Game Report - West Chester 26 - Millersville 14

In one of the most hideous offensive performances in the history of West Chester football, the Golden Rams (3-1, 1-0) came away with a 26-14 win over the visiting Millersville Marauders (0-4, 0-1) in front of 2,789 people on family day. Of the 26 points, the defense accounted for 11 on two safeties and an Oscar Uduma pick-six and Sean Henry booted three field goals including a 43- and a 44-yarder. The lone offensive score came on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Kohler to tight end Thatcher Miller.

Ethan Kohler made his collegiate debut against Millersville (Photo Joan Gillen)

The game got off to an ominous start when Maurice Mazzccua caught the opening kickoff near the sideline and stepped out of bounds at the seven. With opening day quarterback Shane Dooley and last week's starter Cooper Jordan out with injuries, sophomore Desman Johnson got the call. But the offense went three and out. Millersville wasted little time marching 52 yards in under three minutes to take a 7-0 lead. On West Chester's next offensive play, Johnson threw a long pass that was intercepted. Let's just say it was a bad to start to this contest.

The Marauders had plenty of their own struggles, as their offense snapped the ball into the end zone for a safety to make the score 7-2. Millersville would briefly right the ship to extend their lead to 14-2 early in the second quarter. After that, Millersville had as many turnovers as first downs - five. While none of the five fumbles that the Golden Rams recovered led to points, it kept Millersville's offense off the field.

Jackson Taylor envelopes the Ville running back for a loss (Photo Joan Gillen)

Meanwhile, West Chester's offense couldn't get anything going. Consider some of these numbers from the end of game:

• 5 - the number of completed passes, all by Kohler who was making his collegiate debut.
• 16 - the team's net rushing yards for the game on 42 attempts, including just 13 yards by Ja'Den McKenzie.
• 6 - first downs. SIX! None of which came by the ground game.
• 2 of 18 - third down conversions.

Fortunately the defense and special teams were exceptional. Along with his pick-six, Uduma finished with 8 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. Zach Liggitt had 1.5 sacks, Noah Collachi forced and recovered a fumble on a sack, and Jackson Taylor made 14 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss. On special teams, besides Henry's field goals, punter Chris Barbera dropped six of his nine punts inside the Millersville 20-yard line.

Chris Barbera was instrumental in changing field position (Photo Joan Gillen)

Notes - With left tackle Patrick Methlie not in uniform with a brace on his right leg, Quinton Derr moved from right tackle to left tackle, Caelan Krasley moved from left guard to right tackle, and Trey Wells played left guard...for the second consecutive week, the Golden Ram defense shutout the opponent in the second half...Phil Poquie had five punt returns for 91 yards including a 37-yard return that led to a field goal and a 26-yard return that led to the offense's only touchdown.

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West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Sneaks Past Millersville, 26-14

Millersville Athletic Site - Second half mistakes costs Marauders big in loss to West Chester

Daily Local News - Defense, special teams bail out punch-less West Chester

WCU Football Family - Photo Album - Millersville

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