Henderson runs past Downingtown West

Tre Green jogged to the sideline after his two first-half touchdowns, each time his movement halted by Jason Bady's raised hands. West Chester Henderson's running back stared at Bady until the two broke into a series of pop-and-lock moves called the "Shmoney Dance."

Green rushed for 144 yards in the first half of a 28-20 win at Downingtown West. The Warriors entered halftime ahead by a touchdown. Friday seemed to be trending toward a night of revelry.

Henderson held the lead into the fourth quarter when the team's offense took over on the 20-yard line. A few first downs followed by a touchdown would seal the win.

Green received a carry on the second play and sprinted for 30 yards. But he was stripped of the ball just before being tackled.

The recovered fumble put West in good position for a game-tying score. There was no dancing on Henderson's sideline. Downingtown's Jake Barr rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, but the extra point sailed wide.

Henderson still led by a point, 21-20, and coach Steve Mitten had no plans to sit his running back.

"It never, ever made me question giving him the ball," Mitten said. "He is our bread and butter. He is the central cog of Warrior football. You're not going to do anything to stop him from getting the ball."

Green said his mind-set was simply to forget about his costly error. He said his coaches tell the team to "have amnesia, short memory."

He carried the ball six times on the ensuing possession, including four straight rushes. Green's redemption came on the 10th play of the drive when he eased around the right side and cruised untouched into the end zone. He finished the game with 234 yards on 22 carries.

Green's dance partner waited on the sideline, but Green walked past him.

"We still had to get it done. They still had a little bit of time left on the clock to take a shot downfield," Green said.

West regained possession with 90 seconds left and threw a deep strike on the first play. Nick Rizzo, one of Green's fellow running backs, leaped and grabbed the interception to seal the win. Henderson knelt with the ball, and the teams shook hands at midfield.

Bady waited outside the team's huddle for Green, who was toward the rear of the handshake line. It was finally time to dance.

"It felt great," Green said.

W.C. Henderson 7 14 0 7 - 28

Downingtown West 7 7 0 6 - 20

WC: Tre Green 40 run (Ryan Angle kick)

DW: Tyler McNulty 7 run (Ben Carbone kick)

WC: Green 37 run (Angle kick)

WC: Nick Rizzo 20 run (Angle kick)

DW: Jake Barr 1 run (Carbone kick)

DW: Barr 1 run (kick failed)

WC: Green 5 run (Angle kick)