WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Desman Johnson (Yeadon, Pa./Penn Wood) and
Ja'Den McKenzie (Morton, Pa./Springfield Delco) combined for three rushing touchdowns to help lead the Gold team to a 27-10 victory in the Spring game, which halted a four-game losing streak for the Gold side dating back to the 2015 season.
27 points was the Gold's best offensive output since that 2015 victory when they outscored the Purple team 34-3 in that season, which halted a two-game losing streak for Gold in that season.
Gold took an early lead, jumping out to a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter, which they would never fully relinquish rolling to a 17-point (27-10) victory on Friday evening inside Farrell Stadium.
Mckenzie opened the scoring in the late stages of the first quarter, punching it in from the six-yard line to give Gold the early lead. This lead doubled moments later when Johnson scored on a 15-yard rush around the left end to cap a very efficient drive and give give Gold a commanding 14-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Purple answered back, punching it in from one-yard out as
Maurice Macuzza (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) found the endzone before the two sides traded field goals to conclude the first half scoring with Gold holding a 17-10 advantage.
In the third, Gold stretched its lead to 20-10 via a 34-yard field goal, to conclude a five-play, 52-yard drive. In the fourth, Gold scored the final points of the evening when Johnson scored his final rushing touchdown of the evening from one-yard out to give Gold a 27-10 lead and its largest scoring output in a spring game since the 2015 season.
Gold outgained Purple 311-249 thanks in large part to 188 yards passing behind a 5-of-12, 76-yard effort from Johnson. Johnson's best pass of the evening was a deep throw down the home sideline, which found the waiting arms of
Mari Wright (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township) for a 52-yard gain.
Defensively,
Zach Liggit (Danielsville, Pa./Northampton) led the way for Gold with six tackles and a forced fumble while
Nico Myers (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic) led the team in solo tackles with four (five total tackles) on the evening.
For Purple, the tandem of
Oscar Uduma (Folcroft, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) and
Zach DeMarchis (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) tied for the team lead in tackles with seven each while DeMarchis led the team in tackles for loss with two for a total loss of 13 yards on the evening.
West Chester will open its 2022 season on September 2
nd vs Bentley beginning at 7 p.m.
