Box Score Box Score
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Three games of frustration for a typically potent offense was taken out on Millersville in the Marauders’ 2009 home opener at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium on a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon. The Golden Rams racked up 401 yards of total offense in the first half, scoring five touchdowns with four of those coming on plays from further than 40 yards out, in a 63-10 white-washing of Millersville.
D’Andre Webb continued to carve up the Marauders’ defense with 114 yards and two TDs on just four carries before the break. He scored on runs of two yards and 62 yards. He finished the day with 126 yards rushing on seven carries. It was Webb who ran for a school-record 306 yards in last year’s 41-10 victory over the Marauders (1-3, 0-1 PSAC East).
“Everybody was on a man, and I don’t know where that 11th-man was, but the holes just opened right up,” Webb said. “We just executed today. Everyone did a terrific job. What did we score – 28 points in the first quarter? If we can start every game like that, it will take the pressure off of everyone.”
“A couple of times there, (Millersville) blitzed and we were able to split ‘em,” West Chester head coach Bill Zwaan said. “That left a lot of room (in the secondary) and Webb was off to the races.”
West Chester’s offense, which had struggled through the Rams’ first three games, showed signs of its old self on its first-half possessions. None of the five scoring drives took more than three plays. The longest scoring drive took 1:36 as the Rams (2-2, 1-0) went 82 yards on three plays, capped by a 58-yard touchdown pass from Joe Wright to Dan DePalma that put the visitors up 7-0.
“We finally got some practices in with the entire first team offense this week,” West Chester head coach Bill Zwaan said. “I think that showed in the first quarter. We looked like our timing was better, especially throwing the ball. We just looked much more consistent.”
Following DePalma’s score, Webb went in from two yards out to give West Chester a 14-0 lead just 4:28 into the contest. Steve Miller then hauled in a 43-yard pass from Wright with under six minutes to play in the first quarter, and Will Gardner caught his first collegiate touchdown pass, going down the sideline for 69 yards, with 22 seconds left in the opening frame.
After John Banzhof kicked an 18-yard field goal with 4:30 left in the half to put Millersville on the board, Webb dashed 62 yards up the middle on the first play from scrimmage to extend the visitor’s lead to 35-3 heading into the locker rooms.
Lee Hopkins (67 yards rushing) scored from eight yards out five minutes into the third quarter, and Jackson Fagan (22 yards rushing) scampered 11 yards to paydirt five minutes later to move the advantage to 49-3. Ronnie Koons returned a fumble 42 yards for his first college touchdown with 43 seconds left in the third quarter, and Fagan closed out the Golden Rams’ scoring with a 1-yard plunge on fourth down with 9:21 remaining.
The Rams amassed 544 yards of total offense in the game. Wright was 9 of 16 for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Miller caught three passes for 101 yards and a score.
West Chester’s 18th-ranked defense held Millersville to 227 yards of total offense, including 92 yards on the ground. The Marauders’ field goal in the second quarter was the result of a goal-line stand from the Rams’ stop unit, and its lone touchdown came with 25 second remaining in the game.
“I think we played with a lot of confidence today,” Zwaan said. “Where we were when the season started? I think we moved back to that point.”
West Chester’s second season started with a bang as the Rams extended their conference regular-season winning streak in East play to 17 games. They will put that streak on the line next Saturday night at home against Kutztown in a 6 p.m. kick at Farrell Stadium.
NOTES: West Chester defeated Millersville for the seventh straight time … the Marauders last beat the Golden Rams in 2002 … the Golden Rams are now 60-17 all-time against the Marauders … the 60 wins are the most against any opponent in school history … West Chester’s offense scored a touchdown on four of its first five possessions of the game … So., WR Will Gardner caught his first career TD pass – a 69-yard reception at the end of the first quarter … West Chester blocked its third punt of the season in the third quarter … Zach Wood registered two pass breakups and a forced fumble … he forced the fumble that Koons returned for a touchdown … West Chester’s rivalry with Millersville is the oldest on the books at the school … the 53-point differential in the final score was the most lopsided verdict in the series since West Chester beat Millersville, 63-7 in 1968 … West Chester’s 63 points were the most it has scored in a game since a 63-20 victory over Mansfield in 2005.
