For the fourth consecutive game, West Chester failed to score in the first quarter and found themselves trailing early. One of the concerns going into the game was turnovers, an area where Kutztown excelled and West Chester faltered. In Saturday's game, the turnovers were even, however, after the Golden Rams recovered a Kutztown fumble, the Golden Bears turned West Chester away. Conversely, after Kutztown picked off quarterback Paul Dooley, it took them only five plays to convert it into a touchdown.
Michael Gobora drags down the Kutztown QB (Photo Ron Hockman)Ultimately, the big story of the game was the big plays. Kutztown exploded for nine plays of 20 yards or more in the game. How else can you account for the fact that West Chester converted almost half of their third down plays, held a significant margin in first downs (21-15) and possessed the ball for almost ten more minutes. About the only positive of the 23-3 halftime score was that West Chester did not get shutout, thanks to a 38-yard Andrew Chegia field goal.
Andrew Chegia boots a 38-yard field goal (Photo Ron Hockman)The halftime speech must have been good though. Although Kutztown opened with a 22-yard run, the Golden Rams turned up the defensive pressure when a Nyeem Jones sack and a Fulani Freeman quarterback hurry forced a Kutztown punt. Then the West Chester offense got inspired and marched 86 yards in almost six minutes to narrow the margin to 23-10.
The West Chester defense forced their first three-and-out of the game, and the Golden Ram momentum grew. Dooley led the offense into the red zone, but the drive stalled when his fourth-down pass to tight end Dan Neuhaus missed the mark inside the five yard line. Kutztown responded by driving 93 yards in over five minutes, using three of their chunk plays along the way, to extend the lead to 30-10. So the Golden Rams were oh so close to narrowing the margin to just a touchdown, to now needing three trips to the end zone. Despite Dooley getting his second rushing touchdown of the game, the deficit proved to be too much to overcome.
Dooley had a decent day - 24 of 39 for 227 yards; 15 carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns. His top targets were Kenny Edelin (6 catches, 74 yards) and Elijah Hall (5 catches, 46 yards), but the challenge was the offense being unable to get running back Ja'Den McKenzie going again. After his 179-yard game at Shepherd, he's been held to 20 and 38 yards the last two weeks.
Kenny Edelin makes a leaping catch (Photo Ron Hockman)Defensively, Nyeem Jones had a pass breakup and five tackles, including West Chester's only sack of the game. Linebacker Jackson Taylor led West Chester with six stops.
Notes – Kickoff returner and running back Isaiah Bruce was in a boot for the game...defensive tackle Omar Peterkin was back in uniform and registered an assist...cornerbacks Izaiah McPherson and Jalik Smith struggled with Kutztown's bigger receivers...after registering four tackles against East Stroudsburg, Zach Demarchis did not participate against Kutztown.
West Chester Athletic Site - No. 22 West Chester Falls At Home To No. 17 Kutztown, 30-17
Kutztown Athletic Site - No. 17 Golden Bears are PSAC East Champs After 30-17 Win at No. 22 West Chester
Reading Eagle - Kutztown beats West Chester to win PSAC East title
Morning Call - Kutztown knocks off West Chester to claim PSAC East title
Ron Hockman - WCU Football vs Kutztown - First Half Photos
Ron Hockman - WCU Football vs Kutztown - Second Half Photos
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