Player News - Connor Noble Nominated For Cliff Harris Award

Junior linebacker Connor Noble has been named one of the 48 candidates for the 2023 Cliff Harris Award in NCAA Division II which is presented to the NCAA Division II defensive player of the year. The award was created by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and is chosen by head coaches and a committee of college and professional football greats.

Connor Noble drags down a Shippensburg ball carrier (Photo Joan Gillen)

In his first season playing for the Golden Rams and playing linebacker, Noble was second in the PSAC with 106 total tackles, including five sacks. He also tallied three pass breakups, seven quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. Noble was previously named first team All-PSAC East and second team Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association All-Super Region 1.

Connor Noble returns a fumble at Shepherd (Photo Joan Gillen)

The winner of the Cliff Harris Award in NCAA Division II will be announced on December 28.

Cliff Harris Award - 2023 Cliff Harris Award Nominees Announced

Player News - Methlie Repeats as Philly-SIDA Academic Honoree

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Patrick Methlie has been named to the Philly_SIDA Academic All-Area Squad for the second consecutive year. He was one of only two sophomores on the list. After redshirting his freshman season, Methlie, a business management major, has started in all 21 games in which he played over the past two seasons.

Pat Methlie named Academic All-Area (Photo Joan Gillen)

The team is voted upon by the sports information offices of 30 institutions from the Philadelphia metropolitan area. In order for a student-athlete to be eligible for Academic All-Area honors, he must be in at least his second year at the school and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

West Chester Athletic Site - Methlie Named to PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Squad

Ursinus College - 2023 PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Football Team

Player News - Connor Noble Selected All-Region

Junior linebacker Connor Noble has been named to the Division 2 Conference Commissioner's Association All-Super Region 1 second team. In his first season playing for the Golden Rams and playing linebacker, Noble was second in the PSAC with 106 total tackles, including five sacks. He also tallied three pass breakups, seven quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

Connor Noble drags down a Shippensburg ball carrier (Photo Joan Gillen)

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

West Chester Athletic Site - Connor Noble Named Second Team All-Super Region 1

2023 D2CCA All-Super Region 1 Football Teams

Player News - Four Golden Rams Named All-PSAC East

Four Golden Rams received all-conference honors from the PSAC. West Chester was represented on the first team offense by redshirt sophomore left tackle Patrick Methlie and junior wide receiver D'Shaun Seals. For the defense, junior linebacker Connor Noble was named to the first team while defensive tackle Ayyub Dail received second team plaudits.

Seals was eighth in the PSAC in receptions (44) and yards (616) in 11 games this season. He also picked up 121 yards rushing on 21 carries this season. Noble was second in the conference with 106 total tackles, including five sacks. He also tallied three pass breakups, seven quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. Dail totaled 34 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss of which 3.0 were sacks.

Patrick Methlie set the edge on the left side of the line (Photo Joan Gillen)

D'Shaun Seals hauls in a one-handed catch at Slippery Rock (Photo Joan Gillen)

Connor Noble pounces on a Bloomsburg fumble (Photo Joan Gillen)

Ayyub Dail fights through a Gannon hold (Photo Joan Gillen)

PSAC Football Site - 2023 PSAC Football All-Conference Teams: Eastern Division Major Awards go to Collier, Whary, Novak, Clements

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Lands Four on All-PSAC East Squad

Game Report - West Chester 34 - Clarion 7

The Golden Rams (6-5) played confidently and notched a convicing 34-7 win over the visiting Clarion Golden Eagles (2-9) to secure head coach Bill Zwaan's 163rd and final victory at West Chester University.

Ethan Kohler (15 of 26, 121 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) was at quarterback for the apparently injured, but dressed, Cooper Jordan. While not as explosive as Jordan, behind Kohler the Golden Rams opened with a six-minute drive that ended in a Sean Henry 28-yard field goal. After an Izaiah McPherson interception, the first of three in the game for the senior, the Golden Rams went on a 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a Dayshawn Jacobs (16 carries, 180 yards, 2 TD's) 28-yard scoring run.

Although Kohler threw an interception that gave the Golden Eagles great field position at the West Chester 13, on the very next play, Obi Anyatonwu returned the ball back to the Golden Ram offense.

Obi Anyatonwu gets a pick on senior day (Photo Joan Gillen)

West Chester would expand the lead to 17-0 before halftime when D'Shaun Seals heaved a pass to Seth Degree for a 44-yard touchdown.

