Game Report - West Chester 48 - Millersville 3

Although the final score showed 48-3, it certainly didn’t feel like the Golden Rams dominated the game. West Chester led only 7-0 after the first quarter and the lead didn’t reach 27 until the final minute of the first half. But when Eddie Elliott scrambled his way 64 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half, it was time for West Chester to run out the clock, which they proceeded to do.

The game did mark a host of “firsts” for the West Chester football team, including:

• First time this season that West Chester kicked off to start the game as they took the wind at their back and the defense forced a three-and-out.
• First touchdown of the season for tight end Tim Brown as he took a short fourth and four pass from Pat Moriarty, shook off one would-be tackler and bowled over a second on his way to the 22-yard score.
• First time West Chester has been flagged for not surrendering after losing a helmet. Everyone has seen a player’s helmet come off during a game and the rule that was instituted a few years ago in Article 9.a requires that player to leave the field for one play. But there’s another part of that rule - Article 9.c - that states that it’s a penalty if a player who loses his helmet continues to participate in the play. So when center Devan LaBau’s helmet came off on the Golden Ram’s second possession, and he continued to play to the whistle as every player is coached to do, flags rained down from three officials for the personal foul.
• First time this season that West Chester held an opponent to fewer than 375 yards of offense and 35 points.
• First collegiate reception for Marcus Sydnor when he hauled in an eight-yard toss from Alec Werner for a first down.
• First collegiate sacks for sophomore Kevin Duggan and true freshman Zack Hockman.
• First time this season that Millersville’s defense didn’t register a sack. The Marauders entered the game leading the PSAC with 14, but the West Chester offensive line kept the quarterbacks clean.
• First time Ralph Reeves’ name, which is spelled the same as the late actor Christopher Reeves, was pronounced by the stadium announcer like New York Jet’s cornerback Darrelle Revis. What made this pronunciation so noticeable is that he led the team with six tackles and a quarterback hurry, all which came in the first half.
• First touchdown for Werner in purple and gold as he scored on a six-yard scamper.

The bottom line is, after this past weekend, there were going to be four teams tied for first in the PSAC East and West Chester is one of them.

Sortable Box Score   

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Tops Millersville In East Opener, 48-3

Millersville Athletic Site - West Chester Defeats Millersville

Daily Local News - WCU thumps Millersville

Lancaster Online - West Chester delivers fierce blow to Millersville