Golden Ram Football Club: Game Report - West Chester 41

The first play of the game was an interception and the last play of the game was an interception. And in between, it wasn’t a lot better. But in the end, the Golden Rams held on for a 41-37 win over Edinboro earning Bill Zwaan his 200th career head coaching win.

Shane Dooley threw a pick on the first offensive play, whereas the Fighting Scots first offensive play was a 25-yard touchdown run. Less than 30 seconds into the game, West Chester was trailing 7-0.

But the Golden Rams responded well to that initial punch, with Dooley, Ja'Den McKenzie and Phil Poquie running for 77 yards with Poquie capping the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run.

Gabe Schappell helps clear the way for Phil Poquie (Photo Gina Chapman)

With the score knotted at seven, the West Chester defense came out more ready with defensive end Zach Liggitt landing a strip sack that was recovered by safety Zach Demarchis. Dooley then connected with tight end Jalen Jackson who eluded multiple tacklers on his way to the end zone. But Sean Henry’s PAT was blocked and the Golden Rams’ lead was 13-7. Trailing 14-13, West Chester’s next possession ended in a blocked 33-yard field goal attempt. So special teams definitely cost some points.

Zach Liggitt separates the ball from the QB (Photo Gina Chapman)

Jalen Jackson leaves a host of Edinboro tackles in his wake (Photo Gina Chapman)

Edinboro got into West Chester territory, but their fourth down pass attempt popped high into the air where Liggitt waited for the ball to come and returned the interception 59 yards for the touchdown. With a successful PAT, the Golden Rams led 20-14. A quick three-and-out by the defense, aided by a sack by Jackson Taylor and Michael Gobora, gave West Chester possession near midfield. Dooley quickly found Seth Degree, whose defender fell down, for a 57-yard touchdown pass. But another blocked PAT left the score at 26-14.

Zach Liggitt on his way to the end zone (Photo Gina Chapman)

Jackson Taylor and Michael Gobora meet the QB (Photo Gina Chapman)

Seth Degree avoids the ref to the end zone (Photo Gina Chapman)

It almost seemed like the special teams points weren’t going to matter when Jordan Burney forced a fumble that was recovered by, who else, Zach Liggitt. It only took three plays until McKenzie rumbled into the end zone to extend the lead to 32-14. A failed two-point conversion left the score at that point. Unfortunately, the defense did not get that one more stop in the half. The Fighting Scots went 75 yards in 11 plays, converting three third downs along the way, to narrow the score to 32-21 going into halftime. During the drive, defensive end Fulani Freeman was flagged for his second roughing the quarterback penalty, but this one was a targeting which resulted in his ejection.

West Chester’s leaky special teams play continued when the second half kickoff was returned to midfield, but the Fighting Scots only managed a field goal on the possession. It would be the only points of the period and the Golden Rams held a 32-24 lead heading into the fourth quarter. That’s when Edinboro went on another long drive, this one 73 yards on eight plays, to pull within 32-30. The Fighting Scots tried a fancy play on the two-point conversion, maybe too fancy, as the balled popped into the air and Gobora snatched it out of the air and returned it for the defensive two-point conversion to give the Golden Rams a 34-30 lead.

West Chester’s ensuing possession consumed less than four minutes and gained only 17 yards. To make matters worse, the punt was a low, line drive that was returned further than it was punted. With Edinboro inside Golden Ram territory, the WCU defense forced the Fighting Scots into a fourth and one situation. A silence came over the crowd when the Edinboro running back went 30 yards untouched into the end zone, making the score 37-34 in favor of the visitors.

The response by the West Chester offense was incredible. Starting at their own 25 with just over three minutes to play, there wasn’t any panic or the need to throw deep. In fact, they only threw the ball once on the possession. Led by the offensive line, Dooley, McKenzie and Poquie ground it out, finishing with a one-yard McKenzie touchdown run. The successful PAT put West Chester up 41-37.

Dom Carey springs Ja'Den McKenzie (Photo Gina Chapman)

But the game wasn’t over as Edinboro was able to advance to the West Chester 31 when, on the final play of the game, their pass to the end zone was intercepted by Obi Anyatonwu to put this whacky affair to an end.

Obi Anyatonwu ends the game with the ball (Photo Gina Chapman)

For the game, Poquie finished with 110 yards and a touchdown while McKenzie tallied 78 yards and two scores. Taylor finished with a game-high 13 tackles including 1.5 sacks. Liggitt had a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pick-six.

Notes – Cornerback Sterlen Barr and defensive tackle Joe DeSanto were not dressed and were replaced by Kendall Singleton and Noah Collachi respectively. Zach Demarchis started in place of Shamar Edwards, but Edwards played. Center Jacob Colby was replaced by Luke Stengel for most of the second half, but Colby was back for the final touchdown drive.

Head Coach Bill Zwaan celebrates his 200th win with his son and grandsons