Seth Degree makes his way into the end zone (Photo Joan Gillen)

In the second half, Jacobs ripped a 63-yard run that setup a short Kohler to Rahiem Bowens touchdown pass to expand the lead to 24-0.

Dayshawn Jacobs had a career high 180 yards rushing (Photo Joan Gillen)

The Golden Ram defense gets a lot of credit in this win, and not just for the five interceptions. Even without their top running back, Clarion was among the leaders in the PSAC in rushing entering the game, but West Chester held them to 45 net yards on the ground with just one, long carry of 21 yards. Most of the work was done by senior linebacker Khalib Slaughter (9 tackles, 0.5 sack). Defensive end Daniel Hicks (7 tackles, 2.5 sacks) had the best game of his young career for the purple and gold.

Daniel Hicks tosses the QB aside for a sack (Photo Joan Gillen)

• Bill Martelon returned to the starting lineup at right guard, and played the entire first possession, but left the game after that and was later seen on crutches.
• Chris Barbera did all the punting on senior day, averaging 38 yards on six kicks.

Sterlen Barr prevented a touchdown with this interception (Photo Joan Gillen)

Freshman Luke Trunell picked up his first solo sack (Photo Joan Gillen)

Bill Zwaan celebrates his 217th collegiate victory (Photo Joan Gillen)

Sortable Box Score   

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Sends Coach Zwaan Off With 34-7 Victory in Season Finale

Clarion Athletic Site - Football Closes 2023 Season with Road Loss at WCU

Daily Local News - West Chester sends Zwaan off with win in finale

The Philadelphia Inquirer - Bill Zwaan finishes off a legendary college football coaching career at West Chester

WCU Football Family - Photo Album - Clarion

Game Replay

Game Preview - Clarion

The Bill Zwaan era will come to close on Saturday when the Golden Rams (5-5) host the Clarion Golden Eagles (2-8) at John A. Farrell Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon. West Chester will also celebrate Senior Day when they honor senior members of the football team, cheerleading squad and the Incomparable Golden Ram Marching Band.

Series History:
West Chester leads the overall series with the Golden Eagles 21-3 and Zwaan is a perfect 9-0 against them. Former Kutztown head coach Raymond Monica is in his second season with Clarion and holds a record of 5-16 . From 2006 to 2012, Monica accumulated a 45-34 record at Kutztown, including playing into the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2010 and 2011. Monica then spent five seasons as head coach of Arkansas Tech where he went 31-26.

Last 10 Meetings:

Year	H/A	W/L	Score	Year	H/A	W/L	Score
2002	Away	Loss	34-28	2007	Home	Win	49-21
2003	Home	Win	35-17	2012	Away	Win	33-12
2004	Away	Win	20-17	2013	Home	Win	41-14
2005	Home	Win	43-14	2016	Away	Win	37-10
2006	Away	Win	49-21	2022	Away	Win	36-27

Last Meeting:

11/13/2022 West Chester 36 - Clarion 27

With the Golden Rams leading 30-27 with three seconds left in the game, Sterlen Barr, Jr. (6 TKL) blocked Clarion's potential game-tying field goal which was returned for a touchdown to give West Chester a 36-27 victory. While the West Chester defense allowed several big plays in the game, they did hold the Golden Eagles to just 1 of 14 on third down.

For West Chester, kicker Sean Henry accounted for 12 points after he converted all three field goal attempts (21, 25, 29) and all three PAT's. Quarterback Cooper Jordan (13 of 19, 237 yards, 2 TD's, 12 carries, 76 yards) had a dual threat field day with Rahiem Bowens (3 catches, 63 yards, 1 TD) being the biggest beneficiary.

Scouting the Opponent:

The Golden Eagles' best player is two-time All-PSAC West running back Khalil Owens (41 carries, 180 yards, 1 TD, 12 catches, 126 yards). Unfortunately, he hasn't played since he got injured in week three against Lock Haven, and Clarion has used a committee approach to replace his production. Their leading rushers this season are quarterback Anthony Guercio (87 carries, 416 yards, 4 TD's), quarterback Zach Benedek (52 carries, 292 yards, 2 TD's) and wide receiver Corahn Alleyne (55 carries, 244 yards, 2 TD's). Freshman running back Khalon Simmons (57 carries, 225 yards, 2 TD's) is working his way into the mix. Guercio (56 of 89, 661 yards, 7 TD's, 4 ints) has played quarterback throughout the season, while Benedek (18 of 44, 202 yards, 1 TD) hasn't played since the middle of October. Alexander (37 of 66, 396 yards, 2 TD's, 4 ints) played the first two weeks and again last week. So Clarion's offense is struggling in the passing game. Still, Alleyne (26 catches, 382 yards, 3 TD's) is having a nice season receiving, as are Andy Martin (14 catches, 160 yards, 1 TD) and Zack Kindel (12 catches, 189 yards, 1 TD).

