LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – A pair of West Chester Golden Rams were each recognized for their effort in last Thursday's season-opening 44-6 victory on the road at Bentley when the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced its first weekly awards for the football season Monday morning.
Sophomore linebacker, Nate Barnes (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) was tabbed the PSAC Eastern Division defensive athlete of the week while sophomore place-kicker Andrew Chegia (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) was named the PSAC East special teams athlete of the week.
Barnes was spectacular all night long as the second-year player made his debut at linebacker, after spending his first college season in the defensive backfield. Barnes registered seven tackles, including half of those (3.5) resulting in a sack of the quarterback for a grand total of -22 yards. He recovered a fumble in the first quarter at the Bentley 17-yard line that led directly to West Chester's first touchdown of the night while also being credited with a pass breakup in the game. Barnes was part of a defense that registered as many sacks (7) in the game as Bentley garnered first downs (7). The Falcons mustered just 63 yards of total offense all night, and their six points came on a pair of field goals – the first of which was a career-long 46-yarder by Bentley's kicker, and the second ended a drive that started on West Chester's 10-yard line.
Chegia registered seven points in the 44-6 win. He went 4-for-5 on extra points and kicked a 28-yard field goal for the Golden Rams. The sophomore kicker handled all of the kicking duties until late in the fourth quarter. His 28-yard field goal was the lone score of the third quarter last Thursday.
This is the first weekly award bestowed upon either player in their two seasons at West Chester.
The Golden Rams open their home slate on Saturday, Sept. 8 with a non-league tilt against PSAC West opponent, Gannon University, at 12 p.m. It is Hall of Fame Weekend. The football crowd will be introduced to the seven inductees into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame while also meeting the 2008 women's lacrosse squad that won the national championship that year.
