No. 18/22 West Chester Follows A.J. Long To Victory, 59-14

GREENSBURG, Pa. – GREENSBURG, Pa. – R-Jr. A.J. Long (Bethlehem, Pa./Friendship Christian [Tenn.]) threw for 275 yard and three touchdowns while also running for 118 yards and two more scores to lead No. 18/22 West Chester to a 59-14 victory over host Seton Hill at Offutt Field Saturday afternoon.
 
West Chester (3-0) put up five touchdowns in the first half to jump out to a 35-0 lead, before Seton Hill (0-3) could get on the scoreboard, and never looked back. Long and Sr., RB Mark Dukes (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) added a pair of 6-yard TD runs in the final two minutes of the half to have things well in control by halftime, 49-7.
 
The Golden Rams' top-ranked defense in the PSAC held the Griffins' talented RB Cinque Sweeting to just 32 yards rushing. Sweeting, ranked fourth in the league in rushing entering the contest averaging 105 yards per game, was shut down all day.
 
Jaishon Thornton (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) returned an interception 36 yards for a TD during an explosive second quarter that saw the visitors put up 35 points. Thornton finished the day with six tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
 
Long finished the game 13-for-21 for 275 yards and three TDs through the air. He also led West Chester in rushing with 118 yards on eight carries and a pair of scores. He scampered 40 yards on the Rams' opening drive of the second half to put the visitors in front 56-7.
 
George Lambritsios (Broomall, Pa./Marple-Newtown) kicked a career-long 42-yard field goal in the third quarter to close out West Chester's scoring on the day.
 
Rasheem James (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin) caught five passes for 78 yards, including a 21-yard scoring strike from Long.
 
West Chester returns home next Saturday as the Golden Rams open Eastern Division play against Millersville at John A. Farrell Stadium at 12 p.m.

 
West Chester (3-0) put up five touchdowns in the first half to jump out to a 35-0 lead, before Seton Hill (0-3) could get on the scoreboard, and never looked back. Long and Sr., RB Mark Dukes (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) added a pair of 6-yard TD runs in the final two minutes of the half to have things well in control by halftime, 49-7.
 
The Golden Rams' top-ranked defense in the PSAC held the Griffins' talented RB Cinque Sweeting to just 32 yards rushing. Sweeting, ranked fourth in the league in rushing entering the contest averaging 105 yards per game, was shut down all day.
 
Jaishon Thornton (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) returned an interception 36 yards for a TD during an explosive second quarter that saw the visitors put up 35 points. Thornton finished the day with six tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
 
Long finished the game 13-for-21 for 275 yards and three TDs through the air. He also led West Chester in rushing with 118 yards on eight carries and a pair of scores. He scampered 40 yards on the Rams' opening drive of the second half to put the visitors in front 56-7.
 
George Lambritsios (Broomall, Pa./Marple-Newtown) kicked a career-long 42-yard field goal in the third quarter to close out West Chester's scoring on the day.
 
Rasheem James (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin) caught five passes for 78 yards, including a 21-yard scoring strike from Long.
 
West Chester returns home next Saturday as the Golden Rams open Eastern Division play against Millersville at John A. Farrell Stadium at 12 p.m.