Club News - GRFC Member Muz Peck Dies

Long time Golden Ram Football Club member Muz Peck passed away on Sunday morning. Muz was the individual who coordinated and executed the annual Golden Ram Football Club banquet for many years.

Relatives and friends are invited for visitation from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Thursday, March 28 at the DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc., 410 North Church St, West Chester, which will immediately be followed by her funeral service 1:00 pm. Interment will be in Green Mount Cemetery in West Chester.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, 1626 Locust St., Attention Memorials, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Muzetta J. Peck

Event News - 40th Killinger Foundation Banquet

The 40th Annual Killinger Foundation Football Banquet will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at 6:00 pm at the West Chester University Alumni & Foundation Center, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA. The 2019 Hall of Fame inductees are:

- Bill Corcoran '69
- Pat Tryson '87
- Brandon Simmons '05
- Mike Washington '08
- Lateef Ferguson '08

Corcoran was a two-time first team All-PSAC East defensive end and played for the 1967 team that finished the regular season 10-0 including a win over Clarion in the PSCAC Championship and a trip to the Tangerine Bowl. Tryson was two-time first team All-PSAC East selection at linebacker. He led the team in tackles in 1986 and 1987 when the Golden Rams advanced to the PSAC championship game in both seasons.

Simmons was a two-time first team All-PSAC East choice at wide receiver and was also a two-time All-PSAC East selection as a return specialist. In 2004, when the Golden Rams advanced to the NCAA Division II semi-finals, he hauled in 74 catches for 1,534 yards and 20 TD's - all of which are among the ten best single season marks in West Chester history. Simmons still ranks sixth in West Chester career receiving yards with 2,414 and fifth in career receiving touchdowns with 29. One of his most memorable performances was the 2004 playoff game at East Stroudsburg when he made seven catches for 180 yards and four touchdowns.

Washington was a four-time first team All-PSAC East selection at wide receiver and was named PSAC East Offensive Player of the Year in 2008. In all four seasons of his career, he had at least 1,000 yards receiving and the Golden Rams qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs. Washington ranks first in PSAC history with 4,715 receiving yards, first in West Chester history with 58 receiving touchdowns and first in West Chester history with 21.9 average yards per catch. He holds the Division II record for 50 consecutive games with a catch.

Ferguson was two-time PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year and two-time first team All-PSAC East selection at linebacker. He was West Chester's leading tackler for three seasons and remains the Golden Rams' career leader in tackles with 407.

Anyone interested in attending or sponsoring the event is asked to use the online ticket sale center.

Williamsport Sun-Gazette - Williamsport grad Simmons entering West Chester HOF

Player News - AJ Long's Playing Career Done

According to his recent Instagram post, quarterback A.J. Long's collegiate playing career has come to an end. Long, who had been named a team captain for 2019, finished last season 149 of 220 for 2,131 yards and 23 touchdowns. His passer efficiency rating of 178.1 was tops in the PSAC and second in all of Division II. When his 734 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing are considered, he stood at 20th on the NCAA Division II points responsible for list last year.

View this post on Instagram

Dear Football, For 20yrs of my life I've played and loved playing this game...You will always be my first love, but the time has come when I can't love you as a player anymore. Ive accomplished so much as a player in this game, winning championships in every level, being highly decorated for playing at a high level, and breaking records....but none of those things are what I'll miss most.... I'll miss the 6am workouts, the long August days in camp, all of the clowning around that goes on in the locker room, but most I'll miss all my teammates. To my teammates, Past and present, Thank you!! You've made this journey one that words won't do justice I'm forever indebted to all of you. We had alot of fun on the field, and we had even more fun off it. Those memories I'll cheerish for a lifetime. I love yall❤️ To all my coaches, Thank you, thank you for giving this 6ft lanky kid an opportunity to prove to the world what I knew and that is when I stepped in those lines I was the best player out there. Thank you, for helping mold and guide me into being a great young man that would be role model to society, giving me the tools to one day take the same role you are in. I am forever grateful to all of you! To my brothers & sisters, Blood or by choice, thank you for all the support and comparisons to super heros, for all the hype and all of the love, y'all fueled my fire more than anything because I never wanted to let y'all down, and show you if you're brother could do anything, you can too. Now, it's my turn to hype y'all up and make everyone believe in you the way you did me. You're Big Brother, Little Brother love y'all more than I can ever express❤️ To Angela, Damon, Isla, Thank you for always supporting me, even when I would be away for months at a time, for spending thousands of dollars to take me all over gods green earth so I could showcase my talent and make other people believe the way y'all did. For keeping me grounded and never letting my head get too big. For working hours on hours that went thankless. For having my back even when I was wrong ❤️ I love y'all sooooo muchhhh Dear Football, Allow me to reintroduce myself my name is Coach Long! 1out✌🏽

A post shared by Aj Long (@_qb01) on Mar 4, 2019 at 7:48am PST

Long began his college career at Syracuse when in 2014, as a true freshman, he started five games and completed 89 of 165 pass attempts for 935 yards. The following year at Syracuse, he did not play as he was medically disqualified by the school due to multiple concussions. In his only start for the Golden Rams in 2017 at Lock Haven, Long earned PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week when he threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 181 yards and two more scores, accounting for 379 total yards and all four offensive touchdowns. He finished 2017 with 453 yards and six touchdowns passing and 380 yards and two touchdowns rushing.

Dual-threat quarterback AJ Long (Photo Ron Hockman)

At this year's team banquet, Long was named the Muz and Lew Peck Offensive Player of the Year and WCU Football Athlete of the Year. He was named ECAC Offensive Player of the Month for September and PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week for the wins at Kutztown and at Slippery Rock. Long was named PSAC Championship Game Most Valuable Player, First Team All-PSAC East, All-ECAC and Second Team Don Hansen Football Gazette Super Region One.

The Golden Rams will likely turn to senior Paul Dooley at quarterback. Dooley was 163 of 305 for 2,372 yards, 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2017, but played in just three games in 2018, going 11 of 18 for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Mike Piperno (12 of 24, 157 yards, 1 TD, 1 int, in 8 games) and Zach Gilbert (2 of 4, 25 yards, 1 TD, 1 int, in 4 games) also saw time at quaterback this past year.

West Chester's four quarterbacks - Zach Gilbert, AJ Long, Mike Piperno and Paul Dooley - after winning the PSAC Championship at Slippery Rock
(Photo Ron Hockman)

The Daily Orange - 4 years since being medically disqualified, AJ Long reflects on self-doubt from football

Team News - 2019 Unofficial Recruiting Class

Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	School
Mike Alexander	DB	5-9	180	St. Joseph's Prep
Isaiah Allen	WR	6-0	160	Martin Luther King
Chris Barbera	P	6-2	200	Upper Dublin
Davaugh Brown	CB	5-11	170	Northeast
Tom Burns IV	OL	6-3	275	Conwell Egan
Matt Checchia	S	6-0	175	Council Rock South
Javon Clements	QB	6-2	205	Bethlehem Catholic/The Hill School
Seth Degree	WR	6-0	187	West Catholic
Quinton Derr	OL	6-5	270	Upper Dublin
Salim Dixon	DE	6-3	200	Martin Luther King
Shane Dooley	QB	6-1	210	Father Judge
Shamar Edwards	S	5-11	190	North Penn
Mason Griffiths	LB	6-0	219	Central Dauphin
Jake Hendershot	DT	6-3	245	Ridge
Camron Hendryx	DE	6-4	240	Souderton
Sean Hopkins	LB	6-2	215	West Chester Rustin
Stone Huffman	TE	6-2	225	Cumberland Valley
Aaron Jenkins	ATH	5-9	160	West Catholic
Derek Krug	K	6-0	180	Central Dauphin
Saleem Lockett	OL	6-3	295	Imhotep/The Hill School
Maurice Mazzccua	ATH	5-8	170	Neumann & Goretti/The Hill School
Izaiah McPherson	CB	5-10	175	Emmaus
Matthew Moody	ATH	6-0	185	Red Land
Nico Myers	OL	6-1	270	Berks Catholic
Dylan Nichols	OL	6-3	290	Coatesville
Logan O'Grady	OL	6-2	295	Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg)
Jahmair Rider	WR	5-11	170	Radnor
Marcus Simmons	WR	5-11	185	Williamsport
Luke Stengel	OL	6-4	255	Archbishop Wood
Andrew Vera	WR	6-1	190	Council Rock South
Nick Westburg	CB	5-11	175	Garnet Valley
Zebby Zarwie	DB	5-9	175	Archbishop Carroll

2018 Unofficial Recruiting Class
2017 Unofficial Recruiting Class
2016 Unofficial Recruiting Class
2015 Unofficial Recruiting Class
2014 Unofficial Recruiting Class
2013 Unofficial Recruiting Class

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Head Coach Bill Zwaan Announces Recruiting Class For This Fall

Alumni News - Mark Burns to Lower Anthracite Hall of Fame

Former Golden Ram defensive end Mark Burns will be inducted into the Ed Romance Lower Anthracite Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Burns was a two-way lineman and first team Associated Press All-State selection for Mount Carmel's state championship team in 1994. He then went on to play for the Golden Rams, becoming the starting defensive end in his final season in 1998 when West Chester finished 8-3.

This year's Ed Romance Chapter induction ceremony will be held at the Mount Carmel Public Library on March 16 at noon with the banquet at the Brady Fire Company Hall in Ranshaw at 2:00 pm.

