Game Report - Gold 24 - Purple 20

Before nearly 1,000 fans on a beautiful spring evening, Gold knocked off Purple in West Chester's annual spring game in Farrell Stadium. Quarterback Sean McCartney led the first team offense and was 10 for 16 for 137 yards. For Purple, Mike Mattei was 8 for 17 for 247 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. While McCartney's performance was pedestrian, Mattei's was notable on both extremes. First he connected on two long "catch and run" touchdown passes - a 75-yarder to Jimmy Kelly and a 70-yarder to Dwight Williams - to account for Purple's two trips into the end zone. However he also delivered Demrick Cook a present. In his attempt to elude tacklers in his own end zone, Mattei tossed the ball forward, but it fell into Cook's hands and the 305lb defensive lineman rumbled eight yards for a touchdown. After scoring, Cook flung the ball in the air which drew an unsportsmanlike penalty, but who could blame him?

The game was exciting and competitive til the end. Up 24-20 with two and a half minutes to play, Gold was unable to run out the clock and Purple forced a Gold punt. Behind red-shirt freshman QB James Rusenko, Purple got a first down and a play out of bounds, but the clock stopped on neither play. With time running out, the final play was a catch and lateral that was stopped in Gold territory.

Notable performances - Purple - red-shirt freshman defensive back Brandon Pepper used his speed to track down and make a nice leaping interception...Eric Edwers had ten total tackles and two sacks...QB turned nickleback Matt Carroll had five tackles including a sack and fumble recovery...red-shirt freshman Dwight Williams had four catches for 149 yards and a touchdown...kicker Shawn Leo nailed a 47-yard field goal...Ronell Williams had six tackles including a sack and an interception. Gold - LaRonn Lee had seven catches for 104 yards...Rondell White threw from the wildcat position, completing a 13-yard touchdown "pass" to QB Sean McCartney...red-shirt freshman linebacker Brian Butler had six tackles and three sacks...Chris DiValentino had six tackles and two sacks...punter Will Huff tracked down a snap over his head and managed to get off a booming punt.

Gold RB Rondell White uses LaRonn Lee's block to get around Lorenzo Adams for a five-yard touchdown run
Purple QB Mike Mattei looks down field for a receiver
Purple RB Chris Smallwood escapes the grasp Chris DiValentino

Box Score

West Chester Athletic Site - Gold Tops Purple, 24-20, In Spring Game

Daily Local News - No clear-cut winner in West Chester’s quarterback derby

Daily Local News - Photo Gallery