Game Report - West Chester 41 - Clarion 14

The #17 Golden Rams defeated the Clarion Golden Eagles 41-14 to finish the regular season at 10-1. Last week’s game against Bloomsburg had all the excitement one could imagine. A big game, a big crowd, the prospects of an undefeated season and PSAC East Division and Conference championship still on the horizon made for a lot of emotion. But Bloomsburg dashed all of that and the last home game of the 2013 regular season against Clarion had none of that. And that’s what made the Golden Rams effort so special. Despite a small and disinterested crowd, West Chester dominated the lesser opponent 41-14 and secured a place in the postseason.

The defense held the Golden Eagles to 78 first half yards while the offense used a balanced attack in taking a 20-0 halftime lead. Kicker Shawn Leo opened the scoring with a 38-yard field goal. West Chester’s second drive made it to the end zone when quarterback Sean McCartney found tight end Tim Brown for a nine-yard touchdown pass.

Tim Brown hauls in a touchdown pass (Photo Geoff Ruth)

McCartney had two very efficient drives wrapped around a long interception. On the first, he completed six straight passes to Adam Dempsey, Shannon Mayer and Erick Brundidge before Rondell White plunged the last two yards for the touchdown.

Rondell White stretches for a touchdown (Photo Geoff Ruth)

On the Golden Rams’ next possession, deep in their own territory, McCartney’s long pass had too much air under it and it got picked off. But the defense followed with a quick three-and-out giving the offense one last opportunity with under two minutes left in the half. This time, McCartney hit Brown for 31 yards, Eddie Elliott for 18 yards, Brundidge for 14 and White for 6 to set up Leo’s 21-yard field goal.

Shawn Krautzel throws down the Clarion QB for a sack (Photo Geoff Ruth)

West Chester opened the second half with an authoritative drive that went 85 yards in almost four minutes. The big play on the drive was a 46-yard pass from McCartney to Brundidge and the drive was capped off by a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Shawn Driggins. Clarion then went on a drive of their own, chewing over five minutes off the clock. But their 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Anthony McCloskey. The officials erroneously placed the ball at the Golden Rams 10 and West Chester went three-and-out which led to Clarion’s first touchdown of the game.

The Golden Rams block a Clarion field goal attempt (Photo Ray Doyle)

Clarion scored another touchdown, sandwiched between a Brundidge touchdown catch and White touchdown run. Brandon Monk then took eight straight handoffs for 49 yards to run out the remainder of the clock.

Notes - The Division II Football Selection Show will be held on Sunday, November 17 at 5:00 pm and can be viewed live on NCAA.com...Nine different Golden Rams caught passes, and none was more entertaining than Adam Dempsey's tip drill to himself over the middle...Al-Hajj Shabazz had a great pass breakup in the endzone to prevent a touchdown...Shawn Krautzel, Andrew Cohen and Shaquil Ryder each registered solo sacks in the game.

Sortable Box Score

West Chester Athletic Site - No. 17 West Chester Topples Clarion, 41-14; White Sets Two Rushing Records

Daily Local News - WCU pounds Clarion to clinch playoff berth

Bert Garbutt - Photo Collage WCU Football vs Clarion

Clarion Athletic Site - #17 West Chester Tops Clarion 41-14