The Golden Ram offense was the best in school history and one of the best in the country. Categorical national rankings include: 44th in rushing (193.6 yards/game), 16th in passing (306.7 yards/game), 8th in passing efficiency (163.98), 11th in total offense (500.3 yards/game), 14th in scoring (39.8 points/game), 7th in third-down conversion (49.4%), 6th in first downs (321). While the 2014 Golden Ram team didn't accumulate more total yards for the season than last year's team, keep in mind that last year West Chester played two more games in the playoffs. This year's squad crushed the school record for yards per game at 500.3 easily surpassing the previous record of 465.7 set in 1998. They also claimed the record for most yards in a single game when they rolled up 691 yards in the second round of the playoffs at Concord. The previous record of 672 at Kutztown was set in 1972.
Only Bloomsburg, which dominated all facets of the game, held the Golden Rams to fewer than 28 points this season.
Offensive Line
Four of the front five received conference honors. Senior center Derek Schatz appeared on the first team All-PSAC offense for the second year and senior left guard James Colivas appeared on the first team this year after making the second last year. Sophomore left tackle Doug Gilbert was named first team All-PSAC East while senior right guard Antoine Bland was named to the second team. Although both Gilbert and Bland had playing time last year, 2014 was their first season as starters. Redshirt freshmen Vince Lostracco and Michael Unger split time at right tackle with Lostracco claiming the starting role and a bulk of the playing time. Schatz was also named second team Beyond Sports Network All-Super Region 1, fourth team Beyond Sports Network All-American and All-ECAC while Gilbert was named third team Beyond Sports Network All-Super Region 1.
The offensive line lost three seniors after last season and three more after this season. So there was a desperate need to get the new players some playing time. With many games having their outcomes determined long before the clock showed triple zeros,it allowed the coaches to get the youngsters on the field. This proved valuable when Bland was injured during the Lock Have game and redshirt freshman Tyler Drob not only finished that game but also started and played the entire game at Kutztown. Redshirt freshman center Devan LaBau and true freshman Alex Host also received plenty of real game action. Overall, the entire offensive line only allowed 16 sacks this season which was good for 27th in the country at 1.23 sacks per game. Not factored into that ranking was the fact that West Chester threw the ball 445 times. The teams ranked first and second in this category - Harding (0.18) and Lenoir-Rhyne (0.33) only threw the ball 86 and 93 times respectively. West Chester was 6th in Division II in fewest tackles for loss allowed with 4.08 per game, which was also best among PSAC East teams.
Quarterback
The list of accolades for senior quarterback Sean McCartney is long. He broke two records that had stood for 20 years by throwing for 3,744 yards and 42 touchdowns. Those numbers were good for 7th and 1st in the country and his quarterback efficiency rating of 163.4 was good for 7th in Division II. He was award several conference, regional and national awards, including finishing fifth in the Harlon Hill balloting.
Sophomore signal caller Andrew Derr primarily came in to finish games or to provide an additional running threat. For the season, Derr was 15 of 27 for 243 yards and 4 touchdowns for an efficiency rating of 172.6. These are numbers that a starter might get in a single game, but such was the situation this season with McCartney and the offense being so good. Derr proved last year that he can start (Cheyney) and come through in the clutch (Shippensburg). This year, he also netted 60 yards on 20 carries. Redshirt freshman Pat Moriarty took snaps to finish several games, but did not throw a pass.
Wide Receiver
Although eight different players registered double digit receptions, the "big three" carried over half of the load. Tight end Tim Brown (53 catches, 1,059 yards, 17 TD's) registered 16 catches for 380 yards and five touchdowns in West Chester's two playoff games, and was named first team All-PSAC East, first team Daktronics All-Super Region 1, first team Beyond Sports Network All-Super Region 1, second team Beyond Sports Network All-American, second team Daktronics All-American and All-ECAC.
Wide receiver Mike Doty (52 catches, 798 yards, 11 TD's) received second team All-PSAC East honors and Erick Brundidge (40 catches, 798 yards, 8 TD's) provided a deep threat. Brown (7 catches, 164 yards) and Doty (5 catches, 108 yards) both ecplised the 100-yard receiving mark in the first round playoff game against Slippery Rock; Brundidge and Tim Keyser did it last season against Kutztown.
Sophomore Shannon Mayer (25 catches, 247 yards, 3 TD's), junior Adam Dempsey (21 catches, 171 yards, 1 TD), and sophomore Jim Hurley (10 catches, 143 yards) provided alternatives in the passing game. And although junior tight end Shawn Driggins (6 catches, 69 yards, 3 TD's) is primarily used in the running game, he had touchdown catches in both the first and last game of the season.
Running Back
Many wondered how the West Chester running game would fare with Rondell White moving on. Well the answer was clearly "quite well". Junior Brandon Monk (214 carries, 1,296 yards, 9 TD's, 23 catches, 278 yards, 2 TD's) carried a bulk of the load, but classmate Eddie Elliott (129 carries, 639 yards, 5 TD's, 26 catches, 328 yards, 1 TD) was also a major factor. Monk had a monster game at East Stroudsburg, rushing for 257 yards and two touchdowns. And both Monk (122) and Elliott (116) went over a hundred yards in the second round playoff game at Concord. Monk and White pulled off the feat at Millersville last year. Monk earned first team All-PSAC East honors while Elliott received second team All-PSAC East recognition.
Redshirt freshmen Jarel Elder (89 carries, 452 yards, 3 TD's, 3 catches, 42 yards) and Anthony Brown (26 carries, 127 yards) showed that they were ready to play if called on to do so. Fullback Camille Max (2 carries, 7 yards, 1 TD), primarily used as a blocking back and special teams, did score a touchdown against Cheyney.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment