Purple Outduels Gold In Annual Spring Game, 27-18

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – R-Fr. Jarel Elder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) accounted for 124 all-purpose yards for the Gold side, but sixth-year QB Sean McCartney (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) engineered a pair of scoring drives after halftime to lead Purple to a 27-18 victory in West Chester's annual spring game Saturday afternoon inside Farrell Stadium.
 
Purple picked up its second straight win in as many years in the scrimmage that traditionally closes the book on the spring practice season for the football team and registered its fourth win since 2007.
 
McCartney finished 14-for-22 for 176 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. Rising Jr. Brandon Monk (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) finished off the first drive with a 17-yard TD run with 10:32 to play in the third quarter. Following a 3-and-out for the Gold squad, McCartney went on the march once again, eventually finding Erick Brundidge up top and behind the defense on a 39-yard TD completion with 6:23 left in the third. That gave Purple a 27-12 advantage.
 
Gold's only response the rest of the way was a 35-yard pass from R-Fr. QB Pat Moriarty (Hamilton, Pa./Gladwyne) to Elder, on a very similar play as McCartney and Brundidge, with 7:57 to go in the game. Elder got in behind the secondary, and Moriarty floated one over the top of the defense as he got planted on his back from the pass rush.
 
Senior Punter/Place-kicker Rich Bruno (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) kicked a 43- and 45-yard field goal for the Purple side while adding a 20-yarder for Gold – all in the first half. Bruno also averaged 45.0 yards per punt on eight combined kicks for both sides, including a 73-yarder for Gold and a 61-yarder for Purple. He put two inside the 20-yard line.
 
Purple opened up the scoring, taking the opening drive of the game 70 yards on eight plays. McCartney topped it off with a 33-yard TD pass to So. WR A.J. DePietro (Glen Mills, Pa./Garnet Valley). Gold answered later in the first quarter as Elder ran 67 yards on the first play from scrimmage following a McCartney fumble on a scramble.
 
Gold was awarded a safety with :35 seconds remaining the first quarter that gave Gold 9-7 lead.
 
Bruno then kicked the first of his three field goals to up the margin to 12-7. However, he turned around and buried a pair from beyond 40 yards, the latter coming as time expired on the game clock, to send Purple into the locker room with a 13-12 lead.
 
So., QB Andrew Derr (Willow Grove, Pa./Upper Dublin) started under center for the Gold side. He finished up 13-for-19 for 189 yards. Moriarty was 7 of 14 for 126 yards with one interception and one TD.
 
Elder finished with 76 yards rushing on seven carries and one TD. He added 48 yards receiving on a pair of catches and another score.
 
Monk carried 13 times for Purple, amassing 66 yards and scoring one TD. R-Fr., QB Eric Lark (Philadelphia, Pa./Boys Latin) was the only other quarterback to see action in the spring game. He relieved McCartney in both the second and fourth quarters. He was 3-for-8 for 38 yards and one interception.
 
Gold's leading receiver was R-Fr., WR Marcus Sydnor (Haverford, Pa./Havertown), who caught five balls for 40 yards. Purple was led by Jr. WR Adam Dempsey (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara), who had five catches for 35 yards. DePietro caught three passes for a team-best 65 yards and the TD for Purple as well.
 
Gold Sr., MLB Ronell Williams (Chester, Pa./Chester) led his side with six solo stops, including one tackle for a loss. He also intercepted a pass at the 3-yard line and returned it 34 yards. Jr., DT Andrew Cohen (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) registered six tackles as well, including two for a loss.
 
R-Fr., Pat McCabe (Malvern, Pa./St. Joe's Prep) and So., LB Ralph Reeves (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) each led Purple with six tackles each. Reeves also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
 
West Chester opens the 2014 fall schedule at University of New Haven on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. on the blue turf of the Chargers. The Golden Rams' home opener is slated for the following weekend at 12 p.m. against PSAC West foe Mercyhurst on Hall of Fame Day.