Nine West Chester University players selected to All-PSAC East football team

West Chester University landed nine different players on the 2021 All-PSAC East football team, including sophomore linebacker Jackson Taylor, who was named the Eastern Division defensive player of the year.

West Chester (6-5, 4-3 PSAC) had a pair of firstteam selections and seven second-team picks, including Phil Poquie, who was tabbed a second-team running back and return specialist. Taylor and running back Ja’Den McKenzie were each first team picks. McKenzie is a repeat first teamer having earned that same accolade in 2019 along with grabbing freshman of the year honors. Taylor makes his first appearance on the all-league squad.

Taylor’s nod as the top defensive player in the East marks the fourth straight year that a West Chester player has won that distinction. He is also the fifth different linebacker to walk away with the trophy. In all, a West Chester player has been named the defensive player of the year nine times since 1996 with seven of those plaudits going to a linebacker. The Golden Rams’ middle linebacker finished the year fifth in the league in tackles with 98. That total led all players from the Eastern Division. Taylor averaged 8.9 tackles per game and was credited with 10.5 tackles for a loss, including 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, a pass breakup and four QB hurries.

McKenzie finished the year third in the league in rushing with 980 yards on the ground, which led all Eastern Division runners. He topped the entire PSAC with 12 touchdown runs and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. He was the Don Hansen Football Gazette Rookie of the Year in 2019 and picked up right where he left off in 2021 following the pandemic. McKenzie has 1,897 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns and two first team All-PSAC East plaques in his first two college campaigns.

West Chester’s entire offensive backfield wound up on at least one of the all-league teams. Running backs McKenzie and Poquie were joined by quarterback Shane Dooley as well. Both Poquie and Dooley were second-team picks for the All-East gang.

Poquie, a transfer from University of Virginia, where he played Division I lacrosse for the Cavaliers’ nationally ranked team, racked up 629 rushing yards in his second season with the Golden Rams, averaging 6.4 yards per carry and scoring seven rushing touchdowns. He also averaged 26 yards per attempt on 14 kickoff returns while averaging 9.5 yards on six punt returns. Poquie ranked second in the PSAC in kickoff return average.

Having missed a couple of games and playing through injuries for much of the early portion of the season, Dooley finished the year strongly when finally healthy. He completed 104 passes for 1,719 yards and threw 20 TD passes in nine games. Dooley completed 59.8 percent of his passes on the year. He ranked seventh in the league in passing and 24th in rushing, totaling 317 yards on the ground with two TDs.

The final two offensive players to earn second team All-PSAC East were left tackle Brendan Ruskowski and wide receiver Seth Degree. A preseason All-America selection by Lindy’s Sports and a nominee for the Gene Upshaw Award, Ruskowski anchored an offensive line that paved the way for the loop’s No. 1 rushing attack. West Chester averaged 217 yards per game on the ground and gobbled up 2,394 yards, which ranks 10th all-time in school history. The Golden Rams’ 26 rushing touchdowns also ranks 10th best in a single season at the school. Degree caught 30 passes for 512 yards and six TDs, averaging 17 yards per reception.

On the defensive side of the ball, two of West Chester’s down linemen were allleague while another linebacker was recognized. Sophomore defensive end Michael Gobora and senior nose tackle Omar Peterkin made moving the ball against the Golden Rams difficult, while senior linebacker Cole Zapf (a Downingtown

West High School alum), was all over the field making plays.

Gobora enjoyed a breakout season, registering 43 tackles on the year to include 18.5 for a loss and 10 sacks. His TFL numbers ranked second in the PSAC and sacks ranked third. Peterkin made his second appearance on the Eastern Division’s second-team squad. Peterkin posted 40 tackles, 8.0 for a loss and 4.0 sacks. He also was credited with two pass breakups, a QB hurry and blocked a field goal attempt. Zapf ranked second on the team behind Taylor with 72 tackles. His 15.5 tackles for a loss was second as well while also recording six sacks. He was credited with four QB hurries and two pass breakups while forcing a pair of fumbles.

Men’s basketball LINCOLN UNIVERSITY 77, HOLY FAMILY 58 »

The Lions (2-1 overall) cruised past visiting Holy Family in nonleague action on Wednesday at Rivero Gymnasium. Zahrion Blue led the way with 21 points, 13 rebounds and assists for the Lions (2-1 overall.

Korey Williams knocked down four 3-pointers and added 19 points, while Alex Nunnally chipped in 11 points for Lincoln. The Lions’ defense limited Holy Family to 28 percent shooting from the field. Leading by six at the half, LU outscored its opponent 41-28 the rest of the way.