Game Notes
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester University and East Stroudsburg University meet Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. inside Eiler-Martin Stadium in a pivotal Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division matchup between two schools aspiring to reach the re-instated PSAC Championship Game the second week in November.
The Golden Rams (3-2, 2-0 PSAC East) and the Warriors (5-0, 2-0 PSAC East) are both 2-0 in conference play and sit in a three-way tie atop the Eastern Division with Bloomsburg, who is also 2-0. Today’s winner sets themselves up for another showdown with the 10th-ranked Huskies. For ESU, that will be next Saturday in Bloomsburg. For WCU, that will be in Bloomsburg as well on Nov. 1.
West Chester easily disposed of Kutztown one week ago, 49-8, while East Stroudsburg had its way with Cheyney, 52-12. The Golden Rams and Warriors boast the conference’s top two passing offenses as the game features two of the PSAC’s top three scoring offenses. Both quarterbacks, Joe Wright of West Chester and Tim Roken of ESU, are in their fifth year and feature a bevy of talented targets to throw to in the passing game. West Chester ranks seventh in the conference in pass defense, right behind East Stroudsburg in sixth. With the gunslingers under center on both sides of the ball, today’s contest may come down to who can stop the pass more effectively.
Golden Rams senior WR Mike Washington is within one TD catch of tying former East Stroudsburg star Evan Prall’s conference record of 49 career TD receptions. Washington could eclipse that record on Prall’s former turf on homecoming weekend for the ESU community. Washington is also aiming for Prall’s career receiving yards mark as well. Washington could become just the sixth person in DII history to reach 50 career TD catches on Saturday.
Today’s tilt has all the makings of a good ole fashioned shootout at Eiler-Martin Stadium. Both veteran head coaches like to spread out the defense and open things up down field. Last season, West Chester defeated East Stroudsburg, 30-15, scoring a touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
