Tagged under: District 1, News, Playoffs
Willie McGonigle | November 16, 2024
WEST CHESTER: Its becoming a right of passage being a West Chester Rustin Golden Knight, getting to the District 1 championship entering Friday night’s District 1 5A Semi-Final the Golden Knights have been to four District 15A Championship games. Of the four championship game appearances the Golden Knights faced Upper Dublin Cardinals in 3 of them (2018,2020 and 2022) all three of the previous meetings have gone the way of the Cardinals. On Friday on their home turf, the Golden Knights finally got the best of the Cardinals dispatching them convincingly 35-14 to earn themselves a trip to their 5th District 1 5A Championship game.
The Golden Knights were successful Friday evening because they combined a stellar run game that churned out 330 yards while playing fiercely defensively and adding a big-time special teams play when they needed it the most.
“It was a team effort we’ve been working since the beginning of the summer even the winter we’ve been lifting we’ve been in the gym all for this we’re going to District championship game next week.” Luke Spitzer said. Spitzer was one of the anchors of the Golden Knights defense Friday night registering 3 sacks and a forced fumble. Another key component for the Golden Knights was Chase Hatton. Hatton rushed for 154 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns while being in on numerous tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
After both teams traded punts on their opening possessions, the Golden Knights’ defense made the first big play of the game, forcing a Cardinals fumble that Hatton pounced on at the Cardinal 29. On the next play from scrimmage, Hatton raced 29 yards for the touchdown, putting the Golden Knights up 7-0.
The Cardinals punted on their ensuing drive and the Golden Knights appeared poised to go up 14 but the Cardinal’s defense stiffened up forcing Fred Adler to attempt a 35-yard field goal that sailed wide left. On the next play from scrimmage Jordan Fields showed that he and the Cardinals had big play potential of their own breaking through the Golden Knights defense and going 80 yards to tie the game up at 7.
Hattton found the endzone again in the second quarter this time from 6 yards out giving the Golden Knights the 14-7 lead. On the next Rustin drive the Cardinals Special teams helped tie the game up with Ryan O’Sullivan getting through the Golden Knight punt protection and blocking a punt that Kevin Williams scooped up and took it 15 yards for the Cardinals touchdown.
Any momentum the Cardinals had went out the window fairly quickly. On the ensuing kickoff, Jojo Magolon fielded the kick and went off the track, going 97 yards for the touchdown.
After a scoreless third quarter the Golden Knights pulled away more from the Cardinals with a 64-yard touchdown run by Magolon. Magolon finished with 77 yards rushing for 5 carries. When asked about Magolon Golden Knights’ Head Coach Mike St Clair said “He had a couple huge runs, “I’m just glad for him, the way he played.” Hatton put the icing on the cake with his third touchdown of the game this one from 4 yards out.
Next week the second seeded Golden Knights will look to add their second district title when they travel to the top seed Springfield Delco who was a 21-14 victor over the 5th seed Garnet Valley Friday night.
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