LOCK HAVEN, PA – Ja'Den McKenzie (Morton, Pa./Springfield) rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown, and visiting West Chester overcame five turnovers, to come away from Hubert Jack Stadium with a 35-13 win against Lock Haven Saturday evening.
West Chester (6-3, 4-2 PSAC East) kept its slim playoff hopes alive with the inconsistent win over Lock Haven (1-8, 0-6). A late 39-yard TD run in the fourth quarter by backup quarterback
Yahmir Wilkerson (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) gave the Golden Rams some breathing room.
Dan Neuhaus (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) caught two TD passes from starting QB
Shane Dooley (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge), and former Lock Haven All-American,
Jalen Jackson (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport), caught a TD strike in his homecoming.
McKenzie ran into the end zone from 45 yards out for the Golden Rams' only other score.
However, West Chester turned the ball over five times, fumbling three times and throwing two interceptions, and yielded four sacks in the win.
West Chester rushed for 333 yards as a team, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. Dooley completed 11 of 17 passes for 189 yards and three TDs as the Golden Rams amassed 522 yards of total offense in the contest. Neuhaus caught six of those 11 completions for 127 yards and the two touchdowns.
Jackson Taylor (Glenside, Pa./Abington) registered 12 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss and one sack. He also intercepted a pass and returned it eight yards.
West Chester returns home for the first time in two weeks when the Golden Rams welcome Kutztown, which clinched the PSAC Eastern Division title Saturday and earned a spot in the conference championship game, to John A. Farrell Stadium for a 12 p.m. kickoff Saturday.
