West Chester received the opening kickoff, but quarterback Cooper Jordan lost a fumble on the first play from scrimmage and subsequently Gannon scored on a seven-yard run on their first offensive play. So even before the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band cleared the track, the football team found themselves down 7-0 with shaken confidence. After the teams traded three-and-outs, D'Shaun Seals gave West Chester great field position on a 40-yard punt return. Three plays later, however, on a first-and-goal, Jordan's pitch to Daquan Robinson went awry and Gannon recovered. Fortunately, the remainder of the first quarter remained fairly quiet.
The second frame started with Jordan putting everything he had into a long pass that Rahiem Bowens hauled in and went 73 yards for the game-tying score. Late in the first half with the score tied at 10, running back Trey Blair, who didn't travel with the team in the first two weeks, raced around the right side for a 31-yard touchdown run. He would finish with 57 yards and two touchdowns on the day. The West Chester defense forced a three-and-out setting up the offense with the ball at the Gannon 45 with 25 seconds left, but Jordan's first-down pass attempt to Julian Jordan was intercepted at the seven.
Ayyub Dail fights his way through a hold (Photo Joan Gillen)With West Chester leading 17-10 entering the second half, both teams went-three-and-out on their first possession. It appeared that both defenses tightened. But that was the last stop that would be made. The two teams would trade touchdowns for the remainder of the game, with all six scores coming on drives of at least 65 yards. The ping pong scoring ended with the Golden Rams holding a 38-31 lead, leaving Gannon with only 1:22 and no timeouts left. West Chester safety Kaleb Brown put an end to things with a leaping interception.
The offensive line opens a hole for Trey Blair (Photo Joan Gillen)Bowens had a huge offensive day. He had five catches on five targets for an eye-popping 160 yards and two touchdowns. Bowens made a 35-yard reception in the third quarter despite being held by the Gannon defender, and 39-yard catch on the crucial final touchdown drive. Linebacker Connor Noble once again led the West Chester defense in tackles with 10. Fellow linebacker senior Khalib Slaughter had a big game with 7 tackles including 2.0 sacks for 27 yards.
Jaleel Davis-Shabazz joins Khalib Slaughter on a tackle (Photo Joan Gillen)With both teams amassing over 400 yards of offense, the difference in the game was special teams. Despite kicker Sean Henry missing a 38-yard field goal attempt, five of his seven kickoffs resulted in touchbacks and neither of his punts were returned. Besides Seals' 40-yard punt return, Dayshawn Jacobs had a 79-yard kickoff return which setup a field goal.
Rahiem Bowens makes a leaping catch despite being held (Photo Joan Gillen)
Dayshawn Jacobs had a 79-yard kickoff return (Photo Joan Gillen)Other observations:
- Cornerback Obi Anyatonwu was dressed but did not play. He was replaced by Izaiah McPherson (1 solo tackle) who left the game in the third quarter with what appeared to be a hip injury.
- Tight end Thatcher Miller was not dressed for the game. True freshman Luke Cody took his place, but was only targeted once in the contest.
- After yielding time at safety to Shane Mosley (4 TKL, 1 PBU), Brody McAndrew saw time on offense and made a catch.
- For the third consecutive game, the Golden Rams successfully executed the tush push. A second attempt succeeded, but was called back due to an offensive "aiding the runner" penalty.
- Jordan had a mixed bag game. Besides the fumble and interception, two other passes almost got picked. But he led the Golden Rams in rushing with 64 yards and, after gaining a first down on the final touchdown drive, wisely slid to keep the clock running. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Jordan was rolling left and was prepared to run, but when he saw Julian Jordan open in the end zone, flipped it to him for the touchdown.
West Chester Athletic Site - Late Touchdown Lifts West Chester over Gannon, 38-31
Gannon Athletic Site - Golden Knights Fall 38-31 at West Chester
Daily Local News - West Chester survives home opening shootout against Gannon
WCU Football Family - Photo Album - Gannon
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