Pages

Saturday, April 20, 2024

2024 Spring Game Report - Gold 14 - Purple 10

Here are some observations from Friday's Purple-Gold game which was won by Gold by a score of 14-10:
  • Gold featured the first team offense while Purple was comprised of the first team defense. So unlike previous years, the "one's" were facing the "one's".
  • Wide receiver Raheim Bowens who entered the transfer portal, is back on the roster and made a couple of catches for Purple.
  • Kicker Sean Henry, the team leader in points a season ago, was in uniform but did not play. Zack Liberatore did all of the kicking and punting with the most notable being a 52-yard field goal, albeit uncontested, for Purple.
  • Quarterback Cooper Jordan looked much like last season. Under pressure, he was trying to throw the ball away, but instead it got picked off by Matt Marshall. Then on the first play of a possession in the second quarter, he tried to squeeze a pass into double coverage which was intercepted by Jimmy Wright. Jordan did complete nine of his 13 passes and was his usual elusive and speedy self, especially on a 30-yard touchdown run to end the first half.
  • Signal caller Ethan Kohler was seemingly always under pressure and was "tagged" with six sacks. He just missed on a couple of passes and when he converted a third-and-ten to Jay Simmons, it was called back due to a holding call.
  • After playing multiple positions last season, it seems that Brody McAndrew has settled in at quarterback. He played the entire second half for Purple although it was with a running clock. His standout play was on a fourth-and-goal from the two when the snap was fumbled, he picked the ball up, maintained his poise, rolled left, and tossed a touchdown pass to Jay Simmons.
  • In addition to his interception, Marshall had a nice pass breakup. Maurice Beverly made one interception and wasn't able to hang on to a second one, so was credited with a pass breakup on the play.
  • There was loud, pulsing music played throughout the entire contest.
  • Linebacker Ricardo Delgado was credited with four solo stops for Purple, while Marcus Williams made seven solo tackles for Gold.
  • Defensive end Joey Zack was credited with three sacks for Gold, while Williams, David Rush, Chasen Wint, Jacob Collazo each had one.
  • The 5'9 running backs made an impact. Dayshawn Jacobs picked up 77 yards on ten carries for Purple, while speedy Stephen Broderick had ten carries for 34 yards for Gold.
  • It was good to see tight end Thatcher Miller have a more prominent role in the offense for Gold as he made four catches for 64 yards. The top target for Kohler was Darrell Brown who had six receptions for 46 yards.

Box Score

West Chester Athletic Site - Gold Tops Purple, 14-10, in Spring Game

Daily Local News - Purple-Gold Game wraps up first spring under WCU head coach Greco

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Event News - 2024 PSFCA East/West Game

A future Golden Ram is expected to play in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) Big School 2024 East/West All-Star Game on Sunday, May 19 at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Stadium in Mechanicsburg.

Selected to play for the East squad, which will be coached by John Donnelly of Central Bucks East, is linebacker Ryan Shannon of Downingtown East.
Kick-off is set for 5:00pm.

Current Golden Rams that have been selected to participate in this annual all-star game include offensive lineman Quinton Derr, wide receiver Seth Degree, wide receiver D'Shaun Seals, tight end Thatcher Miller, offensive lineman Ian Hornberger, defensive lineman Riley Hackett, and linebacker Mitch Ragni.

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Team News - 2024 Recruiting Class

Name
Pos
Ht
Wt
School
OL
6-3
330
Bartrum
WR
6-3
185
Cherokee
DB
6-0
190
Plymouth-Whitemarsh
DL
6-2
280
Lackawanna/Neumann-Goretti
OL
6-1
275
Saint John Vianney
TE
6-1
225
Council Rock South
RB
6-1
180
Bristol
WR
5-10
180
Lackawanna/Cheltenham
OL
6-2
315
Marist/Archbishop Wood
DE
6-3
220
Quakertown
P
5-10
155
Cherry Hill East
DB
5-11
175
Conwell-Egan
DB
6-3
220
Springfield Township
QB
6-1
175
Cheltenham
DB
5-10
178
Archbishop Carroll
DB
5-9
155
St Mark's
TE
6-2
220
Springfield
ATH
5-9
170
Upper Dublin
DL
6-5
260
Downingtown West
RB
5-11
180
Central Bucks South
LB
6-2
225
Central Bucks South
OL
6-4
280
Central Bucks West
K
6-3
183
Cherokee
DB
6-1
185
Stroudsburg
DB
6-1
190
Cheltenham
DE
6-5
240
Archbishop Ryan
LB
6-2
230
Cape Henlopen
LB
6-1
210
Downingtown East
QB
6-1
195
Lincoln
DB
5-9
180
Bishop McDevitt
DB
5-8
175
Central St/Cheltenham
LB
6-1
215
Haddon Heights
OL
6-4
270
Hershey
ATH
6-1
210
Roman Catholic
DB
6-0
190
Central Bucks East
K
6-1
165
Souderton

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Team News - Nick Brady to lead WCU Defense

West Chester University head football coach Duke Greco has announced Nick Brady as the next defensive coordinator of the Golden Rams. He comes to West Chester from nearby Delaware Valley University where he coached with Greco for 14 years, including the past eight seasons as the Aggies defensive coordinator.




