Box Score

WEST CHESTER - East Stroudsburg University cut a 31-7 halftime deficit to 34-27 midway through the fourth quarter, but West Chester held on for a 41-27 win and claimed the PSAC East regular season title on Saturday afternoon at Farrell Stadium.

ESU (5-5, 4-3) entered the day as one of five schools with a chance to claim a share of the PSAC East championship. Kutztown knocked off division co-leader Shippensburg, 51-27, to give West Chester (7-3, 6-1) sole possession of the regular season crown. WCU will host Slippery Rock in the State Game next week.

A week after tying school records for their largest comeback (18) and largest halftime comeback (14) in a 35-34 win vs. Bloomsburg, ESU trailed 24-0 until getting on the board with 1:09 left in the second quarter on an 18-yard TD pass from redshirt senior quarterback Matt Soltes to redshirt junior tailback Robert Healy.

West Chester made it 31-7 at the break on a 20-yard TD pass from Pat Moriarty to Eddie Elliott on the final play of the half.

ESU scored three times in the second half, hitting a big pass play from redshirt senior wide receiver Jon Schnaars to senior wide receiver Joe Welk for a 66-yard TD to close the margin to 34-20 with 5:32 left in the third quarter.

The Warriors made it 34-27 when Soltes found Schnaars for a nine-yard TD with 6:44 left, but West Chester ran four minutes off the clock and pushed its lead to 41-27 on a 34-yard TD run by Brandon Monk (24 carries, 170 yards) with 2:27 remaining. ESU fumbled on its next offensive snap to effectively end the contest.

Soltes was 25-for-40 for 226 yards, three TD's and two interceptions and ran for 41 yards for 267 yards total offense for the Warriors.

Schnaars had 10 catches for 87 yards and a TD, Welk had two catches for 71 yards and a TD and senior wide receiver Gerard Wendowski had five catches for 58 yards. Junior fullback Sean Roth had a three-yard TD catch.

Healy had 174 yards from scrimmage, with 116 yards on 11 carries and 58 yards on four catches, including a TD.

Moriarty was 19-for-30 for 187 yards and three TD passes for West Chester. Elliott had six catches for 46 yards and a TD, Tyler Karpinski had five catches for 48 yards and a TD and Jim Hurley had three catches for 61 yards.

ESU outgained West Chester, 451-397, but lost the turnover battle 5-1 as the Golden Rams turned their two interceptions and three fumble recoveries into 24 points.

Soltes moved into second in PSAC history in career passing yards (12,109) and third in passing TD (121). He already ranks second in PSAC history in career total offense (13,577 yards). He ranks 10th in DII history in career total offense, tied for 11th in passing yards and tied for sixth in TD passes entering the final game of his career next week vs. Gannon.

Schnaars set ESU's single-season record for receptions (98), surpassing Evan Prall (88 - 2005). DII's top receiver entering the week, he has 1,388 yards and 18 TD going into the 11th week of the season. He is currently tied for fifth on the PSAC's single-season list for receptions, tied for 11th in yards and tied for eighth in TD catches. In his career, he is eighth in receptions (223), 10th in yards (3,225) and tied for seventh in TD (41).

Healy set ESU's career rushing record last week, pushing his total to 2,760 rushing yards and 4,203 yards from scrimmage. He had his 10th 100-yard rushing game and 26th game with 100 yards from scrimmage in 32 contests.

ESU hosts Gannon in its regular season finale on Saturday at 12 p.m. at Eiler-Martin Stadium.