Game Report - West Chester 42 - Lock Haven 27

The Golden Rams (5-4, 3-3) exhibited their best offensive performance of the season as they knocked off the Lock Haven Bald Eagles (4-5, 2-4) on Saturday afternoon by a score of 42-27.

The first half was a back and forth affair with the lead changing hands five times, but West Chester took a 21-17 lead into the locker room. While each team got a touchdown in the third quarter, the Golden Ram defense controlled the fourth quarter while WCU tacked on two more touchdowns. Entering the game, turnovers looked to be a key concern, and that's an area where West Chester won the battle. The Golden Ram defense recovered two Lock Haven fumbles and the offense converted both of them into touchdowns.

Offensively, West Chester rotated both quarterbacks throughout the game and the approach proved successful. Ethan Kohler (9 of 11, 148 yards, 1 TD) connected with Daquan Robinson on a 20-yard touchdown pass to give WCU the lead just before halftime. And Cooper Jordan (7 of 11, 144 yards, 1 int) picked up 43 yards rushing including touchdowns of 19 and 5 yards. Having the best game of his young career was running back Dayshawn Jacobs (23 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD) who took a Jordan screen pass 49 yards. Receivers Rahiem Bowens (6 catches, 86 yards) and D'Shaun Seals (3 catches, 65 yards) continued to make tough and/or spectacular catches.

Defensively, cornerback Victor Pena (7 solo tackles, 1 fumble recovered), filling in for the injured Sterlen Barr, Jr., blocked a Lock Haven field goal attempt. He also briefly had a first quarter interception, but was called for defensive holding on the play which negated the pick. Linebackers Khalib Slaughter (7 TKL, 2.0 sacks, 1 FF) and Maurice Beverly (5 TKL, 1 TFL, 1 FR) spent a lot of time in the Bald Eagle backfield.

• The saga at right guard continues. Two weeks ago against East Stroudsburg, Bill Martelon left the game with a leg injury. Last week at Shepherd, Trey Wells, who moved from right tackle to right guard, left the game with a leg injury. Mike Darcy changed his number a couple of weeks ago in preparation for moving from tight end to right guard. He got the start at that position on Saturday but he was forced to leave the contest and was later seen on crutches. Redshirt freshman Jake Phipps took over and hopefully can withstand the last two weeks of the season.
• It was a mixed day for kicker Sean Henry. He made all six of his PAT's, but missed on field goals of 43 and 39 yards. In his defense, the 39-yarder was good from 34 yards, but an illegal procedure penalty pushed the ball back five yards and the longer attempt slipped wide right. So it was a costly penalty. Henry's one punt only went 31 yards, but three of his seven kickoffs went for touchbacks while two others were fair caught.
• Freshman defensive end Seamus McCain, who saw his first action last week at Shepherd, shared a sack with fellow lineman Daniel Hicks at Lock Haven.
• West Chester held the ball for over 21 minutes in the second half, leading to a 35-25 advantage in time of possession for the game. The Golden Rams converted 9 of 12 third downs which certainly extended drives.
• The Golden Ram defense continued to struggle against the run. Lock Haven rolled up 214 yards on the ground including bursts up the middle of 40 ad 65 yards.

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West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Pulls Away From Lock Haven in Second Half, 42-27

Lock Haven Athletic Site - Notable individual performances highlight Football’s effort vs. West Chester

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