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SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – For the second time in three years, West Chester’s PSAC East football showdown with Shippensburg came down to the wire as the host Raiders staved off a comeback bid from the visiting Golden Rams on Homecoming Weekend for a 24-19 victory at Seth Grove Stadium on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon.
The loss all but eliminates West Chester (4-4, 3-2 PSAC East) from any shot of repeating as division champions. Shippensburg (6-2, 4-1) moved past the Rams into second place in the league standings behind fourth-ranked and first-place Bloomsburg, who is unbeaten in league play.
Trailing 24-12 with seven minutes to play, West Chester got a special teams touchdown and two offensive opportunities to try and come from behind on the road for the second straight week. However, this time the Rams’ good fortunes ran out.
Joe Wright threw an interception in the end zone with 6:28 on the clock that bounced in and out of the hands of West Chester wide receiver Steve Miller and into the arms of Shippensburg defensive back Jeff Fertig. That preserved the Raiders’ 24-12 advantage late in the fourth quarter.
On Ship’s ensuing drive, West Chester’s defense forced a punt on 4th-and-4 from its own 38-yard line that defensive back Jay Nelson blocked and linebacker Brad Herr scooped up and ran 42 yards to paydirt, which made the score 24-19 with 2:19 to play.
West Chester attempted an on-sides kick, but Shippensburg recovered at its own 42-yard line. The Raiders, who were trying to run out the final two minutes of the game, fumbled on second down when Mike Dell jarred the ball loose from Chad DiFebbo, and Mike Holland recovered at the 45 with 1:34 still showing on the clock.
The Golden Rams drove down to the Shippensburg 18-yard line with just under one minute to play in the game when the Raiders’ defense broke through West Chester’s offensive line and sacked Wright on a 3rd-and-2 that set the ball back to the 30-yard line. Wright’s fourth-down completion to running back Lee Hopkins out of the backfield was short of the first down by seven yards and Shippensburg’s sideline celebrated its first win over the Golden Rams since 2004.
West Chester’s progress was hindered all day by the same mistakes that have plagued the Golden Rams all season long. West Chester turned the ball over four times and committed 11 penalties for 111 yards in the game. One of Wright’s three interceptions on the day was brought back 30 yards for a TD in the second quarter that doubled Shippensburg’s lead at 14-0.
Wright finished 22-for-54 for 302 yards and two touchdowns to go against his three picks. His 54 attempts were just three shy of the school’s single-game record. However, they were necessitated by the Golden Rams inability to run the football. West Chester rushed for just four yards on 21 carries in the game.
Ironically, West Chester did outgain Shippensburg in total offense, 306-277. Miller finished with 11 catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns to lead all receivers. Sean Beahan had six catches for 80 yards in the contest.
West Chester returns home this coming Thursday for a mid-week showdown with Cheyney at John A. Farrell Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
