Game Report - West Chester 38 - Kutztown 21

In a total team effort, the #12 Golden Rams (8-0, 5-0) defeated a wicked wind and the #15 Golden Bears (7-1, 4-1) to earn a berth into the PSAC Championship game. The final score was 38-21.

West Chester chose to start the game with the wind at its back. From a scoreboard perspective it was rather inconsequential, as early on, the two teams traded scores. The Golden Rams got on the board first when Mark Dukes took a 13-yard swing pass from A.J. Long for the opening touchdown. Later, with the wind at his back, Andrew Chegia knocked in a 33-yard field goal. In between, Kutztown used a 46-yard catch and run touchdown and then noticeably drained the first quarter clock. With the wind at their back, Kutztown finished off a scoring drive to take a 13-10 lead.

Then the two teams traded three-and-outs, although Golden Ram punter Brendan Paulison was flummoxed by the gusty wind and managed punts of only 17 and 19 yards. Kutztown appeared to be poised to capitalize on their favorable field position, when Jarey Elder forced a fumble that popped right into Jordan Burney’s hands, who returned it to the West Chester 35-yard line.

Paul Dooley then made his 2018 debut and was masterful in running the option. He picked up 35 yards on the ground and topped off the drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cody Boozel to put the Golden Rams up 17-13. West Chester would never trail again in the game. On Kutztown’s very next play on offense, Ch'aim Smith got a strip sack that was recovered by Nate Barnes. This time it was Long’s turn to cut through the wind with his running as he picked up 31 yards rushing, and the drive was finished with a one-yard run by fullback Marcus Wilson, with just 36 seconds left in the half. So not only did the Golden Ram defense take away the ball twice, the West Chester offense took away Kutztown’s opportunity to play with the wind at their back, since they held the ball for over nine minutes.

Kutztown elected to take the ball to start the second half and West Chester gave them the wind in the third quarter. The gamble really seemed questionable when the Golden Bears opened the second half with a 14-play, 73-yard touchdown drive to close the score to 24-21. But the Kutztown defense had no answer for the West Chester option running game. Long and Dukes chewed up 73 yards on the ground, and Long found tight end Dan Neuhaus for a 15-yard scoring pass. The final score of the game came late in the third quarter on a 10-yard Long to Gabe Schappell touchdown pass. Entering the fourth quarter, Kutztown was facing a 17-point deficit and the stiff wind. Under those circumstances, the Golden Bears stood little chance as West Chester held the ball for over 11 minutes in the final frame.

Entering the contest, Kutztown had a very favorable turnover ratio, and their quarterback had only been sacked eight times. On Saturday, Kutztown lost two fumbles, with both resulting in Golden Ram touchdowns and West Chester, despite fumbling three times, didn’t lose any of them. And the Golden Bear quarterback was taken down five times in the contest. Linebacker Tyler Morrissey led the team with nine tackles including a sack. Defensive end Diquan Gilbert had five tackles including 2.5 sacks for 27 yards, while Smith had four tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries.

Long had only 88 yards passing, but three of his ten completions went for touchdowns. Plus he picked up 133 yards on the ground. Dukes finished with 81 yards on the ground, and Dooley had 48 yards rushing and 43 yards passing. Schappell, from nearby Exeter, was the Golden Rams’ leading receiver with three catches for 28 yards and a score. Notes – West Chester held a 13 minute advantage in time of possession…despite the conditions, Chegia was perfect on all five of his place kicks…Kutztown was held to just 225 total yards of offense and 21 points, their lowest outputs of the season...West Chester defensive back Quintin Smith left the game in the first half with an apparent injury and did not return.

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