Anyone who sees the final score will conclude that a top ten team manhandled a team that hasn’t seen much success in recent years. And just about all of the underlying statistics would support that conclusion.
The Golden Ram defensive performance was amazing. Seton Hill had 13 drives – they ended with ten punts, one turnover and two scores. And those two scores came late in the game after the score was already 38-0. Of the 236 total yards gained by the Griffins, over half of them (121) came on those two late-game scoring drives. The Golden Rams tallied nine tackles for loss, led by Mike Culbreath (3 for 18 yards), Mike Labor (2 for 16 yards) and Andrew Cohen (2 for 9 9 yards). In the waning minutes of the first half, Drew Formica forced a key Seton Hill fumble inside the West Chester five-yard line that rolled out of the end zone resulting in a touchback. There was relentless pressure on the Griffin quarterbacks and the Seton Hill running game averaged just 2.5 yards per carry.
Meanwhile, the offense got off to a sluggish beginning. West Chester’s first drive was highlighted by a Sean McCartney 21-yard completion to Mike Doty (it would be Doty’s only catch of the game), but it ended on downs at the Seton Hill 38 after they failed to gain three yards on third and fourth down. The second offensive series also stalled, but Rich Bruno salvaged the effort with a 32-yard field goal to give the Golden Rams a 3-0 lead. Keep in mind, last season, West Chester failed to score on its opening drive only four times in 15 games. West Chester’s third possession was even worse, with a holding penalty and a sack ending in a net ten-yard loss and a three-and-out.
The offense perked up in the second quarter. McCartney topped off a 45-yard drive with a perfectly placed 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Shawn Driggins who made a nice diving catch. McCartney was on point on the next drive as he hit Erick Brundidge in stride down the left sideline. Brundidge hauled it in and streaked the remainder of the way for the 81-yard touchdown. On West Chester’s final possession of the first half, Brandon Monk picked up 48 yards on four carries before McCartney connected with Brundidge for a 32-yard touchdown to set the score at 24-0.
Then with under a minute left in the first half, one of West Chester’s worst fears was realized. All-American linebacker Ronell Williams suffered an apparent knee injury and had to be helped off the field. He would not return to action and was seen on crutches after the game. There is word that the injury had malicious intent and was intentional, but those claims have not been corroborated.
However devastating it was (and may be) for West Chester, the injury did have one positive affect in this game. The coaching staff has been imploring the team to be more physical for quite some time, but few have responded to those pleadings. Until this point. The West Chester team was noticeably more physical on both sides of the ball in the second half. One specific event was the massive hit that Dan Sherry laid on the return man on the opening kick of the second half.
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In the meantime, Monk scored a touchdown around the left side from 40 yards out and McCartney snuck it into the endzone from one-yard out on fourth down to increase the Golden Ram lead to 38-0. Later Andrew Derr, who picked up 41 yards on five carries out of the wildcat position, connected with Brundidge for his third touchdown catch. Earlier on that drive, on a third and eight, Derr did a great job of scrambling out of the pocket and launching a 56-yard pass to tight end Tim Brown to keep the drive alive.
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Redshirt freshman Pat Moriarty got an opportunity to take some snaps, handing off to classmates Jarel Elder (10 carries for 49 yards) and Anthony Brown (2 carries for 9 yards).
Notes – Despite playing less than a full half, Williams led the defense with nine tackles...Fellow linebacker Mike Labor continued his consistent play with eight total tackles, including a pass breakup and a 15-yard sack...Eddie Elliott had 24 yards rushing and 39 yards receiving...Brundidge finished with six catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns...Bruno is perfect on his 16 PAT's this season...Shannon Mayer had two catches in his first game of the season.
West Chester Athletic Site - No. 10 West Chester Defeats Seton Hill, 45-10
Seton Hill Athletic Site - Griffins Fall to West Chester 45-10 on Homecoming
Daily Local News - West Chester rolls past Seton Hill, 45-10
Westmoreland Sports - Game Replay - Scroll to 2:11:10
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