Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
WCU ‘D’ stands tall in win over Gannon
WCU shuts down Gannon’s Jones en route to easy home win
For the second week in a row, the West Chester University defense did just about everything you could ask for.
The Golden Rams (2-0) allowed just 259 yards of total offense — just 84 on the ground — while picking off a pair of passes and blocking a field goal try as WCU topped visiting Gannon (0-2) by a score of 31-7.
“We thought coming into the season we were going to have a pretty good defense,” said Rams head coach Bill Zwaan. “Especially up front. That is a great running back over there, and we just held him to about 60 yards.”
Gannon’s Marcus Jones ran for 160 yards and a touchdown in the Golden Knights week one loss at Southern Connecticut State. Saturday at Farrell Stadium, the Rams limited Jones to just 62 yards rushing.
“Our guys did a great job up front against the run,” said Zwaan. “And put constant pressure on the quarterback, which led to us getting a couple of interceptions.”
Gannon’s lone score came before everyone even had a chance to settle into their seats. The Rams fumbled the first snap on its first possession, setting up Gannon with a first and goal just inside the ten. Three plays later, Jimmy Keefe ran it in from a yard out. But it was the last time the Golden Knights even sniffed the red zone.
“You know, first home game, new uniforms, and we only have four home games, so everyone was really hyped up for the game and we kind of rushed the first play,” said Rams’ QB AJ Long. “Once we got back to the sideline, we settled down and got it going. It’s fun when we execute. We just sort of get locked in. But you have to maintain that—you can’t get too high or too low.”
West Chester tied it midway through the first quarter when they marched off a 7 play, 75 yard drive, highlighted by a 53-yard pass to Cody Boozel on a thirdand-seven. The Rams capped the drive when Long found Boozel in the end zone, and Boozel came down with a circus catch with the defender hanging all over him to the point he drew a flag for pass interference, a penalty obviously declined by the Rams.
“I’m not going to lie—I thought that with how badly he was being interfered with, I wasn’t sure Boozel was going to get it,” said Long, who finished the day with 300 yards and 3TDs through the air on 18 of 30 passing. “But I know that with his skills, if I get it in his vicinity, he’s got a chance to come down with it. Boozel made a heck of a play, which he’s been doing ever since he came back from his injury.”
The Rams broke the game open in the second quarter with a 28-yard field goal from Andrew Chegia, a seven yard run from Long, and the second TD pass from Long, this time to Lex Rosario with just 11-second left in the half. The final score came early in the third, when Long hit Rasheem for 40 yards and the touchdown.
Gannon finally started to generate some offense in the third, moving the ball past midfield for just the second time in the game. But the drive ended when Jarey Elder came up with an interception. Gannon got it right back with a pick of their own, but threw it right back to Elder for his second interception in about two-and-a-half minutes.
“Our d-line was amazing today,” said Elder. “It seemed like just about every play they were coming close to or getting the sack. A lot of the guys got together last night and studied film, so we got to learn their routes and I was able to be in the right place.”