Starting quarterback A.J. Long was not dressed for the game and even though Paul Dooley was dressed, he either wasn’t able or permitted to play. So it was redshirt freshman Mike Piperno who got the bulk of the snaps and classmate Zach Gilbert also seeing regular action. So with some unknowns, it would have been good for the Golden Rams to get out to their usual fast start. Instead, they turned the ball over on two of their first three possessions. Fortunately midway through the first quarter, Gilbert, who was likely supposed to execute a running play, noticed that wide receiver Ethan Price was totally uncovered at the line of scrimmage and the two connected on an 18-yard touchdown to give the Golden Rams an early 7-0 lead.
The second quarter was much more productive for the offense, as four different running backs scored touchdowns for the Golden Rams: Mike Class from 14 yards; Mark Dukes from three yards, Trael Seegers from two yards and Marcus Wilson from three yards. Meanwhile, the West Chester defense had its typical stifling performance, holding East Stroudsburg to 78 yards of total offense, five punts, and two lost fumbles in the first half.
Piperno settled down in the second half as he connected with tight end Cody Boozel on a 20-yard touchdown. Piperno finished the game 8 of 13 for 137 yards and an interception. A lot of credit goes to the offensive line, as the team rushed for 357 yards and six touchdowns with Dukes (132 yards), Seegars (101 yards) and Class (90 yards) leading the way. Although Lex Rosario only had three catches for 43 yards, he was West Chester’s leading receiver.
Meanwhile, the Golden Ram defense was relentless in their pursuit of the East Stroudsburg quarterback. Six different players had a piece of seven sacks on the day. Linebacker Nate Barnes led West Chester with eight tackles, including a crushing sack and a pass breakup. Cornerback Shaquille James had seven stops and a pass breakup while linebacker Tyler Morrissey had two forced fumbles to accompany his five tackles.
West Chester received only one penalty in the first half, and even that was on a questionable pass interference call where feet got tangled up. But the officials caught up with the averages and the Golden Rams finished with eight penalties for a total of 90 yards. Of East Stroudsburg’s 12 first downs, four of them came via West Chester penalties and half of the yards on one of the Warriors touchdown drives were the result of Golden Ram offenses.
In what was a tough day for West Chester’s special teams, Jarey Elder was a bright spot, returning three punts for a total of 42 yards. But two PAT’s were missed and one was blocked. Punter Brendan Paulison averaged 44 yards on his three punts, and while his final punt landed inside the Warrior five-yard line, the coverage team failed to down it and it rolled into the end zone for a touchback.
Redshirt freshman Brendan Ruskowski got his first career start two weeks ago at Bloomsburg since tackle Jake Duncan had to sit out due to an unsportsmanlike penalty incurred the prior week. But even with Duncan back, Ruskowski got the start at East Stroudsburg replacing classmate Patrick Ferry in the lineup.
So the Golden Rams now stand at 7-0, 4-0 in the division. The PSAC East will be decided next week when West Chester travels to Kutztown in a noon start. The winner of that game will go to the PSAC championship game at the west opponent - the winner of Slippery Rock at California - on November 10, and is very likely a Division II playoff qualifier regardless of the outcome of the PSAC championship.
West Chester Athletic Site - No. 12 West Chester’s Quick Start Too Much For ESU, 53-24
East Stroudsburg Athletic Site - ESU Football Falls to No. 12 West Chester, 53-24
Pocono Record - No. 12 West Chester holds off ESU, 53-24
The Stroud Courier - The Golden Rams Stampede Warriors 53-24 on Saturday
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