Defensively, linebackers Griffin Buzzell (67 TKL, 8.0 TFL) and Kareem Hamdan (66 TKL, 2 QBH) lead the way. Defenive ends Jake Tarburton (38 TKL, 5.0 sacks) and Alex Huzicka (26 TKL, 6 QBH) can wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Freshman cornerback Johnny Hutton (24 TKL, 3 int, 7 PBU) and defensive back Che Trevena (44 TKL, 5 PBU) patrol the secondary.

Freshman kicker Andrew Kurtas (25 of 26 PAT, 6 of 10 FG) has a long field goal of 34 yards.

Analysis:

Despite the score, last year's Clarion game was very close and this year may be no different. Expect Clarion to run the ball. A lot. Partially because their passing game is so poor, but also because West Chester's rushing defense is second to last in the conference. The Golden Rams offense should have success in the passing game provided that the line gives the quarterback time (WCU surrenders the second most sacks in the PSAC) and then the QB can keep the ball out of the Golden Eagles hands (WCU is 14th out of 16 in the PSAC in interceptions thrown).

There's going to be a lot of emotions between senior day and Zwaan's retirement, but at the end of the day, there's a football game to be played. And won.

Massey Ratings is projecting a 34-17 WCU win and Versus Sports simulates a closer 33-25 Golden Ram victory.

Game Coverage:

Live Stats   Audio   Video  

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Welcomes Clarion to Farrell Stadium in Bill Zwaan's Final Game as Head Coach

Coach Zwaan Podcast - Inside the Huddle with Head Coach Bill Zwaan: Episode 10

PSAC Site - PSAC Week 11 Football Notes

Clarion Athletic Site - Clarion Football Gameday: Week 11 at West Chester

Daily Local News - For WCU retiring football coach Bill Zwaan, family and the game have always been at the forefront

D2football - National Columnist - D2Football National Column - Week Eleven

D2football - PSAC Columnist - PSAC Week Eleven Preview

Team News - Coach Zwaan Announces His Retirement

After 21 years at the helm, West Chester head football coach Bill Zwaan announced his retirement at Saturday's Killinger Foundation Banquet. He leaves as the Golden Rams' all time winningest coach and enters Saturday's finale against Clarion with a record of 162 and 76 at the school.

Under Zwaan, West Chester captured the PSAC East championship outright six times (2004, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2018) and the shared title in 2013. Additionally, in 2018, West Chester captured the overall PSAC championship for the first time since 1971. He led the Golden Rams into the NCAA Division II playoffs ten times, advancing to the national semifinals in both 2004 and 2013. He was named PSAC East Coach of the Year five times (2004, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2018). With a victory on Saturday, Zwaan will secure his 18th winning year in his 20 seasons at West Chester.

Coach Zwaan at a summer scrimmage (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Coach Zwaan shares his perspective with an official (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Coach Bill Zwaan with Mercyhurst Coach Marty Schaetzle (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Bill Zwaan prior to the 2019 regular season finale (Photo Ron Hockman)

I wonder if this is going to work as planned (Photo Ron Hockman)

It worked!! (Photo Ron Hockman)

Coach Zwaan consoles Demrick Cook after dropping the 2013 semi-final
(Photo Bert Garbutt)

Rosemary and Bill Zwaan celebrate the 2018 PSAC Championship
(Photo Ron Hockman)

Coach Zwaan will tip his cap one last time (Photo Ron Hockman)

West Chester Athletic Site - Bill Zwaan Announces His Retirement

Event News - 43rd Killinger Foundation Banquet

The 43rd Annual Killinger Foundation Football Banquet was held on Saturday, November 4 at the West Chester University Alumni & Foundation Center. The 2023 Hall of Fame inductees were:

- Lonnie Duckett '72
- Ryan Devlin '07
- Rondell White '13
- Al-Hajj Shabazz '14
- Emil H. Messikomer III - Hall of Distinction

Duckett was a first team All PSAC East defensive back in 1971 and 1972 and received tryouts from several NFL teams. As an offensive tackle, Devlin was a three-time all-conference honoree and a Gene Upshaw Award nominee.

