Mercyhurst gained a total of just 169 yards of offense on 62 plays which amounts to a puny 2.7 yards per play. Leading the way for West Chester was sophomore defensive end Michael Gobora who registered 8 total tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Senior linebacker Cole Zapf also has 8 tackles, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. In all, the Golden Rams registered ten sacks, tying the school’s single game record in 1994 against East Stroudsburg when current Penn State head coach James Franklin was their quarterback. Junior defensive end Zach Liggitt notched 2.0 sacks including a one-armed throw down of the Hurst quarterback. A week after not forcing any turnovers, on two consecutive Laker possessions, West Chester forced and recovered two fumbles which both led to WCU touchdowns. And sophomore defensive back Elijah Beard nabbed the first interception of 2021 for the Golden Rams.
Offensively, the quarterback question appears to finally have been answered. Redshirt freshman Desman Johnson got the start again this week, but the offense managed only 24 yards of offense on his two possessions. And the second possession ended on an interception which Mercyhurst returned to the three and led to their only touchdown of the game. Fellow redshirt freshman Shane Dooley, who didn’t even make the trip to Bentley last week, entered the game at quarterback. While Dooley didn’t complete a pass on his first two possessions, heck he only threw one pass, he moved the team down the field and into the end zone due in large part to his scrambling and the rushing of Phil Poquie.
Zach Liggitt disposes of the Laker QB (Photo Gina Chapman)Last week, West Chester used three quarterbacks in the game. Midway through the second quarter at Mercyhurst, West Chester used three quarterbacks on three consecutive plays! Starting at their own 20, Yahmir Wilkerson picked up six yards rushing, then Johnson gained five yards on the ground. Then Dooley connected with a streaking Rasheem James down the middle of field for a 67-yard touchdown pass giving the Golden Rams their first lead of 2021. On West Chester’s next possession, James made a leaping, twisting catch for 32 yards. Two plays later, Dooley was bobbing and weaving his way around tacklers into the end zone.
Nika Wright provides a path for Phil Poquie (Photo Gina Chapman)In the waning minutes of the first half, Zapf had a pass breakup on a Laker fourth down to give West Chester the ball in Mercyhurst territory. Dooley completed a pass to tight end Dan Neuhaus who bounced off the Mercyhurst safety and stepped into the end zone to extend WCU’s lead to 28-7. After halftime, Dooley connected with speedy receiver Seth Degree who got past a Mercyhurst double team for a 54-yard touchdown catch and run.
Shane Dooley dives into the end zone (Photo Gina Chapman)Midway through the third quarter, with West Chester leading 35-10, Mercyhurst started their drive with the ball on their own 25. They consumed the remainder of the third quarter and advanced to the West Chester 39. But the Golden Rams registered sacks on three consecutive plays. Wyatt Smith and Gobora teamed up for a 7-yard loss, then Zapf took the quarterback down for a 9-yard loss, and finally Liggitt registered the third sack for another 9-yard loss. Back at their own 36, Mercyhurst was forced to punt again.
Dan Neuhaus tosses aside a Laker DB for a touchdown (Photo Gina Chapman)Kicker Sean Henry converted on all of his eight PAT attempts, but missed two field goals, including a 35-yard, fourth quarter attempt. He used the wind at his back in the second and third quarters to boom five kickoffs for touchbacks. This kept Mercyhurst’s kickoff return trickery at bay. And when Mercyhurst did lateral on a kickoff return in the fourth quarter, sophomore Ronnie James stayed at home to make the open-field tackle.
Michael Gobora registers a solo sack (Photo Gina Chapman)West Chester continued their two-headed running game with Ja'Den McKenzie finishing with 63 yards and a score, while Poquie had 59 yards and a touchdown. Dooley notched 41 yards and a touchdown, and Maurice Mazzccua made his collegiate debut with 58 yards a two scores. Dooley only completed seven passes, but they accounted for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
Linebacker Cole Zapf ends this Mercyhurst play (Photo Gina Chapman)In the secondary, Trael Seegers and Kendall Singleton started in place of Nyeem Jones and Sterlen Barr respectively, neither of which made the trip. Also, A.J. Perez played at defesnive tackle in place of Joe DeSanto. Luke Stengel spelled center Jacob Colby midway through the game.
Maurice Mazzccua had two touchdowns in his college debutWest Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Bounces Back with 56-10 Win At Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst Athletic Site - Football Falls to West Chester
The Quad - West Chester University Football Returns
Northeast Times - Dooley has memorable debut at West Chester
WCU Football Family - Photo Album - Mercyhurst
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