Box Score

WEST CHESTER—The number two-ranked Bloomsburg University football team used the biggest rally in NCAA Division II history to beat West Chester (4-4, 3-2 PSAC East) on Saturday by a score of 55-42. The Huskies (8-0, 5-0 PSAC East) trailed 35-0 with 10:29 to go in the second period, but then scored the next 55 points to spoil homecoming for the Golden Rams.
 
The rally from 35 points down is the biggest rally in Division II history topping the 29-point deficit Chadron State had over Abilene Christian in 2007 and equals the biggest in all of NCAA college football when Michigan State rallied to beat Northwestern.
 
For the first 19 minutes of the game it was all West Chester as the Golden Rams moved up and down the field on the Huskies defense getting over 300 yards of offense in that time.
 
West Chester took the opening kickoff and marched 73 yards in six plays with Brian McDermott scoring from one yard out just 2:29 into the game. After the first Bloomsburg drive stalled near field the Huskies punted with the ball being downed at the West Chester three-yard line.
 
This time the Golden Rams moved 97 yards in 12 plays with McDermott scoring his second TD game of the game, again on a one yard run to make it 14-0.
 
Later in the first Huskies quarterback Pat Carey (Williamsport/Loyalsock Twp.) was intercepted by Shaun Krautzel, who returned the ball to Bloomsburg 14-yard line. Two plays later Rondell White scored from one yard out making it 21-0.
 
After another three and out for the Huskies, West Chester made it 28-0 when it moved 72 yards in just five plays with quarterback Matt Carrol scoring on a four yard run.
 
Following yet another three and out for the Huskies, West Chester appeared to put the game out of reach, even in the second quarter, when White scored his second TD of the game on a 16-yard run with 10:29 left in the third period.
 
The Huskies though finally got the offense clicking and marched 81 yards, mainly on the legs of Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) who picked up 41 yards on the ground and capped the drive off with an 11-yard scoring run.
 
Bloomsburg's defense stiffened and forced just the second West Chester punt of the game giving the Huskies the ball at the BU 44 yard line. On the first Carey swung a short pass out to Quiteh who took the ball 41 yards down to the West Chester 15-yard line. On the play a personal foul call on the Golden Rams gave the Huskies the ball at the six yard line with Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) scoring on the next play to make it 35-14 with 4:23 left in the half.
 
Another three and out series for West Chester gave the Huskies the ball back at the West Chester 39 yard line. A 12-yard completion to Tyler Guise (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland Valley) moved the ball to the 24-yard line and then on the next play Carey went up top and found Ryan Dickerson (Harleysville/Souderton) for a 24-yard scoring pass to make it 35-21 at the break.
 
Getting the ball to start the third period the Huskies wasted little time getting to the end zone. Quiteh began the drive for the Huskies with a 17-yard run and capped it with a seven yard carry making it 35-28 and suddenly a ball game again.
 
After being able to move the ball at will in the opening 19 minutes of play, West Chester suddenly could not gain a first down and was forced to punt.
 
The Huskies took over at the West Chester 41-yard line. On the first play Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) ran 37-yards down to the Golden Rams four-yard line. But two running plays and an incomplete pass forced the Huskies to settle for a field goal. Head coach Danny Hale though rolled the dice and called for a fake with holder Mike Wagner (Hershey/Hershey) hitting Mark Daniels (Sinking Spring/Wilson West Lawn), who made a shoe-string catch in the end zone knotting the game at 35-all.
 
After the teams traded punts, West Chester was deep in its own territory when Carroll was intercepted by Bloomsburg's JP Patrick who returned the ball 31-yards for a score giving Bloomsburg its first lead of the game, 42-35, with 4:26 to go in the third period.
 
On West Chester's next drive the Golden Rams were faced with a fourth and six at the their own 36-yard line. West Chester though fumbled the snap on the punt giving the Huskies the ball at the WCU 22-yard line.
 
After driving to the West Chester five yard line, the drive stalled with Bloomsburg settling for a 22-yard field goal from Dan Fisher giving Bloomsburg a 45-35 lead going to the fourth quarter.
 
On West Chester's next possession it picked up its first, first down since the 10 minute mark of the second period going nearly 25 minutes of the game with out a first down. After its drive stalled the Huskies took over 25-yard line and moved to the West Chester eight yard line. Once again the drive stalled the Huskies settled for a 25-yard field from Fisher.
 
Later in the quarter the Huskies got a 25-yard scoring pass from Carey to Mateo before West Chester got a late score to make the final 55-42.
 
Statistically Bloomsburg finished with 514 yards of total offense compared with 421 for the Golden Rams. Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) had his best rushing day of the season carrying 25 times for 190 yards and two scores. He also caught two passes for 47 yards. Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) just missed a 100-yard day getting 99 yards rushing with a score and adding a 25 yard reception for a score.
 
Defensively, Jarrett Pidgeon (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) had another double digit tackle day with 11 stops and two pass breakups.
 
The 55 points for BU were the most ever for the Huskies against West Chester.
 
Bloomsburg will host C.W. Post on Saturday in a Parents Day game starting at 2:30 p.m. at Redman Stadium.