White was a consensus All-American and a Harlon Hill finalist in 2013 and a two-time All-PSAC East selection at running back. He holds dozens of West Chester rushing and all-purpose yards records. Shabazz received All-American recognition at defensive back in 2013 and 2014, when he also received first team All-PSAC East honors. After 2014, he was also a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.

Messikomer, a retired United States Marine, has spent 35 years serving on the Board of the Killinger Foundation.

Killinger Foundation President Rick Daniels, Rondell White, Al-Hajj Shabazz, Emil Messikomer III, Lonnie Duckett, Ryan Devlin, WCU Athletic Director Terry Beattie

West Chester Athletic Site - Five Former Golden Rams Enter Killinger Foundation Football Hall of Fame

Game Report - Kutztown 27 - West Chester 17

The Golden Rams (5-5. 3-4) battled back from a 13-3 halftime deficit to take a 17-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Kutztown Golden Bears (8-2, 7-0) scored the final 14 points to win 27-17 on Hall of Fame Day.

The game was a defensive battle until midway through the second quarter with the score tied at 3. But then the thing that has troubled the Golden Ram defense all season reared its ugly head - big plays. On the first play after Sean Henry converted the game-tying 26-yard field goal, Kutztown went ahead on a 66-yard touchdown pass. And on Kutztown's next possession, the quarterback ran it 45 yards up the middle to set up a field goal to make the score 13-3 at the half.

Ethan Kohler connects with D'Shaun Seals on a swing pass (Photo Joan Gillen)

But West Chester came back. On the Golden Rams' opening possession after halftime, quarterback Cooper Jordan (17 of 22, 180 yards, 1 TD, 16 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD) ripped a 53-yard touchdown run to close the score to 13-10. After Kutztown missed a 27-yard field goal attempt, Jordan led the Golden Rams on a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 7-yard toss to Rahiem Bowens (3 catches, 39 yards, 1 TD) to put West Chester up 17-13.

Cooper Jordan uses a D'Shaun Seals block on a long TD run (Photo Joan Gillen)

However, the Golden Rams' deamon appeared again. On a third-and-four, Kutztown picked up the WCU blitz long enough for the QB to throw the ball over the secondary and convert a 69-yard touchdown pass. While the score was just 20-17 in favor on the Golden Bears, the West Chester offense couldn't muster another score.

Jaleel Davis-Shabazz makes a special teams tackle (Photo Joan Gillen)

Khalib Slaughter had a game-high ten tackles and a forced fumble while fellow linebacker Connor Noble had nine tackles and three quarterback hurries. Maurice Beverly, Ricardo Delgado, and Nate Desmond all registered solo sacks in the game. After missing a couple of games, Sterlen Barr, Jr. (6 TKL, 1 PBU) was back at safety.

Ricardo Delgado drags down the QB for an 8-yard sack (Photo Joan Gillen)

Offensively, Ethan Kohler (6 of 10, 55 yards) led a nice drive in the first quarter, but took a hard hit on a sack in the second period and didn't return in the game. D'Shaun Seals (7 catches, 72 yards) put in another nice game, Seth Degree (7 catches, 61 yards) had his best game of the season, and tight end Thatcher Miller (5 catches, 40 yards) became a more prominent part of the game plan.

Sortable Box Score   

West Chester Athletic Site - Kutztown Tops West Chester, 27-17

Kutztown Athletic Site - Golden Bears Complete Unbeten Run Through PSAC East With 27-17 Win at West Chester

Daily Local News - Kutztown Tops West Chester, 27-17

WCU Football Family - Photo Album - Kutztown

Game Replay

Game Preview - Kutztown

The Golden Rams (5-4, 3-3) host the Kutztown Golden Bears (7-2, 6-0) in the final PSAC East contest of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

Series History:
West Chester leads the overall series 53-12-1, and head coach Bill Zwaan is 13-6 against the Golden Bears during his tenure with West Chester. Kutztown notched two wins in 2010 and 2011, the two years in the past ten that West Chester was under .500 and Kutztown qualified for the NCAA playoffs. That 2011 game was played in a snowy, windy and cold John A. Farrell Stadium, some of the worst weather conditions West Chester football has seen in the past several decades. In 2013, the Golden Rams trailed 21-10 midway through the fourth quarter, but rallied for two fourth-quarter touchdowns and Al-Hajj Shabazz sealed the 22-21 win with an interception in the final minute.

