WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester University welcomes PSAC East rival Shippensburg on Homecoming Weekend Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at John A. Farrell Stadium.
West Chester (5-2, 3-1 PSAC East) is coming off a 41-6 defeat over LIU Post last weekend while Shippensburg (7-0, 4-0) comes in ranked 13th in the country with the second-ranked offense in Division II. The game can be heard live on WCHE 1520 AM. Greg Fry will have the play-by-play call for you with L.J. Harrell providing the color commentary. West Chester University's student radio station 91.7 WCUR FM will also air Saturday's Homecoming game.
Saturday’s football game is expected to draw a larger-than-usual crowd. Additionally, both the men’s and women’s soccer teams will be playing a doubleheader across the street from Farrell Stadium. Due to construction in South Village Apartments, parking is very limited on South Campus. Fans are strongly encouraged to plan on arriving early and expect delays. Parking in Matlack Street Garage and Sharpless Street Garage will be free on Saturday. Shuttles from North Campus will run down to Farrell Stadium Saturday. Fans are also encouraged to carpool where possible.
Parking in lots surrounding Farrell Stadium will open at 12 p.m. while ticket booths will also open at 12 p.m. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets ahead of time by calling the WCU Ticket Office at (610) 436-2266. Tickets purchased over the phone will be left at the Will Call Window. This should help alleviate long lines at the ticket windows on the day of the game.
West Chester’s football squad has an excellent opportunity to jump back into the race for the PSAC Eastern Division crown this afternoon. A win over No. 13 Shippensburg would move the Golden Rams into a tie for second place with a big game at Bloomsburg looming in November. West Chester still controls its own destiny in its quest for the division title, a spot in the State Game and a berth in the NCAA II Playoffs. All of those goals are still within reach. However, the road to those milestones begins today at Farrell Stadium. Shippensburg stands in their way.
Jr., RB Rondell White is coming off another spectacular performance last week against LIU Post where he rushed and caught for 100 yards. So., MLB Ronell Williams also was named the PSAC East defensive player of the week and the ECAC defensive player of the week for his efforts against the Pioneers. White ranks fourth in the PSAC in rushing with a career-high 881 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns. He also has 406 yards receiving on a team-high 31 catches and five more scores. He averages 188 all-purpose yards per game this fall.
Shippensburg now owns the longest active winning streak in Division II (11 consecutive games, dating back to last season). During their win streak, the Red Raiders are averaging just over 50 points a game and beating their opponents by an average margin of 32 points per game.
The Red Raiders enter the game with the nation’s No. 1 total offense and passing offense. SU is averaging 578.3 yards per game on offense, which includes an average of 423.14 passing yards per game. Shippensburg has also posted 53.5 points per game, which ranks second in the nation behind Henderson State (56.8 ppg).
SU’s defense dropped a few notches after facing Kutztown’s aerial offense last week but still ranks 21st in Division II and second in the PSAC in allowing just 305.6 yards per game. The Red Raiders are also tied for 11th in the country in turnover margin (+8) and rank 13th in sacks (3.29 per game, 23.0 total).
Individually, junior quarterback Zach Zulli ranks second in Division II for total offense (403.71 ypg), passing yards (389.0) and pass efficiency (189.36).
SCHEDULING NOTE FOR NEXT SATURDAY VS CHEYNEY
West Chester University has moved the start time for next Saturday's final home game of the season against Cheyney to 12 p.m. West Chester will host the PSAC Field Hockey Championship Game at Vonnie Gros Field Saturday evening, which necessitating moving the start time of the football game up one hour. West Chester and Cheyney will kickoff on Sat., Oct. 27 at 12 p.m.
