4-0 West Chester With Huge Game Vs. Cal (PA)
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The West Chester Golden Rams still have yet to taste defeat here in 2013. They sit at 4-0 on the season as they prepare for a critical showdown with perennial power California University of Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The Golden Rams needed some late-game heroics last time out to maintain that perfect mark as they rallied from a 21-10 fourth-quarter deficit against a winless Kutztown team, pulling out a 22-21 victory.
"Kutztown played us really, really tough," West Chester head coach Bill Zwaan tells KYW Newsradio. "They do a really good job on offense and kept the ball away from us for awhile. Couple of their young guys, they had two freshman kids that played very well for them. It took us awhile to get going and finally in the fourth quarter, a couple of our older kids stepped up. (Quarterback) Sean McCartney led us back to two touchdowns there in the fourth quarter and (running back) Rondell White scores the winning one. So we come out of there alive, still 4-0, with kind of a little bit of a lucky win."
Zwaan says veteran leadership and experience were key in not letting that game get away.
"They have been in those situations before and been successful sometimes and not successful other times," Zwaan says. "But having been in those situations, they knew what to expect, they handled it really well. We practice our two-minute drill a lot, so when we got the ball back with less than two minutes, we already had a plan in place and they executed it really well. Sean really came through for us. There is no question, that when you have older guys in those situations, it definitely helps you."
Bill Zwaan Interview
This week, it's probably the toughest challenge of the season for the Golden rams with Cal coming to town. The Vulcans are 3-1 this season.
"Big, physical," Zwaan says. "They've got talent and speed. There's been years when they've been, by far, the best team in the region. They are probably back closer to the rest of us now, bu they are still a very good football team. They lost a real tough game this past week to IUP (20-7), who is one of the best teams in the country."
Zwaan expects to get the best the Vulcans have to offer in this one.
"We beat them last year, on their field," Zwaan says. "So they're looking for revenge, I'm sure. At least beating them, I think our kids really feel like they can play with them and so it should be a pretty good contest Saturday."
Kick-off on Saturday is set for noon at John A. Farrell Stadium.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
