score with tight end Ryan Bond.
Though the heavy rains made for a sloppy game, Coatesville's containment of running back Drew Harris was a key factor.
Harris, a senior who came in averaging 188.7 yards a game and is being courted by Miami, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and others, was held to 58 yards on 18 carries and was benched for one series in the third quarter. Harris also lost two fumbles and left the game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury to his left leg.
Cheung proved to be the star tailback this night, collecting 136 yards for Coatesville, breaking countless tackles, and moving the chains when the Red Raiders needed to maintain possession to run out the clock late.
The win broke Coatesville's three-year losing streak to East, which has earned at least a share of the conference title each of the past three seasons. In 2010, it was Coatesville with which it shared the title.
And with the win Friday, the Red Raiders seem to be in solid position to make a move for their second straight league crown. Five of their final seven games will be at home.
Lauletta finished with 108 yards on the ground and was 9 for 18 through the air for 77 yards and two scores. The latter of his two touchdown throws was a 14-yarder to Jay Harris, Drew's junior cousin, with 6:22 remaining. After faking the extra point, Lauletta hit Elijah Griffin to convert the two-point conversion and make it a one-possession game.
Downingtown then recovered a fumbled kickoff by Coatesville's Chris Jones on the 22-yard line. But Drew Harris' second fumble came three plays later, the Red Raiders recovering to seal the win.
Coatesville 7 7 6 0 – 20
Downingtown East 0 6 0 8 – 14
C: Cheung 52 run (Hall kick)
C: Stocker 3 run (Hall kick)
DE: Bond 40 pass from Lauletta (kick failed)
C: Stocker 5 run (kick failed)
DE: Harris 12 pass from Lauletta (Griffin pass from Lauletta)
Contact Evan Burgos at rallysports@phillynews.com.
