EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Sr., RB
Mark Dukes (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) rushed for a career-high 137 yards, and R-Fr., RB
Trael Seegars (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) rushed for a career-best 101 and two touchdowns, to lead No. 12 West Chester to a 53-24 victory over host East Stroudsburg Saturday afternoon inside Eiler-Martin Stadium.
West Chester (7-0, 4-0 PSAC East) travels to No. 15 Kutztown next Saturday for a PSAC East showdown with the Golden Bears in a game that will most likely determine the Eastern Division champion and participant in the State Game the last week of the regular season.
The Golden Rams jumped out on the Warriors quickly, scoring the first 34 points of the game, before the hosts kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. Four different running backs registered a rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Meanwhile, left-handed R-Fr., QB
Zach Gilbert (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) threw his first college touchdown pass – an 18-yarder to
Ethan Price (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) in the first quarter to open the scoring.
Sr., RB
Mike Class (Souderton, Pa./Pennridge) scored on a 14-yard run to open the second-quarter TD barrage. Dukes then scored on a 3-yard scamper, Seegars from two yards out and
Marcus Wilson (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) from three yards for his first career TD.
R-So., TE
Cody Boozel (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) caught a 20-yard TD pass from R-Fr., QB
Mike Piperno (Washington Twp., N.J./Washington) on West Chester's first possession of the second half that made it a 40-3 ballgame. Piperno finished 8-for-13 for 137 yards, one score and one interception in his first college start. Gilbert went 1-for-2 and the 18-yard TD strike while throwing one interception.
Class and Seegars both added on TD runs in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, intertwined with three East Stroudsburg touchdowns, to account for the rest of the scoring.
West Chester sacked ESU's quarterback seven times Saturday, marking the third time this year that the Golden Rams' defense has registered at least seven sacks in a game. The defense also forced and recovered three fumbles on the day and intercepted one pass.
East Stroudsburg rushed for 97 yards as a team on Saturday, marking the highest rushing total allowed by the Golden Rams' top-ranked run defense all season. West Chester rushed for a season-best 357 yards and six touchdowns.
Nate Barnes (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) led West Chester with eight tackles. He added a sack and a pass breakup to those totals.
Ch'aim Smith (York, Pa./York Suburban) registered two sacks on the day. He is now tied with
Tyler Morrissey for the team lead with 7.5. Speaking of Morrissey, he posted five tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and forced a pair of fumbles.
