After suffering a close defeat the week before to the Delaware Blue Hens, West Chester bounced back this week coming up with a 20-13 victory against PSAC rival, Slippery Rock.
Slippery Rock came into the game with a record 2-0 while the Rams came into the game with a 0-2 record.
It was a big game from sophomore sensation, Rondell White. He put up big numbers once again amassing 204 all-purpose yards throughout the game. There was also a big defensive showing by John O’Donnell who picked off two passes helping lead the Golden Rams to the 20-13 victory at the home opener at John A. Farrell Stadium Saturday afternoon.
White caught two passes for 90 yards, including a 65-yard TD reception on the first play from the line of scrimmage for the Golden Rams, opening the game with a TD.
Sophomore place kicker Shawn Leo kicked a pair of field goals (22, 36) for West Chester, while Jackson Fagan returned a punt for 49 yards for a touchdown with 1:44 left in the half to give the Rams a 17-6 advantage at halftime.
In the second half, Slippery Rock came out firing and pulled within seven on the first play in the fourth quarter when QB Cody Endres hit Jimmy Zubik with a bullet for a 12-yard TD for Slippery Rock.
With Slippery Rock driving late in the game, QB Cody Endres over threw his receiver and that was when John O’Donnell came up big with his second interception of the contest. The interception sealed the victory for WCU with 1:08 remaning in the game, leaving West Chester (1-2) and Slippery Rock (2-1). With the first game and victory in conference play, the Rams are 1-0 in the PSAC and Slippery Rock fell to 0-1.
“It felt real good to get our first win, the defense played real hard at the end to seal the game and were all starting to gel and were going to keep it rolling,” White said. “Our expectations as a team is to win the PSAC and get a ring. Last year teams in the PSAC beat us down but we’re a way different team than the year before. The win against Slippery Rock was the first step to achieving our goal: we’re not letting anyone stop us in the league.”
White has been a huge part of the offense so far this season and as the season continues he will continue to be a big part of it. Yet, the sophomore knows he isn’t the only one who deserves the recognition, citing the defense for its stellar performance and knowing his offensive line and quarterback are a big part of the reason the team is coming together so quickly.
White led the team with eight carries for 38 rushing yards, two receptions for 90 receiving yards, one punt return for 11 yards, and two kick off returns for 67 yard amassing the staggering total of 204 all purpose yards.
Other notable performances included Sean McCartney, who was 7-18 with 143 yards passing and one touchdown, and Jackson Fagan with seven rushes for 21 yards and a 49 yard punt return for a touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, John O’Donnell had two interceptions for 47 total return yards, Mike Labor had 12 tackles, and Mike Pereira came up with ten total tackles.
Next week the Golden Ram face off against PSAC rival East Stroudsburg University at Farrell Stadium at 6 p.m. under the lights on Saturday. East Stroudsburg is coming off a tough loss to No. 21 University of California , Pa. 22-19. The Warriors 1-2 will square off with Rams 1-2 for a PSAC showdown that will be electric.
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.