Box Score Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Mike Mattei was 22-for-39 for 321 yards, and D'Andre Webb and Rondell White each scored a touchdown, but visiting Edinboro took advantage of countless mistakes by the host Golden Rams to get out of John A. Farrell Stadium with a 16-14 victory Saturday afternoon on Michael Horrocks Day at the university.
In a pre-game ceremony honoring former quarterback, marine pilot and United Airlines pilot, Michael Horrocks, West Chester University unveiled an eight-foot statue that weighs more than 300 pounds in the north end zone of the stadium on the nine-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks that claimed the life of Horrocks in 2001. He was a co-pilot of Flight 175 that was the second to hit the World Trade Center towers that fateful morning.
West Chester (0-2) outgained Edinboro (2-0) by a 398-204 margin. However, five turnovers, with two coming inside the Fighting Scots' 10-yard line, and seven penalties proved to be too much to overcome for the Golden Rams.
Webb ran 31 yards down the far sideline in the first quarter to put West Chester on top early. The Scots then retaliated with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Cody Harris to Gary Nolan in the final minute of the first quarter. Five minutes into the second quarter, Edinboro's Matt Caternolo jumped on Mattei in the end zone as the Rams' quarterback dove on a loose ball after a fumble.
Nolan then caught his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, this one from 27 yards out, early in the fourth quarter to give the Fighting Scots a 16-7 advantage.
Rondell White caught a 10-yard pass from Mattei with two minutes left in the game to close the scoring. However, Edinboro recovered the on-side kick and ran out the clock.
Mattei threw four interceptions on the day, though three were in and out of the hands of Golden Rams' receivers. West Chester fumbled a total of five times in the game, losing just one.
Webb finished with five catches out of the backfield for 57 yards. He also ran the ball five times for 47 yards and a score. Dan DePalma caught three balls for 92 yards for the Golden Rams. White finished with four catches for 52 yards and the one TD.
Harris finished 12 of 15 for 110 yards and two TDs. He threw one interception.
West Chester travels to Slippery Rock next Saturday for another cross-over contest, before opening up league play the following week at East Stroudsburg.
NOTES: West Chester dropped its second straight game of the season ... the Golden Rams have opened 0-2 for the first time since 2006 when they fell to both Edinboro and Delaware as well ... West Chester finished 9-4 and reached the NCAA II playoffs that year ... Sophomore QB Mike Mattei earned his first career 300-yard passing game ... both Jackson Fagan and D'Andre Webb finished with 104 all-purpose yards ... true freshman WR LaRonn Lee caught his first two career passes ... sophomore PK Shawn Leo converted his first two career PATs after both of West Chester's touchdowns ... junior P Chris Hill averaged 43.8 yards per punt, putting one inside the 20-yard line.
