West Chester Renews Old Rivalry With East Stroudsburg Saturday Afternoon at Farrell

Game Day Information
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WEST CHESTER, PA - West Chester University welcomes East Stroudsburg University to John A. Farrell Stadium for the 87th meeting in a rivalry that is as old as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference itself. The Golden Rams (4-2) come into Saturday winners of three of their last four and two in a row while the Warriors enter with a 5-1 mark overall. Both are 2-1 in conference play and tied for second place in the Eastern Division standings. West Chester holds a 64-22 advantage over East Stroudsburg, including a 32-11 mark in the Delaware Valley. The Golden Rams also bring a nine-game winning streak against the Warriors into the contest.

Every game is a must-win game for West Chester. So, it is difficult to keep saying that the game in front of the Golden Rams is crucial. They are all crucial. West Chester is still very much alive in the race for the PSAC Eastern Division title. But, one more loss will derail those hopes. Instead, head coach Bill Zwaan looks for improvement week-to-week to keep the motivation of a postseason bid alive. Take care of the details and the big picture will come into focus.

Last week, penalties were down and turnovers were down. That recipe added up to a 38-28 road win over Shippensburg. So. Maurice Beverly led an inspired defensive effort as well. The picture is starting to come into focus if last week is any measure. However, West Chester still has room to improve, and they have to show that level of play on a more consistent basis. But, last week's performance was a ray of light in what has otherwise been an incongruous start to the football season.  

FLOCK TALK
West Chester University sophomore Maurice Beverly was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week it was announced by that organization Monday afternoon.

Beverly led West Chester's defense in tackles with nine in a 38-28 win over Shippensburg Saturday. He also forced a pair of fumbles, and picked up one of those and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Instead of Shippensburg going in for a score from the 1-yard line, Beverly's fumble return put seven points on the board for the Golden Rams - a 14-point swing in the second half that powered West Chester to the win. The 99-yard fumble recovery return for a TD set a new school record for longest return of any kind while tying for the second-longest fumble return in PSAC history. It was the longest fumble return in the PSAC since 2002. Beverly finished with eight solo tackles and one assisted stop in the win.

A NOBLE EFFORT AT MLB
West Chester junior transfer middle linebacker, Connor Noble, leads the league in tackles with 69 through the first six games of the season. While the defense ranks 15th in total defense and run defense in the PSAC, and 13th in scoring defense, Noble has been making all the plays he has been asked to make since joining the Golden Rams. His 69 total tackles leads the conference while his 30 unassisted stops ranks fourth and his four sacks ranks tied for sixth in the PSAC. His partner in crime at the other inside linebacker position, Khalib Slaughter, ranks sixth in the PSAC in tackles with 47. He has 27 solo stops, which ranks eighth overall and his seven tackles for a loss is one behind Noble and ranks 15th in the conference. Noble's eight TFL's ranks 11th. Those two have been the glue for the defense, which received a much-needed boost last week with the return of Shane Mosley at safety. His five passes defensed ranks second in the conference, despite missing two weeks to injury. Sterlen Barr, Jr., who has moved closer to the line of scrimmage at the Will Linebacker spot, ranks third in the PSAC in interceptions with three.

GETTING OFFENSIVE
Offensively, West Chester ranks fourth in the conference in total yards per game. Rahiem Bowens ranks seventh in receiving yards (401) and tied for eighth in touchdowns (3). Quarterback Cooper Jordan ranks eighth in rushing yards as well. His 338 yards rushing leads all QBs in the PSAC.

ON THE HORIZON
West Chester hits the road for two weeks beginning with a trip to the preseason favorite Shepherd University one week from today. The Golden Rams will then visit Lock Haven University the next week before returning home for the final two weeks of the season.