MILLERSVILLE, PA – West Chester scored 24 points in the second half while the defense shut out host Millersville in the final 30 minutes en route to a 38-7 victory at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium Saturday afternoon.
West Chester (3-1, 1-0 PSAC) got a pair of touchdown receptions from tight end
Thatcher Miller (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) in the third quarter to open up what was a 14-7 game at the break. Both of Miller's TD grabs came in the final six minutes of the third to push the visitor's advantage to 28-7.
Place-kicker,
Rylan Zuk (Telford, Pa./Souderton), kicked a 47-yard field goal, and
Future Robertson (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) ran in from five yards out, in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
Robby Longo (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) hauled in a 46-yard TD strike from quarterback
Cooper Jordan (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) near the end of the first quarter to open the scoring and give the visitor's a lead it would not relinquish. When
Khalil Owens scored from one yard out late in the second quarter, it looked like West Chester was going to put the pesky Marauders away.
However, the home team responded with a five-play, 38-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard run by Mekhi Ashby with 43 seconds left in the half. But that was as close as the Marauders would get as the Golden Rams, and its stout defense, kept the home team off the scoreboard in the second half.
Jordan finished the day 15-for-30 for 285 yards and three touchdown passes. Owens finished with 87 yards on the ground and the one score. Jordan was held in check running the ball. He mustered just 13 yards rushing on nine carries.
His two favorite targets in the passing game,
Matthew Iuvara (Haddon Heights, N.J./Haddon Heights) and Longo finished with 85 yards receiving and 81 yards receiving, respectively.
Connor Noble (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) led West Chester in tackles with nine.
Seamus McCain (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter) made six tackles, including two that were sacks. West Chester's defense picked off Millersville's two quarterbacks four times on the afternoon.
Jamir Reyes (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) had two picks himself.
Shamilyn Joppy (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and
Ronnell McCorn (Brunswick, Md./Our Lady of Good Council) recorded the other two INTs.
West Chester limited Millersville to just 217 yards of total offense to go along with the four turnovers. The Marauders averaged just 3.7 yards per play on its 58 total plays in the game.
West Chester returns home next Saturday afternoon for its Homecoming contest against East Stroudsburg at Tomlinson-Fillippo Field at Farrell Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
