Okay, let’s be honest. When a college football team loses over 40% of its offense due to graduation, there’s concern going into the next season. Such was the case with the departure of Rondell White after the 2013 season who led the Golden Rams on both rushing with 1,989 yards and receiving with 843 yards. But the 2014 team firmly answered that question by setting a school record with 500 yards per game, finishing with a record of 11-2 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Offensively, sixth-year signal caller Sean McCartney was poised as usual and heavily used his three favorite receivers in Tim Brown, Mike Doty and Erick Brundidge. Brandon Monk provided good balance in the running game and Eddie Elliott continues to be a dual threat. The offensive line performed well despite three new starters with two of them being underclassmen.
The defensive review eluded to several teams not playing their best quarterback against West Chester. Let’s examine that more closely. In week two, Mercyhurst started redshirt sophomore Zach Emerick, and brought in junior Brendan Boylan after halftime. Boylan would go on to start the Lakers’ nine remaining games and become a Harlon Hill nominee. When Shippensburg came to West Chester for homecoming, redshirt freshman Ryan Zapoticky got his only start of the season, and when Chris Lawshe entered the game, he didn’t attempt a pass due to the injury that prevented him from starting.
East Stroudsburg Harlon Hill nominee Matt Soltes didn’t play against West Chester due to an injury he incurred two weeks prior against Kutztown. In the final week of the regular season, Indiana started redshirt freshman Eddie Stockett for the first time in 2014 in lieu of graduate student Chase Haslett who threw for over 2,000 yards this season. And in the first round of the playoffs, Slippery Rock was forced to play redshirt sophomore Zack Newsock over senior Jared Buck due to an injury Buck received in the PSAC championship game the prior week.
So what does all of that mean? Well on one hand, the Golden Ram defense got a break. Or five breaks to be exact. But on the other hand, it says something about the West Chester football program. Think back to 2010 when starting quarterback Mike Mattei got hurt and was forced to miss the nationally televised Thursday night game against Shippensburg. McCartney got his first collegiate start and threw for 444 yards and five touchdowns. Or in 2012, when the roles were reversed and McCartney suffered a season ending injury in the opener at Delaware. Mattei led West Chester to seven wins over the remaining ten games and finished among the top ten in the WCU record book in almost every single season passing category. And even last year at Shippensburg when McCartney went down early in the contest. First Drew Loughery and then redshirt freshman Andrew Derr came in to win the game. Obviously injuries happen and teams have to resort to backup players, but 2014 showed that at least five teams aren’t as deep or as prepared as what West Chester is. Having depth and preparation at every position is something that Golden Rams fans should not take for granted.
The bottom line is 2014 was a season with double digit wins and a trip to the playoffs, both of which happened for the second season in a row. And at Indiana, head coach Bill Zwaan earned his 100th win at West Chester.
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