Box Score

WEST CHESTER - No. 17-ranked West Chester scored all 24 points after halftime, including two touchdowns within a span of 27 seconds early in the third quarter, to survive East Stroudsburg University's upset bid for a 34-20 win in PSAC East football on Saturday afternoon at Farrell Stadium.

ESU led 20-10 at halftime, on a 28-yard TD pass from R-So. QB Matt Soltes to R-Sr. WR Robert Bleiler in the first quarter, an 11-yard TD pass from R-Sr. QB Nate Daniels to R-Fr. TB Robert Healy in the second quarter, and a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown by Sr. OLB Darius Jackson.

West Chester (6-0, 3-0) responded with a six-play, 76-yard scoring drive coming out of halftime with Sean McCartney throwing a seven-yard TD pass to Shannon Mayer.

McCartney hooked up with Jim Hurley for a 25-yard touchdown after an interception by Mike Labor to put West Chester ahead 24-20 with 11:47 left in the third quarter. The Golden Rams added a 23-yard field goal by Shawn Leo later in the third and a four-yard TD pass from McCartney to Shawn Driggins midway through the fourth quarter.

Soltes hit his first five passes and was 5-for-7 for 90 yards and the TD to Bleiler before leaving due to injury early in the second quarter after a six-yard run. Daniels entered and was 3-for-4 for 39 yards on ESU's go-ahead TD drive, throwing an 11-yard TD pass to Healy to make it 14-10 with 9:55 left in the second quarter.

Jackson stretched it to 20-10 just over a minute later, becoming the first ESU defensive player in 40 years under head coach Denny Douds to score three career touchdowns. He also had a 19-yard fumble return at Seton Hill on Sept. 14 and a 54-yard interception return in a win over Cheyney last year.

Daniels was 10-for-26 for 130 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, the second which hit off the hands of a Warrior receiver and was picked off by West Chester All-America linebacker Ronell Williams.

Golden Rams tailback Rondell White didn't hit paydirt but accounted for 238 yards for scrimmage, running 32 times for 179 yards and catching five passes for 59 yards.

McCartney was 25-for-39 for 275 yards, three TD and the interception by Jackson. Mayer had seven catches for 78 yards and a TD, and Adam Dempsey added six catches for 65 yards.

ESU R-Sr. WR Robert Bleiler had five catches for 85 yards and his first-quarter touchdown. He entered the game with 24 catches for 399 yards and four TD in the previous three weeks, and was third in the PSAC with 102.8 receiving yards per game. He moves into 15th at ESU with 120 career receptions and 11th with 2,014 yards.

Jr. LB Cody Simcox led ESU's defense with 14 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of yardage. R-Jr. S Anthony Singlar had 12 tackles (1.5 TFL) and Jackson and Fr. FS Dean Vitale added nine each.


GAME NOTES
* ESU's defense played very well, particularly in the first half, holding West Chester to 147 yards (10-18 for 106 yards passing, 17 carries for 41 yards).
* The Warriors held West Chester out of the end zone on three of its six trips to the red zone. They forced two field goals by Leo, along with a missed field goal.

* ESU led the PSAC and was 7th in DII in time of possession (34:30) entering the game, but was out-possessed by a 34:40 to 25:20 margin. In last year's 35-28 win, the Warriors held it for 42:37.

* ESU led the PSAC and was tied for 2nd in DII in turnover margin (+2.0) coming into the week. The Warriors had 2 turnovers (both interceptions early in the 3rd quarter) and 1 takeaway (Jackson's 44-yard interception return for a TD).

* Soltes extended his school-record streak of consecutive passes without an interception to 180. In last week's 48-28 win over Clarion, he set a school record for completion percentage (85.3, 29-34, 444 yards, 4 TD) and broke Jimmy Terwilliger's record of 170 consecutive passes without an interception.

* Healy ran for 38 yards on 13 carries. He was 2nd among DII freshmen with 111.8 yards per game through the first 5 weeks.
* Healy has 597 rushing yards this year, 3rd-most on ESU's freshman list behind Stewart Ford (1,169 - 1997) and Henry Mowery (624 - 1961). He passed Elroy Denegal (580 - 1987).

* ESU and West Chester were 2-2 in the last 4 meetings entering Saturday. The Warriors won 21-20 at West Chester in 2009 and 35-28 at home last year, and West Chester won 37-26 at home in 2011 and 35-31 at ESU in 2010.
* ESU's previous win in the series came in 2003 (28-27) on a two-point conversion pass from Jimmy Terwilliger to Evan Prall.

* ESU head coach Denny Douds, in his 40th season, remains one win from tying Mel Tjeerdsma (NW Missouri State) for 3rd on the all-time DII wins list. Douds is 241-169-3 in 413 games - the most in DII history, 2nd-most among active coaches and 12th in college football history.