Ja’Den McKenzie. Photo Credits – Samantha Yothers via wcupagoldenrams.com
Coach Bill Zwaan is starting his 20th season with the Golden Rams. After a disappointing finish ending the previous season, 6–5 overall and 4–3 in conference play, Coach Zwaan and the team are ready to prove themselves this season. In the 2022 Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference (PSAC) preseason poll rankings, West Chester University (WCU) ranked third below Shepherd University and Kutztown University. “We’re disappointed. With the way that we ended last year, we don’t deserve to be ranked higher,” stated Coach Zwaan. “Our guys are disappointed about where we ended up, but we’re probably where we belong. We gotta go out and put it all on the field.” Zwaan went on to state how confident he is in his team this season and is expecting to have a great year.
According to Coach Zwaan, the team’s biggest strength this year is their running backs: 2021 rushing leaders Ja’Den McKenzie (first team all-PSAC East) and Phil Poquie are expected to have another impressive season. “I think we’re going to have a great year,” said Poquie, “I feel like this team has a lot of potential that we haven’t tapped into. I think that we’re going to progress and get the wrinkles out as the season goes.” In 2021, as a sophomore, McKenzie dominated the PSAC with 12 touchdown runs and finished third in the PSAC in rushing with 980 yards. It is safe to say that the Golden Rams are in good hands with their running backs. Sophomore quarterback Shane Dooley (second team all-PSAC East), also has a big year ahead of him. Dooley finished the 2021 season 104–174 for 1,719 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Another focus for the Golden Rams is their offensive and defensive lines. “We’re young on the offensive and defensive lines. They are good, they’re just young…So they will make some young mistakes.” Coach Zwaan added that they will learn from each other and will really improve coming down the stretch of the schedule.
Junior linebacker Jackson Taylor (PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-PSAC East, second team All-D2CCA Super Region 1, All-American), will lead the Rams on the defensive side. Taylor led the PSAC East with 98 tackles and 59 solo tackles. He also had 10.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Taylor is expected to have an electric season and to be a true leader on the field. “Everybody wants to ball. Everybody wants to win,” said Taylor. “We’re all really goal-oriented with a championship mindset. If we all stay on the same page, we’ll be really good.”
Taylor also commented on the preseason poll rankings stating; “I feel like being third under two teams that we should’ve beat last year is setting a fire in us, so it’s going to make us go harder each and every day at practice and for the games.” Poquie seems to have the same mindset as Taylor when it comes to work ethic. “The whole PSAC the last couple of years has been cutting us short,” said Poquie, “But it’s fine we got something to prove.”
The Golden Rams have started the 2022 season 1–1; they won their home opener on Sept. 2 against Bentley University 17–16. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the same results in the next game. On Sept. 10, the Rams lost to Slippery Rock University 14–35. With this fiery team, a single loss should not hurt the morale and camaraderie that they have established so deeply into the program. The opponents that are lined up next for the Rams are Gannon University, Millersville University and Bloomsburg University. Already having one loss, the Golden Rams are going to have to put it all out on the field to prove that they are a championship team.
Rebecca Arnold is a third-year English major Journalism minor. RA953057@wcupa.edu