The Golden Rams headed to Delaware Saturday night trying to bounce back from a heart breaking OT loss in New Haven, 35-32 Connecticut last week in a non- league match up. Kicker Shawn Leo set a school record kicking the ball through the uprights four times in a game.
This weekend they played a University of Delaware program that has produced quarterbacks like Joe Flacco and Pat Devlin in the past few years.
The Golden Rams came to play this Saturday but shad a rocky start with quarterback Sean McCartney throwing a 34-yard interception that was returned for a touchdown during the first quarter.
Striking again quickly, the Blue Hen’s talented running back, Andrew Pierce (who rushed for 123 yards on 25 touches with two touchdowns), ran for a seven yard touchdown putting Delaware up 14-0.
On their very next offensive possession, the Rams took another step backwards by fumbling the ball on their own 28-yard line which led to an easy 28-yard Blue Hen touchdown from Tim Donnelly to Mark Schenauer. The first quarter ended and so did the miscues for the Golden Rams.
In the second quarter, the Rams finally answered back when sophomore sensation Rondell White ran in from two yards out and ended the shut-out streak of nine quarters that Delaware previously held. The touchdown was set up by a 64-yard pass to LaRonn Lee which led to White’s goal line touchdown. As the second quarter wrapped up, the Rams were down 21-10 and looking poised to make a come back.
Going into the fourth quarter with the score remaining 21-10, Matt Carroll hit Lee with a 14-yard pass with 10:56 remaining, making many Delaware fans worried that a major upset was about to take place in their house.
Their worries would soon be settled when running- back Pierce put the game in his hands and 46 seconds later broke away for a 44-yard TD run to put the game away for Delaware and avoid the major upset in Delaware Saturday night. As the last seconds ticked off the clock the game ended 28-17.
A few highlights of the game were White gaining 152 all-purpose yards for the Golden Rams, Matt Carroll throwing for 116 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, and not to mention the big game LaRonn Lee had at wide out with five receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Even though the Rams lost another tough one this week, they can not take away the satisfaction of playing well against a real tough program and not just laying down for the Blue Hens to run over them.
Next week Coach Zwaan’s Rams will host Slippery Rock, who are 2-0 to open up their PSAC schedule. Slippery Rock has started the season strong coming off a strong outing against Cheyney University shutting them out 54-0. This game will be a test for the Golden Rams to see where they will stand in the PSAC this season and prepare them for East Stroudsburg the following week.
AJ Krakower is a fourth-year student majoring in professional studies with minors in health and geography. He can be reached at at AK678528@wcupa.edu.