Now that Memorial Day has passed, it's time to really turn the focus to the upcoming season. In that light, Sporting News has ranked the Golden Rams #18 in their preseason Division II Top 25 poll. Other teams of note among their top 25 are both of West Chester's 2014 playoff opponents with Concord at #5 and Slippery Rock at #9. Long time PSAC East rival Bloomsburg checks in at #13 and West Chester's 2015 opening day opponent Lenoir-Rhyne is slotted at #19.
Sporting News recognized that head coach Bill Zwaan must replace award winning quarterback Sean McCartney, but the offense will be helped by co-captains Brandon Monk and Tim Brown. Last season, running back Monk had over 2,000 all-purpose yards (1,296 rushing, 278 receiving, 200 punt returns, 304 kick returns) and 12 touchdowns while being named first team All-PSAC East and first team Don Hansen Football Gazette Super Region One. Meanwhile, tight end Brown led the Golden Rams in all receiving categories with 53 catches for 1,059 yards and 17 scores. His receiving yards and touchdowns were tops in the country among tight ends. Brown was named first team All-PSAC East, first team Super Region One by Daktronics, Beyond Sports Network, and Don Hansen Football Gazette, second team All-American by Daktronics and Beyond Sports Network and first team All-American by Don Hansen Football Gazette.
Prior to last season, Sporting News slotted West Chester #6.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Event News - Bucks County Lions Football Classic
Two future Golden Rams will be participating in the Bob Sands Memorial, Bucks County Lions, All Star Football Classic to be held on May 29 at 7:30 pm at War Memorial Field in Doylestown.
Linebacker Matt Magdelinskas of Neshaminy will play for the South while while linebacker Zack Hockman of Pennridge will suit up for the North squad in the contest.
The event is sponsored by the Bucks County Lions Club with the charitable funds raised by the game going primarily to the Bucks County Association for the Blind and the Lions Camp Kirby for the Hearing Impaired.
The event is sponsored by the Bucks County Lions Club with the charitable funds raised by the game going primarily to the Bucks County Association for the Blind and the Lions Camp Kirby for the Hearing Impaired.
Suburban One Sports - 2015 Bucks County Lions Football All Star Classic Rosters
UPDATE - SuburbanOneSports.com - North Defense Steals Spotlight in Bucks County All-Star Game - Zack Hockman Named MVP
UPDATE - GameTimePA.com - South all-stars undone by turnovers in shutout loss to the North
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Event News - Hero Bowl
Three future Golden Rams will be participating in the 39th Annual Delaware County Hero Bowl football game to be held at 7:30 pm on May 28 at Cardinal O'Hara High School.
Expected to participate in the contest are offensive lineman Brian Ross of Haverford and tight end Tyler Higgins of Bonner-Prendergast. Both will suit up for the East squad. Lineman John DiPasquale of Garnet Valley will play for the West team.
The Hero Bowl serves as Delaware County's senior all-star game with all proceeds going to benefit the Hero Scholarship Fund of Delaware County to provide scholarships to the children of police officers, fire fighters and EMS workers who have given their lives in the line of duty.
The Hero Bowl serves as Delaware County's senior all-star game with all proceeds going to benefit the Hero Scholarship Fund of Delaware County to provide scholarships to the children of police officers, fire fighters and EMS workers who have given their lives in the line of duty.
Delco Daily Times - Hero Bowl: East & West Rosters
Delco Daily Times - Hero Bowl 2015: Change was necessary after two years of nonsense
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Event News - Berks Senior Football Classic
A future Golden Ram will be participating in the 17th Berks Senior Football Classic to be held on Sunday May 31 at 4:15 pm at Exeter High School's Don Thomas Stadium.
Kicker/punter Matt Hook of Fleetwood will play for the White Team. Besides Fleetwood, the White team will have players from Berks Catholic, Daniel Boone, Wyomissing, Twin Valley, Exeter, and Reading. The Blue team will represent Kutztown, Hamburg, Conrad Weiser, Wilson, Muhlenberg, Schuylkill Valley and Governor Mifflin. The all-star game is part of the Berks County Football Coaches Association's "Berks County Football Weekend" which includes a skills challenge for underclassmen, a football combine, and the Hall of Fame dinner with induction of new members.
Reading Eagle - Senior Classic drops East/West format for more balanced format
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Event News - Valor Bowl
Two future Golden Rams will be participating in the 17th Annual Valor Bowl to be held at 7:15 pm on Thursday, May 28 at John A. Farrell Stadium on South Campus of West Chester University.
Quarterback Dan Murphy of Bishop Shanahan will suit up for the West squad
while Unionville linebacker Quinn Cheyney will play for the East team.
