No. 9 West Chester Stymies Mercyhurst, 38-14

Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Sixth-year Sr., QB Sean McCartney (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) completed 23 of 35 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for another score, to lead No. 9 West Chester to a 38-14 victory over visiting Mercyhurst in its home opener Saturday afternoon at John A. Farrell Stadium.
 
West Chester (2-0, 1-0 PSAC) jumped out to an early 21-0 lead after the first quarter on a pair of big plays. Sr., WR Erick Brundidge (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast) caught a pass in the flats at his own 26-yard line, broke two tackles, and raced down the far sideline for a 74-yard TD that put the Golden Rams on top, 14-0. Then, Jr., DB Drew Formica (Newtown Square, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) intercepted a pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown to give the hosts a three-TD lead after 15 minutes. That pick was set up when Ronell Williams (Chester, Pa./Chester) delivered a crushing hit on Mercyhurst QB Zach Emerick just as he released the ball.
 
Mercyhurst (0-2, 0-1) never could recover from the early hole that it dug itself.
 
The Lakers finally got on the board late in the second quarter when Michael Foster returned a fumble 43 yards for a touchdown. But, it was the only score the visitors could muster until the middle of the fourth quarter.
 
West Chester junior tight end, Tim Brown (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) caught a pair of touchdown passes in-between Mercyhurst's scores and the Golden Rams never looked back. Brown finished with five catches for 77 yards and the two TDs.
 
Adam Dempsey (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) tied his career high with six catches in the contest, and junior RB Brandon Monk (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) led the team in rushing with 61 yards.
 
But, it was the defense that stole the show Saturday. West Chester broke up nine passes, forced a pair of fumbles and recorded five QB hurries. Junior DE Andrew Cohen (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South) finished with a team-high seven tackles, including one sack. Williams posted six stops, and forced a fumble, and Mike Labor (Havertown, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) added five tackles, a pass breakup and a QB hurry.
 
West Chester racked up 418 yards of total offense, and McCartney looked like he was in sync with his wide receivers. He distributed his 23 completions to seven different targets. Mercyhurst rang up 255 yards of total offense. Lakers' star running back, Brandon Brown-Dukes managed just 39 yards rushing on 15 carries in the game.
 
The Golden Rams travel to Seton Hill next Saturday for a 6 p.m. kickoff against the Griffins.