ERIE, PA – Shane Dooley (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) came off the bench to throw for three touchdowns and run for another as visiting West Chester bounced back from a lackluster opener a week ago to slam host Mercyhurst, 56-10, at Saxon Stadium on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Dooley, who missed the season opener last Saturday, threw TD passes of 67, 35 and 54 yards while also scampering five yards for a score in the win. As a team, West Chester rushed for 242 yards and five touchdowns. Dooley finished 7-for-10 for 208 yards and the three TDs.
Michael Gobora (Newtown, Pa./Pennsbury) led the defensive charge with eight tackles, including 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Cole Zapf (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) was also credited with eight tackles and two sacks. West Chester tied a single-game record for sacks, dropping the Mercyhurst quarterback 10 times.
West Chester opened things up with a 28-point second quarter.
Phil Poquie (Philadelphia, Pa./Haverford School) scored on a 3-yard run early in the second to tie the game at 7-all.
Rasheem James (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin) hauled in a 67-yard strike from Dooley six minutes later to give the Golden Rams the lead for good. West Chester then scored a pair of TDs one minute apart when Dooley ran in from five yards out, and
Dan Neuhaus (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) caught a 35-yard pass from Dooley with 56 seconds to play before half.
The host Lakers kicked a field goal as time expired in the first half leaving the score at 28-10 entering the locker rooms.
Seth Degree (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic) connected with Dooley on a 54-yard touchdown for the only score of the third quarter.
Ja'Den McKenzie (Morton, Pa./Springfield) ran in from one yard out with six minutes to go, making it a 42-10 ballgame.
Maurice Mazzccua (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) then scored a pair of touchdowns late to close out the scoring.
McKenzie led all rushers with 63 yards on 13 attempts and one TD. Poquie posted 59 yards and a score while Mazzccua toted five times for 58 and the two scores. James caught a pair of passes for 99 yards and one TD.
Sean Henry (Reading, Pa./Exeter) made all eight of his extra point attempts and put five of his eight kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks.
West Chester takes on Edinboro next weekend in its home opener at John A. Farrell Stadium. Game time is set for 12 p.m. It is Family Day on campus.