Ed Romance Lower Anthracite Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame - Romance Banquet 2019

Player News - Tom Burns IV Introduced as a Golden Ram

Tom Burns IV (Conwell Egan) has been introduced as one of the newest Golden Rams. The 6-3, 275lb offensive lineman led the Conwell Egan Eagles to the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals and 13-1 record this past season. He spent most of his junior season at Notre Dame in New Jersey prior to transferring to Conwell Egan during the Eagles' run to the PIAA Class 3A semifinals.


- 2018 Honorable Mention Class 3A All-EasternPAFootball.com
- 2018 Third Team All-Southeastern PA
- 2018 Second Team Daily News All-City
- 2018 First Team All-Catholic Blue Division
- 2018 First Team Bucks Country Courier Times

Welcome the newest member of the Golden Ram Family! #RamsOnTop #NSD19 pic.twitter.com/X4qPO5Xywd

— Bill Zwaan (@coachzwaan) February 19, 2019

The Intelligencer - Conwell-Egan wins showdown with West Catholic

PAPrepLive - Weak PIAA transfer rule works to Conwell-Egan’s advantage

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Player News - Camron Hendryx Joining the Golden Rams

Camron Hendryx (Souderton) has tweeted his plan to continue his academic and football careers at West Chester University. The 6-4, 240lb defensive end amassed 13 tackles for loss for the Indians this past season.


- 2018 Third Team All-Suburban One Continental

It’s official. I’m continuing my education and football career🏈 at West Chester University. Huge thank you to this woman right here who stuck by my side through this whole decision🙏🏽 #GoldenRams pic.twitter.com/722NeCR7Xs

— Camron Hendryx (@Hendryx59) February 16, 2019

The Intelligencer - Souderton Indians football preview

Suburban One Sports - Souderton Trio to Play Football at Collegiate Level

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Team News - 2019 Roster Changes

With recruiting season complete, there are some additional roster changes worth noting:

• Kyle Boney (Millersville) - It was just over a year ago when Boney announce his plans to transfer from Lackawanna to West Chester. An all-state running back at Emmaus High School in 2015, he moved to linebacker at Lackawanna. He never appeared on the Golden Ram roster. Boney is slated to be a fullback for the Marauders.
  
• Amara Kenneth (California) - Kenneth was part of the 2017 recruiting class and redshirted as a true freshman that season. He did not appear on the 2018 roster. Last week, he was introduced as a member of California's recruiting class.
  
• Nate Barnes - As a true sophomore this past year, Barnes started every game and was second on the team in tackles with 82 including 8.5 sacks. Due to a legal issue, he has subsequently been removed from the Golden Rams' 2018 roster.
  
• Tommy Bramwell (Delaware) - Offensive lineman Bramwell originally tweeted his plan to play for the Golden Rams, but has since tweeted an update about going to Delaware. However, his name is not mentioned among four additional signings that the Blue Hens made on Wednesday.
  

  I just wanted to thank the entire West Chester staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play football for them. However, I have decided to chase my dream to play division 1 football at University of Delaware. pic.twitter.com/Iipr2T6u1g

  — Tommy Bramwell (@BramwellTommy) February 7, 2019

Player News - Saleem Lockett Introduced as a Golden Ram

Saleem Lockett (Imhotep/The Hill School) has been introduced as one of the newest Golden Rams. The 6-3, 295lb lineman led an Imhotep defense to the PIAA Class 4A championship game in 2016. After spending a year at The Hill School, he was part of Morgan State's recruiting class last year.

- 2017 First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Prep
- 2016 First Team Daily News All-Public
- 2016 First Team Daily News All-City

Welcome the newest member of the Golden Ram Family! #RamsOnTop #NSD19 pic.twitter.com/gzu22Gdyde

— Bill Zwaan (@coachzwaan) February 6, 2019

Baltimore Sun - Local standouts head 'explosive, dynamic' 20-player Morgan State football recruiting class

Philadelphia Tribune - Imhotep Charter in state title game — again

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Player News - Zebby Zarwie Issues Intent

Zebby Zarwie (Archbishop Carroll) has tweeted a commitment to play football for the Golden Rams. The 5-9, 175lb speedster played in the defensive secondary for the Patriots which finished 5-6 and lost in the Public League Class 4A championship. Zarwie had 45 total tackles and 10 passes defended this past season and nabbed an interception in a hard-fought loss to West Catholic. As a junior, he had 30 carries for 225 yards and six catches for 47 yards for the Patriots' offense.

3 0 0 0% C O M M I T T E D 🐏💜💛 #ramsontop pic.twitter.com/a765rtoS4u

— Z E B⚡️Z E R O (@dawvyboy) February 6, 2019

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