By Brad Spahr

It's all just a little new to the Avon Grove High School football team. With only two regular season games remaining the Red Devils are in position to win a Ches-Mont League title and they also find themselves playing for a high seed into the upcoming District 1 Class AAAA playoffs.

League titles, district playoffs: it's not common late season chatter around West Grove this time of year when it comes to the varsity football program, which is currently in just its seventh year of existence.

But it is very real.

Avon Grove will play host to West Chester Henderson in a pivotal Ches-Mont League game this Friday, Oct. 30. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. inside Avon Grove High School's stadium.

Avon Grove enters the game as one of the best teams in the district. The Red Devils are 7-1 overall and at 3-1 they are tied for first place in the league's National Division. Avon Grove has already surpassed the previous school record of five victories in a season while at the same time locked up the first winning season in school history.

"It's been great so far," said third-year Avon Grove head coach Marvin Dooley. "Not just because we've been winning. But because the kids have worked tremendously hard. They haven't slacked off a bit even with all the games we've been winning. In fact they've worked harder because they know people are expecting more out of us now and they want to live up to that.

"It's been such a fun season," added Dooley. "We started three years ago when I got here envisioning where we wanted to be as a program. It's always great to have something to play for at the end of the year."

Avon Grove is certainly in that position this fall. The Red Devils have two remaining regular season games, both at home, against Henderson this week and then Coatesville (Nov. 6) in the finale.

If Avon Grove wins out, and they will be favored in both contests, the Red Devils will clinch at least a share of a Ches-Mont League National Division title. The Red Devils are also well on its way to locking up its first-ever District 1 Class AAAA playoff berth. A total of 16 teams make it, and barring a major meltdown, the Red Devils will be involved in the party.

"I think we have enough points now to make the playoffs, but we certainly don't want to back into them," said Dooley. "And plus we are still playing for a league title. If we win out we are at least tri-champions. So it's always good to have your destiny in your own hands."

Avon Grove (7-1 overall) expects to get a tough test from West Chester Henderson (5-3 overall) this Friday night. The Warriors started off the season undefeated at 5-0 but have since dropped three in a row to Downingtown West (14-10), West Chester Rustin (21-0) and Coatesville (35-28) just last week.

Henderson is still alive in the hunt for a 3A district playoff spot.

"They are in desperate mode because they probably have to win out to make the playoffs," said Dooley. "So that makes them even more dangerous than they already are. They are an option team. We have to find a way to stop that. If we do we will have a good shot.

"Our motto all year has been just go week-to-week. We really want to get better with some things we've struggled with at times and hopefully that makes us a better team come playoff time."