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Monday, December 24, 2012

Player News - Trey Farmer, Ronell Williams Honored

Two West Chester Golden Ram players have received honors for their performance on the field and in the classroom this season. Junior offensive lineman Trey Farmer and sophomore linebacker Ronell Williams were both named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Football Team as voted by the sports information directors of the 28 colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area. It's the second consecutive year that Williams was named to the 25-man team.














Sunday, December 23, 2012

Team News - 2012 Season Review - Overall

Almost every player that participated in the Bill Zwaan Football Show talked about how good the team chemistry this season was. While it's not to say that last year's team chemistry was bad, it certainly was not considered good enough to mention. Hopefully this year's sophomores and juniors who were around to experience both last season's and this season's chemistry can recognize the differences and apply the positives to next year's team.

Captains John O'Donnell, Sean Beahan, Carl Barnes, and Mike Mattei provided leadership to this season's Golden Rams (Photo Ray Doyle)

Many may point to the East Stroudsburg loss as the game that cost the Golden Rams the season. While that loss was devastating, it was actually the Bloomsburg game that withheld West Chester from the postseason. Besides the improvement in their won-lost record, the Golden Rams needed the benefit of the head-to-head outcome against the Huskies. The missed opportunities were chronicled in that game report.

Although a turnover plus/minus of zero and ranking of 77th is nothing to wave a flag about, considering that the Golden Rams had a negative turnover margin in 2010 and 2011 means that 2012 has to be considered a success in that area. Takeaways on defense remained fairly flat; it was giveaways on offense that improved for West Chester.

The Golden Rams improved in the penalty area as well in 2012. They had the sixth fewest penalty yards per game in the conference with 60.3. This improvement may have been overshadowed by the timing of the penalties and the fact that West Chester's opponents had even fewer penalty yards per contest with 56.1.

The average score of all games this season was 35-24 in favor of West Chester. In the Golden Rams' four losses, the average score was 24-35 in favor of their opponents. At a high level, it's easy to see that the losses were truly team events - the offense and defense both performed below their season outputs on the scoreboard.

While 7-4 wasn't good enough to qualify for the playoffs, it was the best season since 2009. The Golden Rams went 3-0 against the PSAC West (Gannon, California, Clarion) for the first time since 2005 (Clarion, Indiana, Shippensburg).

West Chester was 4-1 at Farrell Stadium this season (Photo Ray Doyle)

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Player News - Mattei Honored at All-American Bowl

West Chester quarterback Mike Mattei was named Most Valuable Player of the 17th Annual Metrodome All American Bowl played in Minneapolis, MN. Mattei was one of three Golden Rams selected to play in the day's games; both offensive lineman Erik Pratt and safety John O'Donnell played for the Stars in the second game of the day.

Mattei's top target, wide receiver Smook Thomas of Missouri S&T, was the game's Offensive MVP. Mattei guided the Stars to a 27-6 victory over the Stripes. The game showcases the nation's top players from FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA schools. Representatives from many professional teams from European, Canadian and Indoor leagues were in attendance.

Safety John O'Donnell, offensive lineman Erik Pratt and quarterback Mike Mattei at All-American Bowl in Minneapolis, MN

QB Mike Mattei was MVP of Game 1 of the All-American Bowl

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Teams News - 2012 Season Review - Offense

There is no doubt that the offense performed much better in 2012 than the past two years. While passing yards stayed fairly level, the running game added 60 yards per game over the Golden Rams' 2010 and 2011 figures. Total offense ranked 35th in the country and scoring offense ranked 31st, up from rankings in the mid-70's last season.

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)

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Player News - Williams Earns Another All-American Honor

Sophomore linebacker Ronell Williams has added another All-American award to his long list of honors this year. Williams has been named to the 2012 Associated Press Little All-American team. Williams was previously named first-team All-PSAC East, Daktronics Division II All-Super Region 1, and AFCA 2012 Division II Coaches' All-America Team.

He is the only sophomore that appears on the AP Little All-American first or second team. Williams is also one of five PSAC representatives on the squad. The other PSAC players are Shippensburg quarterback and Harlon Hill winner Zach Zulli, Bloomsburg running back and Harlon Hill finalist Franklyn Quiteh, California defensive lineman B.J. Stevens and California safety and NFL draft prospect Rontez Miles.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Alumni News - Mt Union and McDermott Win DIII Title

The Mt Union Purple Raiders captured the NCAA Division III Championship by defeating St Thomas (MN) by a score of 28-10 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. It's the 11th national title for Mt Union (15-0), but their first since 2008. Former Golden Ram fullback Brian McDermott concluded his first season as running backs coach for Mount Union. On the season, the Raiders averaged 254 yards rushing per game and amassed 54 rushing touchdowns.


