Of West Chester's 12 offensive possessions in the game, five went three-and-out and four ended in interceptions. Yes, they scored two touchdowns. The first TD drive started on the Shippensburg side of the field, so it only needed to go 48 yards, capped by a Cooper Jordan (13 of 25, 200 yards, 2 TD's, 3 int) to Ivan Thorpe (4 catches, 31 yards, 1 TD) 18-yard scoring pass. And the second touchdown looked to be yet another Raider interception, but Dylan McKenzie (4 catches, 144 yards, 1 TD) outleaped the defender and raced his way down the sideline for the 77-yard score. Shippensburg entered the game allowing 160 yards rushing per game and the Golden Rams totaled 66 in the contest.
Debrick Johnson registers a six-yard sack to force a punt (Photo Chuck Greco)While the WCU defense shouldn't shoulder all of the blame for the score - 9 Shippensburg points came on special teams and three of the Raider touchdowns came on short fields - they didn't do anything to get off the field as Shippensburg held a ten-minute advantage in time of possession. The Raiders entered the game averaging 65 yards rushing per game and had a total of two rushing touchdowns on the season. But against West Chester, Shippensburg ran for a whopping 274 yards and four scores.
Ivan Thorpe dives for the game's opening score (Photo Chuck Greco)And there were the ususal special teams snafus. West Chester still lacks a confident return person to merely catch the ball and it bit them hard early in the second half. Shippensburg was punting from thier own 41-yard line. The ball landed at the West Chester 21 and rolled to the 9. Rather than a simple fair catch, the result yielded an additional 12 yards for he Raiders. On three plays, the WCU offense managed three yards which brought up a punting situation. But Luke Vereb's snap skidded through Zack Liberatore's legs and out of the end zone for a safety. Oh, and West Chester later allowed a 70-yard punt return for touchdown. Only one team in Division II has allowed more punt returns for touchdown this season than the Golden Rams.
Seamus McCain and Johnny Pergine converge on a sack (Photo Chuck Greco)Don't be surprised if Shippensburg sweeps the conference player of the week awards.
Ship defenders were chasing Dylan McKenzie all day (Photo Chuck Greco)Personnel observations:
Running back Mikhail Johnson had three solo special teams tackles - After starting the last two games at left tackle, Geoffrey Gretta was not in attendance. Freshman Nick Micewski, who has seen time some time at right tackle, took his place in the starting lineup.
- Late in the first half, left tackle Cole Kozlowski got rolled up on. He returned after haftime in street clothes with ice on his left ankle. He was replaced in the field by redshirt freshman Tucker Valoczki.
- Rondell Bradley started at cornerback and played the first series, but Gus Ross played the remainder of the game.
- After missing the past two games, receiver/return man Zack Gillen was dressed but did not play.
Matt Iuvara makes a catch with a hand in his face (Photo Chuck Greco)West Chester Athletic Site - Shippensburg Pulls Away From West Chester in Second Half, 43-14
Shippensburg Athletic Site - Football’s dominant second half keys rousing 43-14 victory over West Chester
Golden Rams Review - Photo Album - Shippensburg
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