Football Defeats West Chester In Triple Overtime Thriller, 39-37
Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. (Oct. 2, 2010) – The C.W. Post football battled West Chester University through four quarters and three overtime frames before triumphing with a 39-37 win Saturday afternoon at Farrell Stadium.
C.W. Post improves to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in PSAC East action. Meanwhile, West Chester slips to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in division play.
It was the first overtime contest for the Pioneers since the 2007 season when they defeated Bentley 30-27 in two overtimes. It's also the first win against over West Chester in three tries since 2008. C.W. Post captured a 24-20 win over West Chester in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005.
In the first quarter, the Pioneers' attempt to score in their first drive of the game on fourth down from the WCU 2- yard line was foiled when senior quarterback Erik Anderwkavich (Queens, N.Y.) was stopped short on fourth down.
C.W. Post came away with a score minutes later after West Chester quarterback Matt Mattei (Philadelphia, Pa.) fumbled the ball in the endzone on 3rd-and-8 and junior defensive lineman Lou Scala (Coram, N.Y.) jumped on the ball for a safety.
The Pioneers' tried for another score in their next drive when senior kicker Paul Stoltz (Stony Brook, N.Y.) attempted a 37-yard field goal that missed wide left.
West Chester responded in the next drive and marched the ball down the field to the Pioneers' 5-yard line, setting up for 3rd-and-1 where senior running back D'Andre Webb (Levittown, Pa.) shuffled the ball into the endzone with 2:39 left to play in the quarter.
C.W. Post regained its momentum and scored its first touchdown of the game in its next series at the start of the second quarter when Anderwkavich fired a 16-yard pass to junior tight end Andre Davis (Piscataway, N.J.) for the touchdown.
West Chester got the ball in its next series at its own 28 and marched downfield to the Pioneers' 1-yard line, setting up for 4th-and-goal. Mattei kept the ball and rushed in for the touchdown, giving the Golden Rams a 14-9 lead that stuck through the end of the half.
In the third quarter, C.W. Post started the half at its own 20 and brought the ball down the field to the WCU 4-yard line through a series of completed passes from Anderwkavich and rushing from sophomore running back Thomas Beverly (Wyandanch, N.Y.) and freshman running back Anthony Brunetti (Bayville, N.Y.).
On fourth down, Stoltz kicked a 21-yarder through the uprights before a person foul called against the Golden Rams gave the Pioneers another opportunity to score a touchdown and brought the ball to the 3-yard line. This time, Brunetti took the handoff and hit paydirt for the Pioneers' second touchdown of the game and after an extra point kick from Stoltz, the Pioneers went ahead 16-14 with 11:48 to play in the third.
West Chester came back and scored on a 30-yard field goal from redshirt freshman Shawn Leo (Harleysville, Pa.) at 6:22.
The Pioneers took the lead back in the fourth when Anderwkavich dialed up and connected to Botti for a 14-yard touchdown completion with 10:41 on the clock.
It looked like the Pioneers would hold on for the win when senior defensive end Xavier Brown (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was closing in on sacking Mattei around the CWP 15, forcing Mattei to throw the ball away into the waiting arms of junior linebacker Ronnie Modik (Levittown, N.Y.), giving the Pioneers the ball back at their own 8-yard line. But C.W. Post could not move the ball forward and sophomore Grayson Laurino (Manhasset, N.Y.) punted the ball away and the Golden Rams recovered it at the CWP 29 with 55 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Golden Rams made quick work on the field and score three plays into the drive when Mattei completed a pass to freshman wide receiver Rondell White (West Chester, Pa.) to tie game with 15 seconds left to play to force the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, the Pioneers got the ball first and scored when Brunetti broke through the defense for a 1-yard run.
West Chester matched it with a 2-yard run from junior running back Jackson Fagan (Morrisville, Pa.).
Neither of the teams could score with a fresh set of downs and the game was sent the game went into a third overtime. This time, C.W. Post scored when Brunetti rushed in from the 4-yard line and completed a successful conversion when Anderwkavich completed a pass to Laurino.
West Chester scored in its own drive when White rushed in from five yards out. But the Golden Rams' attempt to complete a conversion and force another overtime failed when Mattei's pass to a waiting receiver in the end zone fell short and hit the ground.
Anderwkavich completed 22 of 37 pass attempts for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Brunetti led the ground attack with 69 rushing yards and a season-high three touchdowns.
On defense, junior inside linebacker Billy O'Connor (Sayville, N.Y.) recorded a game-high 15 tackles (6u,9a) and recovered a fumble. Modik had 14 tackles with a forced fumble and an interception. Junior defensive lineman Lou Scala (Coram, N.Y.) and junior defensive lineman TuQwan Ashley (Hoboken, N.J.) each recorded a sack in the game.
For West Chester, Mattei finished the game with 30 completions on 45 attempts with one interception and two touchdowns. Fagan was his favorite target, catching 11 passes for 112 yards for two touchdown receptions and added 30 rushing yards with a touchdown. Webb also had 30 yards and a touchdown.
Senior linebacker Morty Hoey (Collingdale, Pa.) led the defense with seven tackles.
C.W. Post returns to Hickox Field to host Millersville University on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.