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Coatesville puts aside scandal, beats Bishop Shanahan

COATESVILLE 37, BISHOP SHANAHAN 13

Pat Langan, a longtime member of the chain gang at Coatesville Area Senior High's home football games, sat atop the bleachers Saturday afternoon at Jack Mancini Field.

Langan, joined by several close friends, watched as the visiting Red Raiders, putting aside the texting scandal involving former Coatesville administrators Richard Como and Jim Donato, downed Bishop Shanahan, 37-13, in a Ches-Mont League National Conference matchup.

"That situation, it was bad," said Langan, a 1964 graduate of Coatesville. "People in the school district know that what went on was wrong, but you have to move on from it. There's no use dwelling on the past."

Sitting near Langan, 69, were buddies and fellow Coatesville graduates Gary Doratt (Class of 1958), his partner on the chain gang, Sal Lepori (1965), and Lou Branson (1955). About 600 people, many clad in red shirts, filled the visiting spectator section.

"Coatesville has always been a great sports town," Lepori, 67, said. "It has a rich history. I think a lot of the people here today wanted to show their support for the school and the football team."

It was discovered that Como, the former superintendent, and Donato, who served as athletic director, exchanged hundreds of racist, sexist, and lewd texts via school-issued cellphones.

"Yeah, the whole thing is hard to believe," said Langan, of West Caln Township. "It was incredibly stupid. But why do people have to harp on it? It's over and done with."

While not condoning his behavior, several Coatesville spectators said Como, an educator for more than four decades, should be judged on more than just his texting transgressions.

"He'd do anything to help anybody," Branson, 75, said. "I know what he did was wrong, but he helped a lot of people regardless of their color. People should know that side, too."

In sparking the rout of Shanahan, senior tailback Isaiah Flamer, subbing for the injured Daquan Worley, carried 28 times for 193 yards and three touchdowns. He scored on runs of 50, 2, and 5 yards.

"We're not worried about all the stuff that's going on off the field," Flamer said. "We just come out and play football."

Excluding Jordan Jackson's 45-yard TD burst in the first quarter, Coatesville, which improved to 5-0 and 2-0 in the Ches-Mont National, limited the Eagles (3-1, 1-1) to 50 yards rushing.

"There's been so much negative press going on," Red Raiders senior middle linebacker Tyler Burke said. "But we're a family. We were determined to stick together, and we did. We came out and played Coatesville football."

Coatesville 7 20 7 3-37

Bishop Shanahan 6 0 7 0-13

C: Isaiah Flamer 50 run (Josiah O'Deens kick)

BS: Jordan Jackson 64 run (kick failed)

C: Flamer 2 run (O'Deens kick)

C: Flamer 5 run (O'Deens kick)

C: Jay Stocker 41 pass from Jordan Young (kick failed)

C: Young 21 run (O'Deens kick)

BS: Jackson 72 interception return (Jacob Geiger kick)

C: FG O'Deens 34