Golden Ram Football Club: Game Report - West Chester 27

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Game Report - West Chester 27 - Shippensburg 6

Wow. Just wow.

The Golden Rams hadn't put forth a solid, all around game effort like they did on their 27-6 win over Shippensburg in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs since....since they knocked off Shippensburg in early October.

The West Chester offense scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions, racking up 232 yards of offense and consuming over 11 minutes off the clock. The first touchdown drive used a good combination of Jarel Elder rushing and Paul Dooley passing highlighted by a Mike Class 25-yard run. During the second scoring drive, the Raider defense had a hard time finding the ball as A.J. Long used the read-option to accumulate 44 yards on the ground before he connected with Rasheem James on 20- and 37-yard passes with the latter being a miraculous touchdown catch. Dooley returned on the third scoring drive, connecting twice with Jordan Banks and finding Marcus Sydnor for a 36-yard touchdown strike. Perhaps the horrendous weather conditions dictated the game plan, but it was a solid mix of running and passing, with an emphasis on short- and mid-range passes.

Paul Dooley actually kept this ball and ran for the TD (Photo Ron Hockman)

Meanwhile, the defense made the necessary adjustment from the last meeting with the Raiders. All-PSAC East receiver Winston Eubanks had seven catches for 176 yards against the Golden Rams in October, but due to a constant double team and a wet football, Eubanks was held to just two catches for 42 yards on nine targets. Quarterback Ryan Zapoticky was on the mark with many of his passes, but very few of the Shippensburg receivers wore gloves, which seemed ridiculous considering the conditions. Zapoticky was pressured all afternoon, with George Shipp, Tyler Morrissey, Diquan Gilbert, Shane Griffin, and Mark Webb each registering solo sacks in the game. He did escape enough times to gain 78 yards for the contest, but that was the extent of the Raider running game. And Shippensburg amassed 109 of their 300 yards in the game in the final quarter, after the Golden Rams were already up 21-0.

Shaq James separates the ball from the Ship receiver (Photo Ron Hockman)

And special teams did what they needed to do. Brendan Paulison averaged 46.5 yards on just four punts and put the Raiders on their own 1 and 2 yard line on their first two possessions of the second half. Jarey Elder secured four fair catches on Shippensburg punts, Andrew Chegia converted three PAT's and the kickoff coverage team prevented the Raiders from getting good field position.

Rasheem James hauls in a 37-yard pass from A.J. Long (Photo Ron Hockman)

The Golden Rams' effort was not perfect - a 29-yard field goal was pushed wide, a PAT was blocked, a late first-half pass was intercepted and six penalties cost 40 yards - but the team played with confidence and composure not seen in a while, but is completely necessary in the postseason.

George Shipp and Diquan Gilbert close on the QB (Photo Ron Hockman)

Finally, kudos to the marching band, cheerleaders and many fans and family that made the trip and endured the cold rain that persisted throughout the entire contest. The conditions were brutal to say the least, but the Golden Rams persevered.