The Rams were well motivated to run the ball as White was nearing the single season rushing mark and the Clarion defense leads the conference in sacks. After Brandon Monk opened the contest with a long kickoff return, WCU ran five consecutive times. But on second and goal from the Clarion 8, quarterback Mike Mattei was sacked and his third-down pass, under heavy pressure, fell incomplete. But as he has done all season, Leo provided West Chester a three-point consolation for their trip into the red zone.
Mattei was not as fortunate on West Chester's second possession, as a third and long pass got picked off and returned to midfield. The Ram defense played Clarion's freeze option very well, though, as the Eagles gained only two first downs on their first four possessions. After another Leo field goal, the Rams finally got into the end zone on a great leaping catch by Erick Brundidge on a 26-yard pass from Mattei. After Chris DiValentino forced a Clarion fumble, the Rams needed only 32 yards to extend their lead to 20-0 on a White one-yard touchdown plunge.
Clarion then had their best drive of the first half, aided by a WCU personal foul that kept the drive alive, getting all the way down to the West Chester 18 where it stalled on downs. With only 49 seconds left in the half, the Rams then went to work. Overcoming a offensive holding penalty, Mattei completed passes to Jim Kelly, Brundidge, and 23-yarder to Nick Hall to get West Chester to the Clarion 40 yard line with two seconds left. Coach Bill Zwaan sent on the field goal unit, but Leo's PSAC record setting 57-yard attempt went just wide left and the half ended with the Rams up 20-0.
Clarion opened the second half with a couple of first downs, but Mike Labor forced a fumble on a sack and Anthony McCloskey recovered it and drug tacklers 11 yards to the Clarion 38. The Rams managed to work the ball to the Clarion 9 where they fumbled it right back. On Clarion's possession, the Eagles managed 14 plays, but with such a long field to navigate, the drive eventually stalled and they were forced to punt.
Kicker Shawn Leo converts his third field goal of the day from 45 yardsThe Rams just couldn't put Clarion away, as their next three possessions ended with a field goal, an interception in the end zone, and another field goal. Trailing 26-0, the Eagles got a 64-yard touchdown pass. Although the outcome was not in question with under six minutes left in the game, the offensive starters remained in the game as there was the matter of a school record. White scampered 11 yards and then 22 yards to reach a season total 1,548, a new West Chester single season record. With that, the entire offense was replaced and the final five minutes played out with each team getting an additional touchdown.
Notes - Freshman Andrew Cohen had five total tackles, including two sacks...Bob Sabol registered three pass breakups and two tackles...R-Fr Brandon Pepper also tallied two pass breakups and a tackle...R-Fr Teon Lee had four tackles and a sack...Kelly led all receivers in the game with ten catches for 77 yards...Sean Beahan had two catches in his final game...White add three catches for 27 yards for a total of 254 all-purpose yards...West Chester did not punt in the game...Nate Pagan returned three punts for 44 yards...the Golden Rams may have underestimated Clarion's defense as besides the two interceptions, Mattei was sacked twice and hurried twice...West Chester held a nine minute advantage in time of possession...eight trips to the red zone resulted in two touchdowns, four field goals and two turnovers for the Rams.
West Chester Athletic Site - White Shatters Single-Season Rushing Mark; WCU Tops Clarion, 33-12
Clarion Athletic Site - Clarion Drops 33-12 Decision to Rams
D2football - PSAC Columnist - IUP wins PSAC Championship (and other headlines)
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