Golden Ram Football Club: Game Report - West Chester 34

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)