The opener was the annual flogging at Delaware. The Golden Rams hadn't sniffed a win there since 1996 when they lost by only one touchdown. And although it wasn't as bad as the 84-0 pounding they took in 2000, it was yet another shutout on a hot Thursday evening. But now it was time to move on to conference play.
In honor of former Golden Ram quarterback Mike Horrocks, West Chester was set to dedicate a statue of him on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. It was an incredibly emotional and beautiful afternoon. But despite West Chester holding nearly a two-to-one advantage in yards, seven penalties and six turnovers were too much to overcome and the Golden Rams fell to Edinboro 16-14. Narrow margins became the theme for the early part of the season. The following week at Slippery Rock, West Chester fell in overtime, 33-27. The Rock converted a 47-yard field goal with 31 seconds left in the game to force bonus football, then scored a touchdown on its possession in the extra period, but the PAT was blocked which gave West Chester hope for a win when they got the ball. However the Golden Rams couldn't get across the goal line.
The following week at East Stroudsburg, West Chester held off the Warriors 35-31. The Golden Rams' offense was outplayed by the hosts, but 14 points off turnovers, including a pick-six by John O'Donnell led to the win. The next week was a triple overtime, marathon loss to visiting C.W. Post, 39-37.
West Chester was then set to host Shippensburg on a Thursday night, nationally televised game. What looked to be a marquee matchup prior to the season - West Chester had been to the playoffs in five of the previous six seasons while Shippensburg won the PSAC and made a trip to the NCAA's in 2009 - had to leave the schedulers scratching their heads since both teams entered just 1-4. To add to West Chester's concern of three close losses, the Golden Rams would be without starting quarterback Mike Mattei. Starting in his place would be redshirt freshman Sean McCartney who had thrown a total of six collegiate passes in mop up duty at Delaware. It turned out to be another close game for West Chester, as it went to two overtimes, but the Golden Rams came out on top, 44-43. In his first career start, McCartney went 27 of 49 for 444 yards and five touchdowns. Dan DePalma (7 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD), Jackson Fagan (6 catches, 48 yards), Tim Keyser (4 catches, 127 yards, 2 TD's), and LaRonn Lee (4 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD) all had big games. But it was Lucas Fickel who blocked the Raider's PAT in the second overtime that started the celebration.
But the Golden Rams didn't quite turn the corner on the season. They defeated Cheyney the following week, 48-34, but despite the win, they allowed more points to Cheyney in that single game than the previous seven meetings combined. The defense allowed 45 points in each of the next two contests - at Bloomsburg (which would later advance to the second round of the playoffs) and at Kutztown. An easy 45-14 win over Millersville, who was winless in the division, followed and then a 27-10 loss at Indiana brought the season to a close. At 4-7, it was the first losing season for West Chester under head coach Bill Zwaan.
Wide receiver Dan DePalma and defensive end Travis Ford-Bey were both named first team All-PSAC East. Running back Jackson Fagan, center Kyle O’Neil, nose guard Lucas Fickel and punter Chris Hill received second team honors.
Running back Jackson Fagan had 1,191 all-purpose yards
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