WEST CHESTER, PA – Junior QB
Cooper Jordan (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) rushed for over 100 yards and three touchdowns while also throwing for a score as host West Chester picked up its first win of the
Duke Greco era with a 28-10 victory over visiting Shippensburg Saturday.
West Chester (1-4, 1-1 PSAC East) ended a four-game losing streak to open the season and handed first-year head coach
Duke Greco his first win as a Golden Ram. Shippensburg (1-4, 0-2) dropped its third straight contest on the year.
Jordan finished the day with 119 yards rushing on 12 carries and the three TDs. His 84-yard TD scamper at the beginning of the second quarter opened up the scoring. Five minutes later, he connected with
Rahiem Bowens (Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood) on a 33-yard bomb to put the home team up 14-0.
Shippensburg rallied from there, kicking a 24-yard field goal with 53 seconds left in the first half and then going on a 4-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half that culminated in a 37-yard touchdown run from Josiah Leonard to pull the visitors within one score, 14-10.
The Raiders forced the Golden Rams into a three-and-out on their next series. Fortunately, for West Chester, linebacker
Connor Noble (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) (17 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) intercepted a pass at Shippensburg's 39-yard line on the Raiders' next possession, and the momentum pendulum swung back in West Chester's favor.
The Golden Rams' ensuing drive resulted in a 5-yard TD run by Jordan with 5:16 to play in the third quarter that gave WCU a 21-10 advantage. Jordan tacked on a 9-yard touchdown run with 3:42 left in the third to extend that lead to 28-10.
Dayshawn Jacobs (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) rushed for 61 yards on his return to the lineup. He had been out the last three games due to injury. Bowens finished with 73 yards on five catches and the one score.
Leonard finished with 119 yards rushing for Shippensburg and the one score. But, West Chester's defense limited Ship's freshman QB Vincent Micucci to 9-for-29 for 145 yards and one interception in his first college start. The Golden Rams sacked him six times and recorded eight QB pressures in the process.
Nate Desmond (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley) registered five tackles, but led the team with three QB hurries on the day.
Johnny Pergine (Norristown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) recorded a season-best 11 tackles in support of Noble's day.
Luke Trunell (Yardley, Pa./Conwell-Egan) posted seven tackles and was credited with a pair of QB hurries as well. Grad student,
Shane Mosley (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) was in on a pair of pass breakups while making six tackles.
West Chester returns home next Saturday at 12 p.m. to take on Shepherd University at John A. Farrell Stadium.
