Game Report - Shepherd 35 - West Chester 23

The #12 Golden Rams (6-1, 3-1) fell to the Shepherd Rams (5-2, 3-1) by a score of 35-23 on a beautiful autumn afternoon.

Exposed

The Golden Rams have been a mistake filled bunch in 2019, but outsiders that didn't watch the games only saw a 6-0 record. Well good teams capitalize on opponents' mistakes and that usually leads to an outcome like Saturday. Shepherd did their very best to keep West Chester in the game as they actually turned the ball over more times (five) than West Chester did (four). But the Golden Rams would have none of it. It wasn't a matter of the quantity of West Chester's turnovers, but the quality. A first-quarter fumble in the red zone on first down that Shepherd converted into a 8-minute, 86-yard touchdown drive. An interception on the first play of a possession that Shepherd converted into a one-play touchdown pass. Another turnover in the red zone, this time an interception. And the third pick came on the first play of a possession in the fourth quarter. So two turnovers were on the doorstep of the end zone and two just one play after the defense got off the field.

With starting quarterback Paul Dooley not dressed, the game was in sophomore Mike Piperno's hands. Prior to West Chester's final possession of the game with just two minutes left and the final outcome determined, only half of Piperno's 18 passes were caught. And the more unfortunate point is that three of those nine catches were by Shepherd players. His first completion of the game was a perfect 18-yard touchdown strike to tight end Dan Neuhaus midway through the second quarter. And he somehow squeezed a 20-yard completion to Kenny Edelin among five Shepherd defenders. But there was no rhythm and little confidence in the passing game as West Chester yielded a season-high six sacks in the game.

Despite having five takeaways, the Golden Ram defense had its fair share of miscues. A safety blitz against a quarterback that gets rid of the ball very quickly was peculiar, especially deep in West Chester territory. And that play didn't turn out well when it resulted in a 25-yard touchdown pass. Opposing receivers have gotten behind the West Chester secondary several times this year, but the quarterbacks failed to connect on what would be sure touchdowns. That wasn't the case with Shepherd when they went up 14-0 in the first quarter. On another Shepherd pass play, the only thing that prevented a long touchdown catch and run was the receiver fortunately fell down. But no defender was even near him. And on another play, two Golden Ram defenders closed on the Shepherd ball carrier and hit him hard, but neither tackled him, so he bounced off and scooted into the end zone.

After West Chester closed the score to 28-24 with ten minutes remaining in the game, there was a roughing call on Shepherd on the PAT. So West Chester took the point off the board and elected to go for two from the shorter distance. Mathematically, it was the correct call. Without the two-point conversation, a touchdown would still be needed. But consider that in the first quarter, after Phil Poquie returned a kickoff 70 yards to put West Chester in great field position, the Golden Rams had a second and three from the Shepherd five-yard line and ended up settling for a field goal. So were they really going to punch it in for the two-point conversion? Needless to say, it failed. And any momentum was quickly squashed by a 58-yard kickoff return. It only took Shepherd two plays to respond with the coffin-nailing touchdown.

Exhausted

Without being able to trust the passing game, the Golden Ram offense turned to redshirt freshman running back Ja'Den McKenzie. Of West Chester's 74 offensive plays, the ball was handed to McKenzie on 33 of those snaps. And he lugged the ball for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

Ja'Den McKenzie on one of his 33 carries (Photo Gina Chapman)

Besides also returning punts, safety Jarey Elder was all over the field. He had a game-high nine tackles with six of them being solo stops. He also forced and recovered a fumble on Shepherd's second play of the second half which led to a West Chester touchdown which narrowed the score to 21-17.

Expected

Kickers are often the most maligned football players. Heck, sometimes it's debatable to call them football players. But West Chester's kickers put in another consistent performance and it's become expected. Placekicker Andrew Chegia was perfect on his two PAT attempts and put three of his five kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks. Meanwhile punter George Lambritsios averaged 48 yards on his six punts, with two of them going at least 50 yards, including a 71-yarder, and dropping three inside the Shepherd 20.

Another day on the launching pad for George Lambritsios (Photo Gina Chapman)

Excruciating

Maybe it would have been different if Golden Ram fans were basking in the glory of a victory, but the game took three hours and thirteen minutes to complete. Sure a national telecast gets some of the blame for that, but last week's game against Bloomsburg was televised and ended in under three hours.

Sortable Box Score   

West Chester Athletic Site - No. 12 West Chester Defeated By Shepherd, 35-23

NCAA.com - Shepherd upsets No. 12 West Chester in pivotal PSAC matchup. Here's how the Rams did it

NCAA.com - Let's take a look at the best performances from the Week 7 box scores

The Journal - The fast Lane: Shepherd overcomes five turnovers to defeat division favorite

Shepherd Athletic Site - Shepherd Football Upsets #12 West Chester

The Quad - Golden Rams drop game to Shepherd University