Game Report - West Chester 48 - Millersville 3

In a contest that pretty much went as expected, West Chester dominated host Millersville 48-3 in a game that was played in steady and occasionally heavy rain. When looking at the score and statistics, consider that inclement weather often neutralizes opponents.

The Golden Ram defense was dominant, not allowing the Marauders a first down until well into the second quarter. For the game, Millersville moved the chains only eight times and three of those came in the fourth quarter when fans were flipping through their programs to identify players seeing their first game action on defense for WCU. Linebacker Mike Labor led the way with seven tackles and shared a sack with Eric Edwers who had five tackles of his own. For the game, Millersville had a total, a TOTAL, of 121 yards and 42 of that came on one passing play. The Marauders managed only seven yards rushing on 23 attempts.

In that fourth quarter, sophomore defensive end Brian Butler had two tackles in the Marauder backfield including a 10-yard sack. And after a West Chester fumble in its own territory, R-Fr. defensive back John McGilligan had a great interception in the back of the Millersville end zone to return the ball to the Golden Ram offense.

Golden Ram fans enjoyed a dominating defensive performance

On a water logged night, many would think that Rondell White and Brandon Monk would get most of the work on offense. And they did. White lugged the ball 34 times for 227 yards and three touchdowns while Monk had 15 carries for 175 yards and two touchdowns, including a 93-yard dash on a third and nine with under three minutes left. When quarterback Sean McCartney was in the game, he was incredibly efficient, completing nine of 13 attempts for 168 yards and two touchdowns. McCartney continues to run wisely, picking up 23 yards on three carries. Tight end Tim Brown had three catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Rondell White streaks into the end zone

Special teams play was interesting. The box score shows that Rich Bruno only had two punts – a 49-yarder to the Millersville 14 and a 74 yarder for a touchback. A 53-yarder was negated due to a penalty. After Monk fumbled the first punt return of the game, Millersville’s other seven punts went untouched by a Golden Ram. And for the third time in his West Chester career, kicker Shawn Leo missed two kicks in one game – a PAT and a 31-yard field goal attempt. Leo did make up for it on kickoffs however. Perhaps a response to the kickoff coverage against Gannon, or maybe due to the weather, but Leo performed kickoff duties for the entire game. The kicks were low, hard drives intending to bounce around and be difficult to field. The strategy proved more effective than expected when Leo banged one kickoff off one of the Millersville front line players and recovered the fumble which led to West Chester’s third touchdown of the first quarter.

Notes - This is the fewest points allowed by West Chester since shutting out Cheyney in 2009...The other two games that Leo missed two kicks in a game were against Cheyney in 2010 and California in 2011. Like Millersville, both games were on the road and both were WCU victories...Based on WCU's kickoff strategy in the game, Millersville's 5'9", 272lb defensive tackle Ryon Freeman returned two kickoffs for a total of 22 yards...The Golden Ram defense has yet to surrender a point in the first or third quarter this season...The slick pigskin was fumbled a combined ten times by both teams. West Chester lost three of its four fumbles.

Sortable Box Score   

West Chester Athletic Site - No. 20/22 West Chester Runs Past Millersville, 48-3

Millersville Athletic Site - No. 20 West Chester Downs Marauders

Lancaster Online - West Chester romps over Millersville, 48-3

Bert Garbutt - Photo Collage WCU Football vs Millersville

D2football - PSAC Columnist - Recapping Week 3 in the PSAC