Rustin wins playoff, neighborhood battle

With a lot on the line - the game was both a District 1 Class AAAA playoff quarterfinal and the renewal of a cross-town rivalry - West Chester Rustin pulled away from West Chester Henderson in the fourth quarter Saturday en route to a 35-20 victory.

With his team trailing, 20-14, at its home field early in the fourth, Rustin's Andrew Fithian found Anthony Nash in the end zone for a 12-yard pass. Will Mau kicked the extra point, giving eighth-seeded Rustin (11-1) a 21-20 lead.

Mau later intercepted a pass and returned it 20 yards for an insurance touchdown.

"Whenever you play Henderson, it's always a war," Rustin coach Mike St. Clair said. "I think experience helped us today, and we were able to get it done in the fourth quarter."

With less than five minutes remaining, Mau boomed a punt 37 yards to Henderson's 8-yard line. With a potential comeback in sight, the game took a crucial turn.

The Warriors' Jacob Richard fumbled a handoff, and Rustin recovered the ball on the 8.

After no gain on first down, Rustin advanced to the 3 on a 1-yard run by fullback Frank O'Donnell and a 4-yard rush from Cordairo Taylor.

Facing fourth and 3, St. Clair decided to go for it. The Knights' Conor Burke then ran up the middle for 3 yards and the score.

Mau's interception came on the first play on Henderson's ensuing drive.

"The kids have responded all year," St. Clair said. "They've battled some adversity earlier. They've been playing for a while. They've been in playoff games before."

Rustin and Henderson (8-4), the 16th seed that had upset top-seeded Ridley the previous week, entered halftime tied at 14.

The Warriors struck first in the third quarter, when quarterback Strafford Foster connected with Joseph Dingfelder for a 23-yard TD. Henderson missed the extra point, keeping the score at 20-14.

"Too many mistakes late," Henderson coach Joe Walsh said. "We played them tough. We did a lot of good things, but we just couldn't stop them."

The game had started sloppily, with each team turning the ball over on a fumble in the first two minutes. Later in the first quarter, Henderson's T.J. White intercepted a tipped screen pass and returned it 73 yards for the opening score.

Rustin replied less than five minutes later when Fithian threw a laser to Nick Simmler for a 35-yard touchdown. The West Chester rivals each scored a TD in the second, creating the 14-14 halftime tie.

Rustin moves on to play at fourth-seeded Neshaminy on Friday night.

"They're a big, powerful school, and we got our work cut out for us," St. Clair said. "We're just happy to be playing next Friday night."

West Chester Henderson   7 7 6 0 – 20

West Chester Rustin   6 8 0 21 – 35

WCH: White 73 interception (Morton kick)

WCR: Simmler 35 pass from Fithian (kick failed)

WCH: Mitten 15 pass from Foster (Morton kick)

WCR: O'Donnell 25 run (Burke run)

WCH: Dingfelder 23 pass from Foster (kick failed)

WCR: Nash 12 pass from Fithian (Mau kick)

WCR: Burke 3 run (Mau kick)

WCR: Mau 20 interception (Mau kick)