West Chester With Big Test At Bloomsburg
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It's the home stretch for the West Chester Golden Rams as they chase a Division II playoff berth.
West Chester is 6-3 after dismantling Cheyney last weekend 59-14 and on Saturday they play a critical game on the road against an 8-1 Bloomsburg team.
"At this point of the season, you're playing your tenth game of the year and you are hoping to still be involved (in the playoff race) and we are," West Chester head coach Bill Zwaan tells KYW Newsradio. "We're in the mix for the playoffs. Obviously we have to win our last two to get there, but it's great to have that opportunity."
LISTEN: Matt Leon interviews Bill Zwaan
This Bloomsburg challenge will be one of the tallest the Golden Rams have faced all season. The Huskies are 8-1 and last year they made history against the Golden Rams as they mounted the largest comeback in Division II history - rallying from down 35-0 to win 55-42.
This season, Bloomsburg averages 39.8 points and 503.3 yards a game and Zwaan says their offense is brilliant in its simplicity.
"They pretty much run a very basic offense, but that's all they do, that's all they've ever done. They run it really well, they have some really big offensive lineman who are able to open some holes up and the running backs are outstanding and once they get a crease, they can go."
Those running backs are Franklyn Quiteh and Eddie Mateo who have combined for 2503 yards on the ground and an amazing 7.2 yards a carry. A running game like that opens things up for a quarterback and Bloomsburg's Tim Kelly is taking advantage. He has 95 completions this season - 19 of which have gone for touchdowns.
Zwaan says when his team has the football, they have to be razor sharp.
"Obviously, when you are playing a team like this that can control the football on the ground and score, than you've got to try to score with them and every time you touch the ball, you've got to do something with it," Zwaan says. "That's where the pressure will be on the offense, we've got to get our points and drive the football and stay with this team throughout."
West Chester and Bloomsburg will kick-off at 1:00pm in Bloomsburg.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
