Golden Ram Football Club: Game Report - #22/#19 Shepherd 59

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Game Report - #22/#19 Shepherd 59 - West Chester 21

The Golden Rams (4-4, 2-3) were embarassed by the #22/#19 Shepherd Rams (7-1, 4-1) by a score of 59-21. The 38-point margin of defeat is West Chester's second worst Division II loss under head coach Bill Zwaan topped by only a 61-12 loss to Slippery Rock in the 2015 PSAC Championship game.

It was a familiar story for 2023. The Golden Ram defense surrendered 533 yards and was gashed for ten plays of at least 20 yards, seven of which came in the first half. Meanwhile, the offense opened the game with one of their five three-and-outs, and turned the ball over three times although only one led to a Shepherd touchdown. And special teams got into it as well. A Shepherd punt was bounding towards the end zone for an apparent touchback but instead nicked Victor Pena and was recovered by the Rams for a Shepherd touchdown. And a poor kickoff return was going to put the ball only at WCU's 19, but it was pushed back to the 11 due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Golden Rams. It was one of the eight penalties for 73 yards in the game for West Chester.

D'Shaun Seals makes yet another great leaping catch (Photo Joan Gillen)

The game wasn't all bad for the purple and gold. After the Golden Ram defense held Shepherd's opening drive to just a 29-yard field goal, the offense was clicking. Cooper Jordan and Dayshawn Jacobs played a big role in marching West Chester 65 yards, finished by a seven-yard run by Jacobs to put West Chester up 7-3. But Shepherd would score four touchdowns to take a 31-7 lead into halftime.

Connor Noble had a 70-yard fumble return (Photo Joan Gillen)

Any thought of this potentially being a game of two halves was quickly put to rest when, on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Shepherd busted a run up the middle for a 74-yard touchdown. Since Jordan turned the ball over on West Chester's final two possessions of the first half, it wasn't surprising that there was a change at quarterback in the second half. What was surprising is that it wasn't sophomore Ethan Kohler (18 of 27, 211 yards, 1 TD in 2023), but rather grad student transfer T.J. Pergine. In his first game action since 2019 when he played for Millersville (Pergine spent two seasons at Temple, but did not participate), he completed 6 of 12 passes for 73 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Redshirt freshman receiver Robby Longo, who had five catches coming into the game, made the most of two receptions against Shepherd as they were for 17- and 5-yard scores.

One of Robby Longo's two touchdowns on the day (Photo Joan Gillen)

A host of players did not make the trip to West Virginia including running back Trey Blair, linebacker Khalib Slaughter, defensive end Charley Mininger and defensive tackle Tom Burns. Defensive back and team captain Sterlen Barr, Jr. made the trip but was not dressed.
A week after getting his first collegiate touches on special teams, redshirt freshman Zack Gillen made two catches on offense. On one of them, he took a shot to the head which was ruled a targeting penalty against Shepherd. Although it appeared to only be a glancing blow and he briefly returned to the game, he later left the contest and did not return.
Linebacker Connor Noble did his usual filling of the stat sheet with 6 tackles including a sack. This week he added a 70-yard fumble return which setup West Chester's second touchdown.
Daquan Robinson finished with 69 yards rushing, although 61 yards came on one carry. Jacobs finished with 147 all-purpose yards and when two Shepherd defenders knocked him out of bounds, he was the only one of the three left standing.
Ricardo Delgado and freshman Jaleel Davis-Shabazz each registered nine tackles. Defensive tackles Ayyub Dail and redshirt freshman Debrick Johnson each notched sacks for the Golden Rams.