Golden Ram Football Club: Game Report - West Chester 35

This season the Golden Rams (2-4, 2-1) have painfully experienced how impactful turnovers are in determining the outcome of a game. The impact was no less today, but it was with no pain as the Shepherd Rams (4-2, 2-1) threw four interceptions while West Chester did not turn over the ball at all leading to a 35-14 WCU win. It was the biggest upset by West Chester since knocking off Kutztown in November 2022 and the Golden Ram's first win over Shepherd since the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 championship game in December 2013.

The Shepherd defense entered the day ranked 16th in the nation with three sacks per game. And when they threw Cooper Jordan down for a six-yard loss on the first play of the game, they looked to be on their way to eclipsing their average. However, it was their only sack of the afternoon. That was the first of many abnormalities of the contest.

The offensive line allowed only one sack on the day (Photo Joan Gillen)

Shepherd had only thrown two interceptions through their first five games and the West Chester defense had only made three picks on the season. Yet today the Golden Rams picked off four passes, two of which led to West Chester touchdowns. The first went through the Shepherd receiver's arms, then off both of his feet, then off Shane Mosley's helmet before landing in Connor Noble's arms. Defensive end Daniel Hicks played a role in the next two, applying pressure to the QB whose forced throw was nabbed by Kaleb Brown and then Hicks was the recipient of a Charley Mininger deflection. Matt Marshall made the fourth interception with just three seconds left to play.

Matt Marshall makes a leaping interception (Photo Joan Gillen)

The Shepherd Rams entered the contest ninth in the country in rushing defense, allowing just 72 yards per game and a total of three rushing touchdowns through five games. But for the second consecutive week, West Chester rushed for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. Granted, Jordan scrambled for 124 yards including a 72-yard run where he relaxed and was caught before crossing the goal line, but Dayshawn Jacobs (14 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD) was also a big part of yardage. And with Juke Peaker not dressed and Jayden Williams not playing, it was true freshman Anthony Leonardi (9 carries, 53 yards, 1 TD, 62-yard TD catch) who provided yet another option in the backfield. That's 41 carries in the game for the Golden Rams behind a line of Trey Wells, Bill Martelon, Dylan Nichols, Cole Evans (for Caelan Krasley), and Cam McQueen (for Patrick Methlie). And when McQueen left with an injury, Jake Phipps took over at the left tackle spot.

Anthony Leonardi had rushing and receiving touchdowns in his collegiate debut (Photo Joan Gillen)

Besides the three rushing touchdowns, Jordan completed touchdown passes of 62 yards to Leonardi (who turned around nicely to catch the ball) and 34 yards to D'Shaun Seals (4 catches, 61 yards). That's 35 points against a team that was 11th in the nation in scoring allowing just 13.4 points per game entering the day.

D'Shaun Seals makes a diving touchdown catch (Photo Joan Gillen)

The West Chester defense had registered only eight sacks through the first five games and Shepherd had only surrendered five during that span. On Saturday, Debrick Johnson, Charley Mininger, Seamus McCain, and Jack Fry all made solo sacks. Adding Mosley's tackle for loss, the Golden Rams doubled Shepherd's number of tackles for loss allowed of 2.4 which was second best in the country.

Goldan Rams stuffing the run (Photo Joan Gillen)

Other observations:

Luke Trunell was cited for targeting on just the third West Chester defensive play of the game and was replaced by Johnny Pergine who had a team-high ten tackles in the game. Mosley also was credited with ten stops.
The West Chester sideline and Marshall each received an unsportsmanlike penalty in the game. The season total continues to mount.
It's the first time that West Chester has scored in the first quarter since the season opener aganist Bentley.
Goal line play is a topic of conversation. Offensively, three tush push attempts from the one failed, although one was negated by an offsides penalty. However, all three touchdown runs came from one yard out. From a defensive perspective, for the second consecutive game, West Chester made a goal line stand, this week stopping the Rams on fourth-and-goal from the one with just seconds left in the first half.
Defensive end Nate Desmond left the game early with a lower body injury.

West Chester makes a goal line stand prior to halftime (Photo Joan Gillen)