The Valor Bowl was founded by Scott Allison and former West Chester Golden Ram and Killinger Hall of Fame member Joe Carroll, and serves as Chester county's senior all-star game with all proceeds going to benefit the Chester County Special Olympics.
Several current West Chester University football players have participated in the Valor Bowl including Brandon Monk, Sean Steinmetz, Ryan Fay, Ben Smith, and Bill Ford. Other notable Valor Bowl alumni include 2001 North Offensive MVP Bob Findora who later led the Golden Rams to the 2004 Division II National semi-final and 2010 East Offensive MVP Rondell White who led the Golden Rams to the Division II National semi-final in 2013.
Several current West Chester University football players have participated in the Valor Bowl including Brandon Monk, Sean Steinmetz, Ryan Fay, Ben Smith, and Bill Ford. Other notable Valor Bowl alumni include 2001 North Offensive MVP Bob Findora who later led the Golden Rams to the 2004 Division II National semi-final and 2010 East Offensive MVP Rondell White who led the Golden Rams to the Division II National semi-final in 2013.
GameTimePA.com - Valor Bowl kicks off tonight
Monday, May 18, 2015
Event News - Philadelphia City All-Star Game
A future Golden Ram will be participating in the 41st Annual City All-Star Game to be held on Thursday May 21 at 7:00 pm at Northeast High School.
Quarterback Paul Dooley of Springside Chestnut Hill will play for the Non-Public Team.
Several Golden Rams have participated in this contest including All-American wide receiver Michael Washington (2004), WCU MVP quarterback Mike Mattei (2008), All-American cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz (2010) and wide receiver Erick Brundidge (2010). Current Golden Rams that played in the game include Byron Cooper, Kevin Malone, Blaise Schieler, Sean Boylan and Nydair Rouse.
Several Golden Rams have participated in this contest including All-American wide receiver Michael Washington (2004), WCU MVP quarterback Mike Mattei (2008), All-American cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz (2010) and wide receiver Erick Brundidge (2010). Current Golden Rams that played in the game include Byron Cooper, Kevin Malone, Blaise Schieler, Sean Boylan and Nydair Rouse.
Philadelphia Tribune - Ben Franklin High quarterback Kevin Caldwell to play in City All-Star Game
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Team News - 2015 Unofficial Recruiting Class
Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | School |
LB |
6-2 |
225 |
Unionville | |
FS/WR |
6-4 |
180 |
Prep Charter | |
DL |
6-3 |
270 |
Plymouth Whitemarsh | |
OL |
6-5 |
295 |
Garnet Valley | |
QB |
6-1 |
195 |
Springside Chestnut Hill | |
CB |
5-11 |
175 |
Parkland | |
OL |
6-3 |
300 |
Bethlehem Catholic | |
WR |
6-2 |
180 |
Bethlehem Liberty | |
DE |
6-4 |
235 |
Bonner-Prendergast | |
LB |
6-2 |
220 |
Pennridge | |
K |
6-4 |
210 |
Fleetwood | |
DB |
5-11 |
175 |
Neshaminy | |
OL |
6-2 |
310 |
Central Bucks South | |
ATH |
6-0 |
180 |
Bishop Shanahan | |
OL/DL |
6-5 |
330 |
Greencastle-Antrim | |
DB |
6-0 |
200 |
Delaware Valley | |
OL |
6-4 |
320 |
Haverford | |
ATH |
6-4 |
205 |
Rancocas Valley | |
OL/DL |
6-3 |
287 |
Governor Livingston | |
OL |
6-2 |
290 |
North Penn | |
FS |
6-1 |
175 |
Allentown Central Catholic |
Daily Local News - Zwaan unveils recruiting class
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Alumni News - Shabazz Signs with Colts
Former Golden Ram cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz has reportedly signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts. After this past season, Hajj was named 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, an ECAC Division II Football All-Star, a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, first team D2football.com All-American, first team Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Super Region 1, and first team Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American.
West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester’s Al-Hajj Shabazz Signs With The Colts
Stampede Blue - Colts Agree to Terms with 15 Undrafted Free Agents
Daily Local News - Shabazz confident of making NFLFriday, May 1, 2015
Event News - Future Golden Rams to Play in PSFCA East/West Game
- Jarey Elder - WR - Parkland
- Frank Tranzilli - OL - North Penn
- Jack Mummert - OL - Central Bucks South
- Joe DeSanto - DL - Plymouth-Whitemarsh
PAFootballNews.com - 2015 PSFCA East Roster
Allentown Morning Call - Three local kids ready to shine in PSFCA All-Star Football Game