Jim Clements is 74-27 in his ninth season as head coach of the Golden Bears. Under Clements, Kutztown qualfied for the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2018, 2019, and 2021, winning two playoff games in that four-year span. The PSAC East Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2021 is the winningest football coach in Kutztown history. This year, after dropping their first two games of the season, the Golden Bears have won seven straight to clinch the division and will host Slippery Rock in the PSAC championship game next Saturday.

Last 10 Meetings:

Year	H/A	W/L	Score	Year	H/A	W/L	Score
2012	Away	Win	45-24	2017	Home	Win	27-21
2013	Home	Win	22-21	2018	Away	Win	38-21
2014	Away	Win	29-7	2019	Home	Loss	30-17
2015	Home	Win	44-14	2021	Home	Loss	21-14
2016	Away	Loss	20-14	2022	Away	Win	28-9

Last Meeting:

11/05/2022 West Chester 28 - Kutztown 9

The Golden Ram defense pitched a shutout in the first half and held Kutztown to just one touchdown in the game, while West Chester quarterback Cooper Jordan (3 of 9, 30 yards, 1 TD; 20 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD) paced the offense as West Chester scored a surprising 28-9 win at Kutztown. Three of the Golden Rams' touchdowns came on long, time-consuming drives while the fourth was only four yards after Sterlen Barr, Jr. blocked a Kutztown punt deep in their own territory.

Late in the first half, Kutztown had a long drive of their own. They worked their way into a first-and-goal from the Golden Ram four-yard line, but the West Chester defense stopped the Golden Bears on four consecutive runs. Khalib Slaughter (8 TKL, 1.0 TFL) paced the West Chester defense. Kicker Sean Henry had four touchbacks on six kickoffs, made all four PATs, and averaged 39 yards on three punts, including dropping a 31 yarder to the Kutztown two-yard line.

Scouting the Opponent:

Last year, quarterback Donny Blaine (17 of 31, 282 yards, 2 TD's, 2 int) was All-PSAC East and he opened the season as the starter, but has since turned over the reins to redshirt freshman Judd Novak (96 of 186, 1,366 yards, 11 TD's, 7 int). Novak (60 carries, 278 yards, 3 TD's) does pose more a running threat, although the Golden Bears have a pair of All-PSAC East running backs in Darryl Davis-McNeil (99 carries, 446 yards, 4 TD's) and Jordan Davis (82 carries, 289 yards, 3 TD's). Of Kutztown's four All-PSAC East offensive lineman from last season, only tackle Ryan Schernecke returns. Top receivers are Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (33 catches, 510 yards, 3 TD's), Mekhi Gibson (13 catches, 377 yards, 3 TD's), and Davis (22 catches, 145 yards, 1 TD).

The defense is led by All-PSAC East and reigning PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week linebacker Tyler Whary (52 TKL, 8.0 TFL, 4 PBU, 8 QBH). Fellow linebackers Brandon Hile (48 tackles, 2.5 TFL) and Kam Wolfe (45 TKL, 5.0 TFL) also play a big role on the defense. Look for lineman Nigel Wilson (32 TKL, 5.0 sacks, 4 QBH) upfront and defensive back Drew Hensor (33 TKL, 4.5 TFL, 2 int) in the secondary.

Nate Millard handles the punting, kickoffs, and long field goals and was All-PSAC East last season. Kicker Dawson Evitts is 8 of 10 on field goals with a long of 35 and 21 of 24 on PAT's.

Analysis:

Last year was the first time since 2016 that neither Kutztown nor West Chester qualified for the NCAA playoffs. Kutztown is currently ranked 7th in Super Region 1, so a loss to the Golden Rams will severely damage their playoff hopes.

In the PSAC, the Kutztown defense is ranked third in passing, second in rushing, and first in total defense and scoring. Last week, West Chester allowed 27 points to Lock Haven; Kutztown has allowed 24 points in their last four games combined. So all signs point to a tough game for the Golden Ram offense. However, the Golden Bears are struggling to put points on the board, so West Chester may not have to score too often.

Versus Sports simulates a 27-19 Golden Bear victory and Massey Ratings predicts a similar 28-21 Kutztown win.

Game Coverage:

Live Stats   Audio   Video  

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Returns Home For Clash With Kutztown Saturday at Noon

Coach Zwaan Podcast - Inside the Huddle Episode 9

PSAC Site - PSAC Week 10 Football Notes

Kutztown Athletic Site - Golden Bear Football Ranked Seventh in Latest NCAA Super Region I Rankings

D2football - PSAC Columnist - PSAC Week Ten Preview