BLOOMSBURG, PA - Host Bloomsburg drove the length of the field in the final minute of play to snatch a 23-21 victory from visiting West Chester Saturday afternoon at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium.
West Chester (0-4, 0-1 PSAC) had taken its first lead of the contest on a 43-yard touchdown run by
Cooper Jordan (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) with 1:10 to play. However, Bloomsburg (3-1, 1-0) answered with a 78-yard drive that culminated in a 24-yard TD pass from K.J. Riley to Jerry Griffin-Batchler with 27 seconds to play.
The Golden Rams fought back by scoring all 21 points in the fourth quarter of the conference opener for both schools. Jordan also scored on a 1-yard run with 4:09 to play that drew West Chester within a field goal at 17-14. Riley had kicked a 25-yard field goal prior to Jordan's two TD runs, and the hosts led 17-7. The Purple & Gold opened the quarter with an 18-yard TD pass from Jordan to
D'Shaun Seals (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter).
Jordan finished the day 29-for-39 for 287 yards, all career highs, and one TD. He rushed the ball 15 times for 81 yards and a pair of scores.
Seals caught a career-best 10 passes for 70 yards and a score.
Connor Noble (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) led West Chester with seven tackles.
At halftime, former Bloomsburg and West Chester head coach, and West Chester University alum, Danny Hale, was recognized by the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame for his upcoming induction this December in Las Vegas, Nev. Phil Marwell, from the NFF, was on hand with Hale, his wife, Bloomsburg University president and Bloomsburg athletics director to receive his plaque.
West Chester returns home next Saturday to host Shepherd University at John A. Farrell Stadium at 12 p.m.
