Some might say that
Rondell White’s fumble on the Husky 12-yard line with four and a half minutes to play cost the Golden Rams the game in their 24-23 loss at Bloomsburg. And it would be hard to argue that they are wrong. However, it’s important to note two things. First, West Chester had other critical mistakes that cost them points, and in a one-point game, every mistake is critical. And secondly, without White’s 211 yards rushing, 94 yards receiving, and two touchdown effort, the Golden Rams wouldn’t have been in the game in the first place.
With a brisk wind at his back, WCU kicker
Will Huff booted the opening kickoff out of the end zone and the Huskies started at their own 25. Bloomsburg has one of the most prolific running games and running backs in the country; they have a red-shirt freshman at quarterback; and they were playing into a stiff wind; so there was no doubt what the Huskies were going to do. But knowledge wasn’t enough as Bloomsburg ran nine consecutive times include a 30-yard touchdown run to cap off the 75-yard drive. It appeared it was going to be a long day for the Rams.
However West Chester responded with a good combination of ground and air attack, although even with the wind, completions were short with a lot of yards after the catch. Unfortunately, the drive stalled in the red zone and the Rams settled for a
Shawn Leo 35-yard field goal. With that kick, Leo set the career record for field goals made by a West Chester kicker.
Bloomsburg answered right back. Although they threw it a few times, their two completions picked up only 14 yards, and the Husky ground game churned out another touchdown, this time from 31-yards out. The Golden Rams received serve and marched 65 yards in five minutes capped by a White six-yard touchdown run to close the Bloomsburg lead to 14-10. The back-and-forth continued as Bloomsburg consumed over seven minutes to traverse 59 yards. This time, however, the Rams defense stiffened in the red zone, forcing the Huskies to throw twice – incomplete and no gain – and settle for a field goal. Some momentum seemed to be swinging the Rams' way. On West Chester’s next drive, White accounted for 71 of WCU’s 78 yards, but despite a second and five from the Bloomsburg 7, West Chester settled for another Leo field goal, this one from 23 yards. The Huskies held a 17-13 halftime lead. In the first half, each team had three possessions and three scores.
The Rams opened the second half with the wind at their back, but managed only one first down. Bloomsburg, working into the wind, predictably rushed the ball four times to get to midfield. But the Huskies completed a 25-yard pass and then a 28-yard one for another touchdown. West Chester quickly found themselves down 24-13.
It was time for White again as he accounted for every yard gained on the drive, which resulted in Leo getting his third field goal of the game. The problem on this drive was that quarterback
Mike Mattei completed a touchdown pass to
Jim Kelly, but it was called back due to an ineligible receiver downfield. Down 24-13 with the wind soon to be in their faces, the Rams’ defense went to work and forced the first three-and-out of the game. The Bloomsburg punt hit the stiff wind and rolled backwards and the Rams started the possession on the Bloomsburg 41. Rondell White made this possession brief as he went around the left side and scampered 41-yards for the touchdown. However, West Chester elected to merely kick the extra point rather than attempt the two-point conversion. This decision would prove to be fatal.
Bloomsburg moved the ball fairly well on their next possession, even if it did include a converted fake punt. But when the Rams did force the Huskies to punt, they managed to kick it out of bounds at the WCU 1. It’s there that the Rams would start, needing one point over 99 yards into the wind.
Mattei had a couple of ten-yard completions and there was a personal foul penalty called against the Huskies, but it was White who churned out 51 yards on eight carries down to the Bloomsburg 15. It’s then that, after picking up three yards, the ball came out of White’s hands and was pounced on by a Bloomsburg defender.
The West Chester defense continued to play well, forcing two more Bloomsburg three-and-outs, the Golden Rams managed only two first downs on their final two possessions.
So the miscues:
- Five trips to the redzone that resulted in one touchdown, three field goals and a turnover. While it’s great to have a kicker of Leo’s ability, if any one of those field goals was a touchdown, the result of the game is different.
- A touchdown was called back due to a penalty.
- A decision to attempt a two-point conversion with very little downside if it failed, was not chosen.
Notes -
Carl Barnes led the West Chester defense with 11 total tackles and a pass breakup…
Kayo Bakare registered the only sack of the game…Leo broke John Marotta’s record of 30 field goals set from 1987-1990 on 51 attempts. Leo has only needed 40 attempts to get to 33 made thus far.
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Kicker Shawn Leo converts his third field goal of the day from 45 yards
Rondell White amassed 305 yards against Bloomsburg (Photo Chuck Bitner)