Once again, the Golden Rams managed a balanced offensive effort with 2,453 yards rushing and 2,838 yards passing for an average of 407 yards per game. The team averaged 33 points per game, and when they failed to score 20 points in a game, the team was 0-3, so scoring mattered. The biggest problem the offense had was interceptions as the three quarterbacks combined for 17 this season. Only three teams in the PSAC threw more. The offensive line and the quarterbacks' scrambling ability resulted in just 21 sacks in a season of 13 games. Overall, it wasn't the best offense that West Chester has put on the field in recent years, but they did play five games against the top four defenses in the conference (Shippensburg, Kutztown, Bloomsburg and Indiana twice).
Quarterback
It was an interesting season for the most critical position on the Golden Ram offense. The 2015 starter, Pat Moriarty, who led West Chester to a PSAC East title, played in ten games in 2016. All the other quarterbacks on this season's roster had combined to throw just one pass for the purple and gold prior to this season. But Moriarty went from the top of the preseason depth chart to only playing in two games in 2017. Sophomore Paul Dooley, despite missing spring ball, became the starter and performed fairly well, finishing 163 of 305, 53.4%, 2,372 yards, 21 TD's and 13 int's. His overall passer rating was 133.0 which was good for fifth in the PSAC. He also had 333 yards and four touchdowns rushing as well. And Dooley's performance directly related to the outcome of this season's games. His best games were Bentley and Edinboro which were both easy wins. And he struggled against Bloomsburg and both games against Indiana which were all loses. Being only a sophomore and seeing his most significant collegiate action, it was a successful season in addition to a learning experience.
Spelling Dooley was transfer A.J. Long. At Lock Haven, when Dooley was wearing a boot, Long was successful through the air (12 of 26 for 198 yards, 2 TD's, 2 int's) and on the ground (181 yards and 3 TD's) and received PSAC East recognition for that week. His season totals were rather pedestrian through the air going 22 of 45, 48.9%, 453 yards, 6 TD's, 3 int's. However, he was the Golden Rams' second leading rusher with 380 yards and 2 TD's on the ground. Moriarty started the PSAC championship game and played against Cheyney, going 2 of 6 for 13 yards and 1 int on the season.
Offensive Line
Guard Tyler Drob was the only all-region offensive lineman returning for the Golden Rams, but he ended up missing the entire season due to an injury sustained in the spring. However, the line still was manned with four seniors:
Devan LaBau,
Evyn Stadulis,
Alex Host, and
Vince Lostracco. The newcomer to the bunch was sophomore Frank Tranzilli who ended up being the only one to start and play in every game this season and earned both first team All-PSAC East and first team All-ECAC recognition.
Due to injuries throughout the season, West Chester used six different starting combinations on the offensive line and who knows how many throughout games. Junior Connor Walsh proved his versatility, starting at both center and guard this year. Junior Jake Duncan started two games at right tackle before getting injured at Lock Haven. Duncan didn't play the remainder of the season although he was dressed in the playoffs. True freshman
Patrick Ferry lost his redshirt season to start against Bloomsburg and Cheyney. He went on tho play in the Golden Rams' final seven games, including the postseason.
After switching to the offensive line, junior Ben Smith played in nine games this season, although he also played some defensive tackle as well. Sophomore John DiPasquale saw action in six games and Jack Mummert spelled Labau at Center.
Running Back
The top concern for all opposing defenses was how to stop senior running back
Jarel Elder (247 carries for 1,230 yards and 15 TD's, 23 catches for 339 yards and 2 TD's). Most weren't successful. Elder eclipsed 200 yards rushing four times this season: Slippery Rock, Shippensburg, Bloomsburg and Shippensburg in the playoffs. Probably the most significant feat was with all his 298 touches, he only fumbled once and the Golden Rams recovered it. For the season, Elder was named first team All-PSAC East, second team CCA All-Super Region 1, first team All-ECAC, and PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year.