Brady replaces Mike Furlong who spent 33 years with the Golden Rams, including the last 30 years as defensive coordinator. Over that period, he coached six Cliff Harris Award finalists:
All-Americans that played under Furlong's tutelage include Taylor, Smith, Morrissey, Jarey Elder, Diquan Gilbert, Cohen, Shabazz, Williams, Sam Scott, Lateef Ferguson, Vlad Garbovsky and Lee Woodall.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Player News - Gabe Smalley Now a Golden Ram

Gabe Smalley (Lincoln) is coming to West Chester to play football for the Golden Rams. After playing his sophomore and junior seasons at Academy of Palumbo, the 6-1, 195lb quarterback spent this past season at Lincoln, leading the Railsplitters to a Class 6A Public League championship. Lincoln lost in the District 12 6A finals to eventual state champ St. Joseph. The team captain completed 168 of 245 passes for 2,623 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also picked up 341 yards and 6 scores rushing in addition to booting a few field goals. Smalley, the Public League Player of the Year, selected West Chester over nearby Lincoln.

- 2023 First Team All-Public Independence Division
- 2022 First Team All-Public American Division
- 2021 First Team All-Public American Division



Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Player News - Hayden Mulligan is Coming to West Chester

Hayden Mulligan (Central Bucks West) will be attending West Chester University this fall to play football for the Golden Rams. The 6-4, 280lb offensive lineman started 39 games over the past three seasons. The team captain played a large role in the Bucks having an undefeated regular season and advancing to the District 1 6A semi-finals this past year. Mulligan reportedly had junior year offers from Sacred Heart, Delaware St, New Hampshire, Bryant and Maine.

- 2023 Honorable Mention Class 6A All-EasternPAFootball.com
- 2023 First Team The Reporter/Times Herald Montgomery Media All-Area
- 2023 First Team All-Suburban One National Conference



Player News - Nazye Boggs Joins the Golden Rams

Nazye Boggs (Plymouth-Whitemarsh) has signed to play football at West Chester University. The 6-0, 190lb captain played running back (89 carries, 1,049 yards) and wide receiver on offense (21 total touchdowns) and strong safety (29 solo stops) on defense for the Colonials which advanced to the second round of the District 1 5A playoffs. Expect to see Boggs in the secondary at West Chester.

- 2023 Honorable Mention Class 5A All-EasternPAFootball.com (offense)
- 2023 Second Team The Reporter/Times Herald Montgomery Media All-Area (defense)
- 2023 Honorable Mention The Reporter/Times Herald Montgomery Media All-Area (offense)
- 2023 First Team All-Suburban One American Conference (defense)
- 2023 First Team All-Suburban One American Conference (offense)
- 2022 First Team All-Suburban One American Conference (defense)
- 2022 Honorable Mention All-Suburban One American Conference (offense)



Player News - Tahj Johnson Now a Golden Ram

Tahj Johnson (St Mark's, DE) will be attending West Chester this fall. The 5-9, 155lb defensive back also played running back and was an all-league kick returner for the Spartans.


- 2023 Honorable Mention All-District 1 3A
- 2022 Second Team All-District 1 2A
- 2022 Honorable Mention All-District 1 2A


Player News - Adam Rodgers is a Golden Ram

Adam Rodgers (Cheltenham) is coming to West Chester to play for the Golden Rams. At 6-1, 190lb, he was undersized for a defensive end, but still pulled league honors and was the Panthers' defensive MVP. He's likely to be in the defensive secondary when he dons purple and gold. In the spring, he runs hurdles for the Ghosts.


- 2023 Honorable Mention The Reporter/Times Herald Montgomery Media All-Area
- 2023 First Team All-Suburban One American Conference



Monday, February 12, 2024

Player News - Ali Ballo is Coming to West Chester

Ali Ballo (Bartram) will be attending West Chester University this fall to play football for the Golden Rams. The 6-3, 330lb offensive lineman was a big reason the Maroon Wave advanced to the District 12 4A championship game this past season.

- 2023 First Team All-Public Independence Division