EAST STROUDSBURG, PA – West Chester junior quarterback,
Cooper Jordan (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) did what he could to keep the Golden Rams in the game, but in the end, host East Stroudsburg racked up 478 yards of total offense to take a 45-31 victory Saturday night.
West Chester (2-5, 2-2) matched East Stroudsburg (6-1, 3-1) touchdown-for-touchdown and pulled even with the Warriors at 31-all by the end of the third quarter. However, ESU came up with some more big plays in the final 15 minutes to pull away.
Jordan threw for 204 yards and two TDs, rushed for 82 yards and even caught a pass for 22 on a 4th-and-1 Philly Special. He just didn't get much help from his defense. East Stroudsburg scored three rushing touchdowns of more than 30 yards. The Golden Rams' defense allowed eight plays of more than 20 yards in the game.
The visitors looked like they might steal the momentum from the hosts late in the second quarter when West Chester drove 75 yards on 13 plays and scored a TD with 30 seconds left in the half. Unfortunately, ESU responded by going 68 yards on four plays in just 20 seconds to restore its 11-point lead at the break, 28-17. Three of those eight plays that were 20 yards, or longer, came on that one possession.
West Chester outscored ESU by a 14-3 margin in the third quarter to pull even and breathe life into the purple & gold.
Troy Corson (Wernersville, Pa./Wilson) scored on a two-yard jet sweep, and
Dayshawn Jacobs (West Chester, Pa./Rustin) caught an 11-yard TD pass that leveled the score. But, ESU had an answer again with a pair of TD runs from Tyriq Lewis and Tahir Mills in the fourth.
Jordan was 15-for-22 with an interception to go along with his 204 passing yards and two TD tosses. His 82 rushing yards led the team as well.
Rahiem Bowens (Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood) caught four passes for 110 yards, including an 83-yard TD catch.
Defensively,
Abdul Stewart (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) intercepted a pass two yards deep in the end zone and returned it out to West Chester's 42-yard line.
Shane Mosley (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) led the team with nine tackles.
Connor Noble (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) made eight tackles.
West Chester returns home next Saturday for its Homecoming contest against Millersville at John A. Farrell Stadium. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