Monday, December 10, 2012

Player News - Williams Named All-American

Sophomore linebacker Ronell Williams has been named to the 2012 American Football Coaches Association Division II All-American team. Williams logged 119 total tackles which was best in the PSAC and 14th best in Division II. He also tallied three interceptions, 7.0 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry.  Williams was previously named first-team All-PSAC East and Daktronics Division II All-Super Region 1.

He is the only sophomore that appears on the AFCA All-American team as the other 25 members are all juniors and seniors. Williams is also one of the three PSAC representatives on the squad. The other two PSAC players are Bloomsburg running back and Harlon Hill finalist Franklyn Quiteh and California safety and NFL draft prospect Rontez Miles.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Teams News - 2012 Season Review - Defense

In 2009, the Golden Rams fielded one of the best defensive squads in team history as they ranked 38th against the pass (182 yards per game), fifth against the rush (78 yards per game) and fifth overall (260 yards per game). In the subsequent two seasons, while the passing yardage surrendered remained relatively constant, opponents rushing yardage ballooned to 197 yards per game in 2010 and 180 yards per game in 2011. So for 2012, the defense changed from a three-man front to the more traditional four down linemen.

Defensive Line

This posed a dilemma for defensive coordinator Mike Furlong since for several years, West Chester had recruited on defense with the thought of only playing three men up front. To help solve this, and as was discussed in the season preview, linebacker Anthony McCloskey moved to defensive tackle. He had no trouble adjusting as he was named second team All-PSAC East at that position. But compounding the trouble with the lack of linemen was the fact that two guys that were expected to play a significant role in the new alignment - Mike Martin and Tylor Unger - were lost for the season before the opening kickoff at Delaware.

Anthony McCloskey made the switch from linebacker to defensive line (Photo Ray Doyle)

So the defensive ends consisted of a three-man rotation of Eric Edwers (44 total tackles, 1 pass breakup, 5 quarterback hurries, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks), Chris DiValentino (20 total tackles, 0.5 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 quarterback hurry) and Lew Esposito (18 total tackles, 2 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries, 4.5 tackles for loss) which earned Esposito second team All-PSAC East honors. The tackles were also limited to a three-man rotation - McCloskey (28 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 1 quarterback hurry, 1 fumble return), big Demrick Cook (41 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 quarterback hurry, 1 pass breakup) and true freshman Andrew Cohen (33 total tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 quarterback hurry, and a team leading 7.5 tackles for loss).

Lew Esposito earned PSAC East honors this year at defensive end (Photo Ray Doyle)

Chris DiValentino was a force at defensive end this season (Photo Ray Doyle)

Eric Edwers filled the stat sheet at defensive end (Photo Ray Doyle)

True freshman Andrew Cohen had a big impact this year (Photo Geoff Ruth)

Linebackers

Entering the season, although young, the linebacker position seemed to be in good shape with plenty of talent. Mike Labor and Ronell Williams were tabbed as the starters, with Mike Culbreath and Drew Persa serving as backups. But Labor got hurt at California, missed several games in the middle of the season and played sparingly in the final two contests. Despite his limited number of games, Labor tallied 48 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups and a forced fumble. Persa got injured at East Stroudsburg and missed the remainder of the season. Culbreath (47 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups) incurred an injury at East Stroudsburg, but played through it, including a huge 14 tackle effort against Shippensburg, and only missed the final contest at Clarion. Williams managed to play every game and registered one of the best seasons ever for a West Chester linebacker. His 119 total tackles was 14th best in Division II, best in the PSAC, and most by a West Chester player since Lee Woodall's 140 in 1993. His 80 assisted tackles is second best in a West Chester season (Bill Edgar had 87 in 1973) and he also had three interceptions, 7.0 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. For his stat packing season, Williams was named first-team All-PSAC East.