Juniors Mark Dukes (45 carries for 367 yards and 3 TD's, 9 catches for 137 yards) and Mike Class (50 carries for 177 yards and 2 TD's, 1 catch for 1 yard and 1 TD). continued to show their versatility in the Golden Ram offense.
Wide Receiver
Senior Tyler Karpinski (55 cathes for 787 yards and 7 TD's) capped his West Chester career with another season that earned him first team All-PSAC East and first team All-ECAC honors. His three 100-yard receiving games all came on the road: at Slippery Rock, Shippensburg and Cheyney. Stepping into the spotlight was redhsirt freshman speedster Rasheem James (41 catches for 674 yards and 6 TD's). He received PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week and ECAC Rookie of the Week for his game against Kutztown (6 catches for 142 yards and 1 TD). For the season, James was named second team All-PSAC East and ECAC Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Senior Marcus Sydnor (21 catches for 359 yards and 3 TD's) and junior Jordan Banks (14 catches for 132 yards and 2 TD's) also contributed, with Banks' production limited to just seven games due to an injury.
True freshman Jalik Smith (2 catches for 35 yards and 1 TD) and redshirt freshman Elijah Hall (2 catches for 16 yards) both saw their first collegiate action while sophomore Lex Rosario (2 catches for 20 yards) also contributed.
Tight End/H-back
With Cody Boozel lost for the season due to an injury, the Golden Rams would turn to youngsters at tight end. Redshirt freshman Dan Neuhaus (15 catches for 289 yards and 4 TD's) played in 12 games and got six starts while true freshman Gabe Schappell (1 catch for 28 yards) played in nine games. As H-back, junior Simon Williams (1 catch for 21 yards and 1 TD) was primarily a blocking back.
Paul Dooley was fifth in the PSAC in passing (Photo Ron Hockman)
A.J. Long had a huge game at Lock Haven (Photo Ron Hockman)
Pat Moriarty saw limited action in 2017 (Photo Ron Hockman)
Frank Tranzilli earned all-conference honors (Photo Ron Hockman)
Devan LaBau was a mainstay at center (Photo Ron Hockman)
Alex Host played both guard and tackle (Photo Ron Hockman)
Evyn Stadulis protected the QB's blindside (Photo Ron Hockman)
Vince Lostracco battled injuries this year (Photo Ron Hockman)
Jake Duncan garnered two starts before getting hurt (Photo Ron Hockman)
Connor Walsh started multiple positions this season (Photo Ron Hockman)
Patrick Ferry had two starts as a true freshman (Photo Ron Hockman)
Ben Smith played offensive and defensive line (Photo Ron Hockman)
John DiPasquale was a reserve tackle for the offense (Photo Ron Hockman)
Jack Mummert played in five games (Photo Ron Hockman)
Jarel Elder was the PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year (Photo Ron Hockman)
Mark Dukes had a 44-yard TD run against Edinboro (Photo Ron Hockman)
Mike Class scored three touchdowns this season (Photo Ron Hockman)
Tyler Karpinski was WCU's leading receiver this season (Photo Ron Hockman)
Rasheem James was ECAC Offensive Rookie of the Year (Photo Ron Hockman)
Marcus Sydnor had 2 TD's at Shippensburg (Photo Ron Hockman)
Jordan Banks missed six games due to an injury (Photo Ron Hockman)
Jalik Smith's first collegiate catch was a touchdown (Photo Ron Hockman)
Lex Rosario played in every game this season (Photo Ron Hockman)
Elijah Hall made his first college catch at the Rock (Photo Ron Hockman)
Dan Neuhaus had 2 TD catches at Lock Haven (Photo Ron Hockman)
Simon Williams had a 21-yard TD catch against Bentley (Photo Ron Hockman)
Gabe Schappell made his first college catch (Photo Ron Hockman)
1 comment:
Just to clarify... Alex Host started and played every game this season; Frank Tranzilli didn't start until after Jake's injury took him out for the season, with Host moving from his natural guard spot to tackle.
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