By Neil Geoghegan ngeoghegan@21st-centurymedia.com WEST GOSHEN – Just when the stage was set for the West Chester football squad to surrender yet another second half lead, the Golden Rams came up with a series of huge plays — scoring two third quarter touchdowns in the span of 93 seconds — to propel WCU to a 28-10 victory Saturday over Shippensburg at Farrell Stadium. It was West Chester’s first victory of the 2024 season, and the initial win for first-year head coach Duke Greco.
The Rams opened the season 0-4 for the first time since 2000, and three of those setbacks came in agonizing fashion, with WCU falling in the final minute of regulation. “After losing a few games we had in our reach, to come out and finally win one feels great,” said junior linebacker Connor Noble. It wasn’t anywhere close to perfect – the Rams were whistled for 10 penalties for more than 100 yards and lost the turnover battle 2-1 — but the end result was a welcome relief.
West Chester’s four losses have come by a total of 18 points, as Greco suffered as many setbacks in his first month at the helm as he did in his first two seasons as the head coach at Delaware Valley University. “We are excited to be a part of (Greco’s) first win,” Noble said. “We’ve taken a lot of punches so far in our first four weeks, so for this team to bounce back today and get the taste (of winning) is special,” Greco added.
The win moves West Chester to 1-1 in the PSAC East and 1-4 overall. Shi.