Box Score Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Mike Washington caught for 155 yards and two touchdowns as No. 23 West Chester splashed its way to an easy 37-6 victory over visiting Lock Haven Saturday morning at Farrell Stadium.
Washington hauled in all five of his passes in the first half, including identical over-the-shoulder touchdown catches in the far corner of the end zone to put West Chester up 14-0 in the first quarter, as all 44 points in the game were scored in the first half before the brunt of the rain showers from Hurricane Hanna drenched the playing field for most of the second half.
The Golden Rams (2-0) ran up 377 yards of total offense on 32 plays in the first 30 minutes, limiting the Bald Eagles (0-2) to just 56 yards on 28 plays. Rams quarterback Joe Wright completed 11 of 15 passes for 290 yards all in the first half. He threw two interceptions along with his two TD strikes to Washington.
West Chester took the opening kickoff and drove 60 yards for its first score of the day. Washington caught a 17-yard pass from Wright 2:50 seconds into the contest. After the Rams’ defense held Lock Haven to a 3-and-out, the offense quickly moved 76 yards on three plays, culminating in another 16-yard TD reception by Washington that put the hosts up 14-0. That touchdown catch was the 46th of Washington’s career, moving him into second place all-time in school history.
Lock Haven responded with a 5-yard run by Ibrahim Smith with 5:52 left in the opening frame. That TD was set up by DeMarr Dowell’s 58-yard interception return down to West Chester’s 7-yard line. Kicker Brendon Pickel’s point-after attempt was blocked by Greg Smith.
D’Andre Webb (12 carries, 45 yards) plunged over the goal line from one-yard out with four minutes left in the first quarter as West Chester took a 21-6 advantage into the second.
Lee Hopkins (10 carries, 54 yards) scored on runs of four yards and one yard in the second half as West Chester put the game out of reach. Alex Walsh kicked a 19-yard field goal as time expired in the first half for the final points of the game. Walsh’s field goal was set up by a Jeff Broyan interception at Lock Haven’s 38-yard line.
The second half was a wash out – literally – as both sides found it difficult to hang on to the football and stuck primarily to the running game. Jackson Fagan finished as West Chester’s leading rusher on the day with 56 yards on four carries.
Red-shirt freshman quarterback Jared Jorgensen started the second half for West Chester. He played the third quarter, misfiring on his only two pass attempts. Fellow red-shirt freshman Marshall Vogel played the fourth quarter under center. He did not attempt a pass.
West Chester will be back in action next Saturday when the Rams travel to Delaware for a 6 p.m. kick with the Blue Hens.
GAME NOTES: Alex Walsh recorded a 70-yard punt in the game, tying him for the third-longest punt in school history … Webb’s 1-yard TD run in the second quarter was his first career rushing touchdown … Hopkins’ two TD runs marked the first multiple-TD game of his career … Washington’s 100-yard receiving day was the school-record 18th of his career … Washington also eclipsed 4,000 career all-purpose yards in the contest … Washington also moved into third place on WCU’s all-time scoring chart with 282 career points … Washington moved into third place on the PSAC all-time receiving chart with 3,735 career receiving yards … he is tied for third all-time in PSAC history in TD receptions … Washington moved into a tie for 8th all-time in NCAA Division II history with his 46 career TD catches ... the win marked the 100th victory in head coach Bill Zwaan's 12-year career.