Ronnell Williams was named All-PSAC East first team at linebacker (Photo Ray Doyle)

Drew Persa had an injury shortened season (Photo Ray Doyle)

Secondary

The secondary was the most experienced unit coming into the season, but they were playing in a slightly new alignment and had their own injury issues. Ironically, senior co-captain John O'Donnell was not among the injured. O'Donnell, who had suffered game-missing injuries over the past two seasons, had a tremendous season from his safety position - 59 total tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups and three defensive touchdowns. O'Donnell's season was good enough to garner second team All-PSAC East honors. Joining O'Donnell at safety was his fellow classmate and co-captain Carl Barnes (58 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 2 pass breakups and 1 quarterback hurry). Playing in the newly created rover position was former quarterback Matt Carroll (37 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 quarterback hurry). Carroll also moved to safety for the couple of games that Barnes missed due to injury. Backup rover Shawn Krautzel (62 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble) earned All-PSAC East honors as a defensive back. Senior safety Mike Lonergan (8 total tackles, 1 interception for a touchdown) incurred a season-ending injury in the fourth game of the season.

John O'Donnell had three defensive touchdowns this season (Photo Ray Doyle)

Shawn Krautzel earned All-PSAC East honors as a defensive back this year (Photo Geoff Ruth)

Mike Lonergan scored a touchdown in an injury shortened season (Photo Ray Doyle)

Matt Carroll moved to the defensive secondary this season (Photo Ray Doyle)

As expected, the corners were anchored by senior Bob Sabol (48 total tackles, 1 interception, a team-leading 12 pass breakups and 1 blocked kick) and sophomore Al-Hajj Shabazz (38 total tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass breakup), although sophomore Dante Devine (38 total tackles, 4 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles) saw significant playing time as well.

Overall

The new 4-2-5 defensive alignment was installed to improve the team's performance against the run and it did just that. The Golden Rams went from yielding 180 yards per game on the ground last year (107th in Division II) to just 126 yards per game (35th in Division II). The price that was paid was passing yards which increased from 190 yards per game (46th in Division II) to 249 yards per game (125th in Division II). However, that five defensive back umbrella surrendered only six passing plays of 35 yards or more, three of which came in the first two games when the team was still adjusting to the defense and one which came in the final quarter at Clarion, and only one rushing play of 35 yards or more all season. And scoring defense, which is what really matters, improved from 26 points per game (71st in Division II) to 24 points per game (53rd in Division II). The defensive sack number did not change significantly as the Golden Rams still rank 89th in Division II in this category with 1.9 sacks per game.

Al-Hajj Shabazz, Carl Barnes, Demrick Cook, and Mike Culbreath show the team aspect of the West Chester defense (Photo Ray Doyle)

Ronnell Williams led the PSAC in tackles, while Mike Labor and Bob Sabol were also instrumental in the Golden Ram defense (Photo Ray Doyle)

Friday, December 7, 2012

Player News - Rondell White Named All-American

Junior running back Rondell White has been named to the second team of the Beyond Sports Network Division II All-American team.

White set the Golden Ram single season rushing yardage record with 1,548 yards on 280 carries and 11 touchdowns. He also hauled in 51 catches for an additional 624 yards and 7 touchdowns and logged another 30 yards on returns. All of that led to a number one ranking in Division II in all-purpose yards with 200.2 yards per game. White's rushing, which included 200 yard games at Delaware, at California, at Bloomsburg and at Clarion, rank him 6th in the country and his 9.8 points per game rank him 9th in the nation. His best game of the season was a 343 yard, four touchdown effort in a 41-6 victory over LIU-Post.

White scores one of his 18 touchdowns this season (Photo Ray Doyle)

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Player News - Golden Rams in All-American Bowl

Three Golden Rams have been selected to participate in the 17th Annual Metrodome All American Bowl to be played in Minneapolis, MN on December 22. The game showcases the nation's top players from FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA schools.












Quarterback Mike Mattei, offensive lineman Erik Pratt and safety John O'Donnell will represent West Chester University in the contest. Mattei was pressed into action when 2012 starting quarterback Sean McCartney incurred a season-ending injury in the first game of the season against Delaware. Mattei then went on to throw for 2,552 yards and 26 touchdowns and ranked 11th in all of Division II in passing efficiency with a 158 rating. At left tackle, Pratt anchored the line whose offense gained 188 yards per game on the ground and ranked 23rd in the country in sacks allowed with 1.09 per game. In 2012, O'Donnell had three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and three defensive touchdowns to go along with his 59 total tackles.