No. 13/19 West Chester Survives Scare At Bloomsburg, 17-14

BLOOMSBUG, Pa. – Elijah Hall (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) hauled in his first career touchdown catch for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, and Tyler Morrissey (Springfield, Pa./Springfield-DELC) blocked a field goal late in the fourth quarter, as No. 13/19 West Chester completed a second-half comeback for a 17-14 victory on the road over Bloomsburg at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
West Chester (6-0, 3-0 PSAC East) remains perfect on the season heading into its bye week while Bloomsburg (2-4, 1-2) dropped its second straight conference contest.
 
Hall snared a 26-yard TD pass from quarterback A.J. Long (Bethlehem, Pa./Friendship Christian [Tenn.]) with about 10 minutes left in the game to put the Golden Rams on top for the first time since early in the first quarter. Morrissey got a piece of Bloomsburg field goal kicker Jaco Sattamini's 37-yard attempt with 5:36 left in the game to preserve the visitor's slim 3-point lead and keep the Rams undefeated on the season and tied for first place in the East.
 
West Chester had fallen behind, 14-3, at the half. However, the visitors fought back in the final 30 minutes to pull out the win.
 
Sr., RB Mark Dukes (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) scored on an 11-yard carry in the third quarter that closed the gap to 14-10. West Chester received the second half kickoff and marched 75 yards on eight plays, capped by Dukes' TD run in what was perhaps the most important drive of the season to date. The key play in that drive was a 22-yard run by Long on 3rd-and-5 down to the Bloomsburg 11-yard line. Dukes scored on the next play.
 
The Rams' defense responded by forcing a pair of 3-and-out's for the Huskies and an interception in the third quarter. Hall's 26-yard TD reception capped off a 9-play, 62-yard drive to open the fourth quarter and put the Golden Rams back in front for good. Morrissey's blocked field goal was the icing on the comeback win.
 
West Chester's defense, ranked ninth nationally and first within the PSAC, limited Bloomsburg to just nine first downs and 165 yards of total offense. However, the Huskies hung around with inspired defense of its own, highlighted by an 18-yard interception return for a touchdown with 45 seconds left in the first half that opened up that 14-3 advantage – the largest deficit WCU had faced all season.
 
The Golden Rams, who had only trailed for 10 minutes, 36 seconds all season entering Saturday, scored first on a 30-yard field goal from Andrew Chegia (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville). But, Bloomsburg QB Erik Benjamin threw an 11-yard TD strike to Michael Allen in the second, and the Huskies took the lead on Dexter Jordan's pick-six. The hosts held their lead on the scoreboard for 32:28 in the game.
 
Long finished 16-for-23 for 184 yards and a TD against a pair of interceptions. He also rushed for 40 yards on 23 carries. He was sacked five times. Dukes led all rushers with 76 yards on 17 carries and his one score. Lex Rosario (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) caught eight passes for 91 yards, one week after a career day against Shippensburg (13 catches, 192 yards).
 
Nate Barnes (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) and Shaquille James (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic) each posted six tackles on defense. Barnes added a sack and two QB hurries.
 
West Chester is off next weekend, before they travel to East Stroudsburg on Oct. 20 for a 4:05 p.m. start at Eiler-Martin Stadium.