Offensive Line
There's no better place to start with the offense than where the offense starts - the big guys up front. Left tackle Erik Pratt, left guard Trey Farmer, the center rotation of Brian Margetich and Derek Schatz, right guard Blair Gower, right tackle Adam Citko and tight ends Justin Curry and Shawn Driggins were the primary reason the Golden Rams' offense was much improved over last season. Although Pratt was the only returning starter, this unit gelled quickly and played consistently all season. Consider that the rushing yards increased from 136 yards per game in 2011 to 188 yards per game in 2012. And sacks allowed improved from 2.9 per game (129th in the country) to 1.1 per game (23rd in the country). Farmer, Gower, Margetich and Curry were all named second team All-PSAC East.
The line was key to an improved offense in 2012 (Photo Chuck Bitner)
Adam Citko clearing the way for Brandon Monk (Photo Ray Doyle)
Blair Gower was All-PSAC at right guard (Photo Ray Doyle)
Brian Margetich provided protection for Mike Mattei (Photo Ray Doyle)
Derek Schatz saw significant time at center this season (Photo Ray Doyle)
Shawn Driggins, James Rosseau, Eric Pratt, Trey Farmer, Brian Margetich and James Colivas make a lane for Rondell White (Photo Ray Doyle)
Justin Curry provided additional blocking for Rondell White (Photo Ray Doyle)Quarterback
The quarterback position was expected to be steady this season - and it was - just not as planned. Sean McCartney was named the starter in the spring, but his season lasted less than three quarters as he suffered a season ending injury in the first game of the season. So 2010 starter Mike Mattei was given the controls of the offense again and he did a terrific job. Mattei finished the season 170 of 285 for 2,552 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His passer efficiency rating of 157.95 was good for 11th best in the nation and he'll be listed in the top ten of several passing categories in the West Chester record book. Against Millersville, he tied the school record for passing touchdowns in a game with six.
Sean McCartney suffered a season-ending injury at Delaware (Photo Ray Doyle)
Mike Mattei delivered all season long (Photo Ray Doyle)Wide Receiver
Finding someone to throw to was a bigger challenge for Mattei. The Golden Rams' top receiver from 2011, Tim Keyser was expected to have an even better junior season, but unfortunately had his season cut short (6 catches, 88 yards and 1 touchdown) with a season ending injury against Millersville. And while the Rams' second best receiver from a year ago played most of the season, LaRonn Lee (15 catches , 255 yards, and 2 touchdowns) has hampered by a nagging hamstring injury all season.
Tim Keyser outraces Marauders to the end zone (Photo Ray Doyle)
LaRonn Lee eludes a Kutztown tackler (Photo Ray Doyle)So the go-to guy turned out to be senior Jim Kelly. Kelly had three career catches coming into the season, but in 2012, he had a breakout year (51 catches, 712 yards, and 6 touchdowns). Erick Brundidge (22 catches, 414 yards, and 6 touchdowns) , Sean Beahan (15 catches, 266 yards, and 2 touchdowns) and Adam Dempsey (15 catches, 162 yards, and 1 touchdown) also made significant contributions. Tom Shrader (3 catches, 93 yards, and 2 touchdowns) suffered a shoulder injury at Delaware and missed several games as a result.
Jim Kelly was the Golden Rams' leading receiver this season (Photo Ray Doyle)
Erick Brundidge with one of his highlight catches (Photo Ray Doyle)
Sean Beahan had 129 yards receiving against East Stroudsburg (Photo Ray Doyle)
Adam Dempsey hauled in 15 catches this season (Photo Geoff Ruth)
Tom Shrader injured his shoulder at Delaware (Photo Ray Doyle)
Running Back
Also having a major impact on the passing game was running back Rondell White. White had 51 catches for 624 yards and 7 touchdowns. But White's major contribution came from running the ball where he set the West Chester single season record of 1,548 yards. (Mike Eckmeyer, 1,539 yards in 2002). His 280 carries for the season ranks third all time and he also broke the plane of the goal line 11 times. Most impressive of White's rushing numbers is that he set season and career school records for 200-yard games with four. Those opponents? At Delaware, at California, at Bloomsburg and at Clarion. For the season, White was best in the country in all-purpose yards averaging an eye-popping 200 yards per game. White was named first team All-PSAC East, 2012 Daktronics Division II All-Super Region 1 second team and second team Beyond Sports Network Division II All-American.
Rondell White had four 200-yard rushing games this season (Photo Ray Doyle)
Rondell White had 167 yards rushing, 176 yards receiving and four touchdowns against LIU Post (Photo Geoff Ruth)
Rondell White scored 18 total touchdowns this year (Photo Ray Doyle)
Freshman Brandon Monk contributed 235 yards and a touchdown, and freshman Eddie Elliott had 56 yards and a touchdown. And while fullback Jared Bonacquisti only had 13 yards on five carries, he did manage two touchdowns. Fellow fullback James Rosseau suffered a season-ending injury against LIU-Post.
Brandon Monk averaged over six yards per carry this year (Photo Ray Doyle)
Eddie Elliot demonstrated great open field speed (Photo Ray Doyle)
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