Southeastern Pennsylvania Top 10, Oct. 26, 2009
1. North Penn (8-0. Weeks rated: 9. Last week: 1)
2. Pennsbury (8-0. Weeks rated: 9. Last week: 2)
3. St. Joseph’s Prep (6-1. Weeks rated: 9. Last week: 3)
4. La Salle (6-1. Weeks rated: 9. Last week: 4)
5. Ridley (8-0. Weeks rated: 4. Last week: 5)
6. Pottsgrove (8-0. Weeks rated: 6. Last week: 6)
7. Neshaminy (7-1. Weeks rated: 9. Last week: 7)
8. West Chester Rustin (8-0. Weeks rated: 2. Last week: 9)
9. Cardinal O’Hara (7-1. Weeks rated: 2. Last week: 8)
10. Avon Grove (7-1. Weeks rated: 1. Last week: Unrated)
Mike St. Clair entered an unknown three years ago. He took over what essentially can be described as an expansion team, when Bayard Rustin High School opened in West Chester, Chester County, Pa. Rustin is a conglomeration of students from West Chester East and West Chester Henderson, in an attempt by the West Chester Area School District to downsize its high schools. 
Rondell White, Bayard Rustin
Photo courtesy of Bayard Rustin football
In the first season under St. Clair, the goal of the Golden Knights was to be competitive, nothing more — and they were at times in their inaugural season, going 4-8. St. Clair was willing to be patient, knowing the turnaround would eventually come. What no one expected, possibly even St. Clair himself, was that the turnaround would be this quick.
The Golden Knights in their second season went 8-4 and made the move to an area Class AAA power last season, when they went 12-2 overall, winning the PIAA District 1 Class AAA championship and reaching the state quarterfinals, losing to Philadelphia Catholic League power Archbishop Wood, 33-7.
The Golden Knights have returned a good portion of that team this season — and it has shown in the school's best start in its brief history, going 8-0 — led by tailback Rondell White, arguably the best running back in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The numbers certainly support that. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior has rushed for 1,385 yards in seven games, averaging 12 yards per carry, and he has scored 21 touchdowns. White is receiving attention from a number of Division I schools that include Temple, West Virginia, Virginia, James Madison and Delaware.
But St. Clair is quick to point out that it's not just White who has lugged the load for the Golden Knights. Senior running backs Andrew McGreevy and Ramier White, Rondell's brother, and junior fullback Frank O'Donnell have provided depth in the backfield.
The offensive line of right tackle Enrique Josephs (Sr., 6-4, 275), right guard Chase Hoyt (Jr., 6-4, 260), center Will Ridgeway (Jr., 6-1, 235), left guard Derrick Miles (Sr., 5-10, 230), left tackle Sean O'Hara (Sr., 6-4, 245) and tight end Nick Simmler (Jr., 6-0, 205) have provided gaping running lanes.
And senior quarterback Mike Carlin (6-0, 195) has done a nice job managing games — throwing when needed and not making mistakes. It's an offense that's been almost unstoppable. The numbers certainly support that, too. Rustin has scored 338 points over its eight games, averaging 42.25 points a game, among the highest in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Golden Knights have exploded for over 40 points five times in their eight victories.
Defensively, they have three shutouts and have yielded seven points or less three other times.
It has all come concurrently, the influx of talented players, St. Clair's coaching acumen and a strong returning nucleus, making the Golden Knights a viable threat to go further than they did last year.
"We have 80 percent of our team back from last year, graduating only five starters from last year," St. Clair said. "We had a good nucleus coming back, so we set our goals very high. We definitely wanted to get back to where we were last year. It all start up front for us, and I have a great offensive line coach in John Timco. He's done a great job with the guys and they know their assignments."
It also helps having Rondell White. Every team knows what Rustin is going to do. Rustin knows every team is aware of it. Still, there has been no way of stopping him.
"I've coached quite a number of Division I athletes and Rondell is right in their league," St. Clair said. "Rondell is a power-speed guy. For his size, he has very good power and excellent vision. He can run both inside and outside on you. He's posted great numbers, but we've usually taken Rondell out of games in the third quarter, when games are out of hands."
Rustin is a lock for another District 1 Class AAA playoff berth. The Golden Knights also appear poised to be in position to defend their district title, with possibly Pottsgrove and Interboro standing in their way. But St. Clair has been willing to be patient thus far — building something from nothing. He's willing to be even more patient as the prime part of the season begins.
"This has all been a pleasant surprise," St. Clair said. "The kids have been playing hard every week and they've maintained their focus. I like this team's mentality as we go forward. We have excellent senior leadership and it's been a major factor in how this team has stayed focused throughout this year. We have a very special group of kids. But with the playoffs coming up, we don't want to get too ahead of ourselves."
Too late for that — Rustin is far, far ahead of schedule.
A nice surprise
Avon Grove and its coach, Marv Dooley, is in a position to almost double its victory total of a year ago — going 7-1 this season after going 4-7 last year. In fact, another victory for the Red Devils will give them their total number of victories for the last two years. This is the best start ever since the program began in 1999. The Red Devils haven't won more than four games since 2006, going 4-6, 4-6 and last year going 4-7.
This season, Avon Grove is averaging 36.3 points a game and giving up 15.8 to outscore its opponents by three touchdowns a game. A huge statement was Avon Grove's 35-21 victory over Downingtown West on Oct. 16.
Joseph Santoliquito covers high schools for the Philadelphia Daily News and is a contributor to MaxPreps.com. He can be contacted at JSantoliquito@yahoo.com.
