Golden Ram Football Club: Game Preview

The #24 Golden Rams (8-2) host the California Vulcans (7-3) on Saturday in John A. Farrell Stadium. Kickoff for this PSAC crossover game is set for 1:00pm. The game will also serve as Senior Day when West Chester University senior band members, cheerleaders, football players and the team training staff will be honored before the game.

Series History:
Prior to this millennia, West Chester held a 4-0 advantage in the series. But from 2007 to 2009, the next four games went to California. This was the same three-year period that the Vulcans were winning the PSAC West and the NCAA Super Region 1. Included in this time frame were two meetings in 2008 - West Chester made their way out to California to open the season on a hot August day and then again for PSAC championship game on a cold and windy November afternoon. Head coach Bill Zwaan has captured the last two games against the Vulcans and West Chester now holds a 6-4 lead in the series. California's Gary Dunn holds a 34-11 record in his fourth season as head coach and made playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017.

Last 10 Meetings:

Year	H/A	W/L	Score	Year	H/A	W/L	Score
1956	Away	Win	31-7	2008	Away	Loss	44-32
1957	Home	Win	52-0	2008	Away	Loss	47-36
1994	Away	Win	60-14	2009	Home	Loss	30-23
1995	Home	Win	25-24	2012	Away	Win	37-34
2007	Home	Loss	30-14	2013	Home	Win	38-31

Last Meeting:

10/06/2013 West Chester 38 - California 31

The 2013 West Chester team was 4-0 heading into the mid-season crossover game, and the star studded Golden Rams held on for a 38-31 win en route to the NCAA Division II semi-finals later that season. Quarterback Sean McCartney was only 12 of 20 for 180 yards and a touchdown, but he didn't throw an interception or get sacked. Running back Rondell White was the workhouse as he so often was, carrying the ball 34 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, linebacker Ronell Williams had ten tackles and cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz had four tackles and two pass breakups. The Golden Rams played a ball control game, converting 8 of 14 third down opportunities, not turning the ball over, and possessing the ball for over 35 minutes of game time.

Scouting the Opponent:

The Vulcan offense is littered with players who received All-PSAC West recognition a year ago including quarterback and PSAC West Freshman of the Year Noah Mitchell (180 of 319, 2,246 yards, 23 TD's, 8 int), running back and Lenoir-Rhyne transfer Nelson Brown (214 carries, 949 yards, 11 TD's), and receivers Tyson Hill (49 catches, 863 yards, 7 TD's) and Jordan Dandridge (53 catches, 649 yards, 6 TD's). Center Christian DiGalbo, twin brother of Kutztown quarterback Collin DiGalbo, also received All-PSAC West honors last season.

The California defense leads the PSAC with 17 interceptions by ten different players and is third in the country in turnover margin at +16. Their marquee player is Ball State transfer, reigning PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year and pro prospect strong safety Lamont McPhatter II (50 tackles, 2 int), but sophomore cornerback Jermal Martin (37 tackles, 4 int, 6 PBU) leads the team in picks. Defensive end Gerald Brown (57 tackles, 7.0 sacks) leads the team in both tackles and sacks. Linebackers Israel Xavier (32 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and Albany transfer Julian Cox (52 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 2 int) cause problems in the middle.

Freshman kicker Keaton Hier is 7 of 12 on field goals with a long of 37 yards and is 44 of 46 on PAT's. Freshman punter Joey Hood averages 38 yards per punt and has dropped 13 inside the opponent 20-yard line. Hood also handles kickoffs, but only has two touchbacks.

Analysis:

Don't be deceived by California's losses. They came to Kutztown, Slippery Rock and Indiana, three teams that are a combined 29-1. The Vulcans are second in the country in rushing defense, allowing less than 52 yards per game. The Vulcans led Kutztown going into the fourth quarter and lost to the Golden Bears on a touchdown with 15 seconds left.

The Golden Rams put forth poor performances against Bentley, Shippensburg, and Bloomsburg and still came away with victories. Such a performance will not have a similar outcome against California. Any chance that West Chester qualifies for the playoffs hinges on a victory over the Vulcans and that means the Golden Rams must play near perfect football for 60 full minutes.

Atomic Football favors California by four while Massey Ratings favors California by a touchdown.

Notes:
Besides assuming a West Chester victory over California, there are other considerations for the playoffs. Due to the earned access rule, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference will claim a spot in the playoffs if they have a team finish ranked #9 or higher in Super Region 1. In that scenario, the #7 team will be supplanted by the GMAC team. Therefore, West Chester likely also needs Notre Dame to defeat West Virginia State which would allow WCU to rise to #6 in the region.