Late Charge By West Chester Upends Football, 34-26
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Oct. 10, 2009) – Senior quarterback Joe Wright (Wilmington, Del.) passed for four touchdowns and rushed in another as West Chester University scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to defeat C.W. Post , 34-26, Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football on Hickox Field.
The win improves West Chester to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the East division while C.W. Post drops to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in division play.
Wright completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 252 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown completion to junior wide receiver Dan DePalma (Verona, N.J.) in the fourth quarter.
DePalma in turn caught five passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead TD with 9:03 to play in the fourth quarter to put the Golden Rams ahead, 27-26.
C.W. Post scored first in the game with 9:03 to play in the first quarter when junior quarterback Eric Anderwkavich (Queens, N.Y.) found paydirt with a 15-yard rush into the endzone. The Pioneers added another TD in the second quarter via a nine-yard pass from Anderwkavich to junior wide receiver Darnal Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.). The home team was unsuccessful on both PAT attempts and held a 12-0 lead.
West Chester put its first score on the board with 8:06 to play in the second when Wright completed a 31-yard pass to DePalma. Wright found an open Steve Miller (Fairless Hills, Pa.) at the CWP 7-yard line and after a successful PAT from sophomore kicker Chris Hill (Elkton, Md.), the Golden Rams took a 14-12 lead heading into the half.
C.W. Post found its bearings in the third quarter and went ahead 20-14 with 4:23 on the clock after freshman running back Thomas Beverly (Wyandanch, N.Y.) caught a 15-yard pass from Anderwkavich on a drive that started from its own 40-yard line. Anderwkavich found Williams in the endzone for a successful 2-point conversion and C.W. Post was back on top with a 20-14 lead.
West Chester gained a good starting off point on the return kick when senior defensive back Kevin Garland (Hatboro, Pa.) picked the ball up at the WCU 30 and returned it 17 yards to the 47. The Golden Rams marched downfield and scored on their ninth play in the series when Wright broke through to the endzone from the Pioneers' 2-yard line with 13 seconds to play in the third.
In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers forced the Golden Rams to punt from their own 5-yard line after going 3-and-out during their first series of the quarter. C.W. Post got the ball back on WCU's 22 and scored on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Anderwkavich to Williams with 10:47 left to play in the game.
The lead did not last as West Chester scored during the next series when Wright threw a 52-yard strike to DePalma at 9:03.
The Golden Rams scored their fifth touchdown when Miller caught his second TD reception of the game for 17 yards that helped seal the win with three minutes remaining in regulation.
West Chester regained possession following the kickoff when sophomore defensive back Norman Smith (Jersey City, N.J.) fumbled the ball at the CWP 21 and junior linebacker Morty Hoey (Collindale, Pa.) pounced on the ball at the CWP 21. The Golden Lions got down to the 2-yard line before Wright downed the ball to end the game.
Senior running back Lee Hopkins (New Egypt, N.J.) led the Golden Rams in rushing with 49 yards.
On defense, senior linebackers Mike Dell (Hummelsetown, Pa.) and Sam Scott (Bear, Del.) each registered 10 tackles and combined to make 1.5 sacks for a loss of 11 yards.
Anderwkavich finished the game with 13 completions on 21 pass attempts for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Williams finished the game with five catches for 65 yards. Beverly added 71 yards on the ground for the Pioneers.
Defensively, senior linebacker Peter Manns (Dorchester, Mass.) made 10 tackles while teammate Marquise Herron (Roosevelt, N.Y.) had nine tackles, including one for loss of three yards.
C.W. Post is back on the road next week to take on Millersville University on Saturday at 1 p.m.