Bloomsburg Athletics

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) scored on a 3-yard touchdown run in overtime, and the Bloomsburg football team's defense delivered one final stand as the Huskies defeated West Chester, 22-15, Saturday afternoon at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium.

In a defensive battle that featured four lead changes and a dramatic finish to regulation, Bloomsburg (7-2, 4-1 PSAC East) overcame a late West Chester touchdown to secure its seventh victory of the season. The Huskies held the Golden Rams (4-5, 1-4 PSAC East) to just 79 rushing yards on 34 attempts, including negative yardage in overtime, while coming up with critical stops throughout the afternoon.

Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) anchored the defensive effort with a game-high 16 tackles, including 12 solo stops, while Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) added eight tackles and Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) finished with seven tackles, a sack, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) contributed five tackles, including two tackles for loss, as the Huskies limited West Chester to just 2.3 yards per rushing attempt.

The defense saved its biggest statement for the game's final possession.

After Wolfe's touchdown and Peter Kashynski's (Falls Church, Va./Justice) extra point gave Bloomsburg a seven-point advantage in overtime, Booker immediately put the Golden Rams behind the chains, sacking quarterback Colin O'Sullivan for a 9-yard loss on first down. West Chester managed just six yards on its next play before Garcia broke up a third-down pass intended for Blake Thomas. Facing fourth-and-13 from the Bloomsburg 28-yard line, O'Sullivan's final pass fell incomplete, sealing the Huskies' victory.

The Golden Rams finished their overtime possession with minus-3 yards on four plays.

Bloomsburg's offense capitalized on its opportunity in the extra period, putting together a methodical seven-play, 25-yard touchdown drive. Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) opened the possession with a 7-yard completion to Alex Achenbach (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) before Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) picked up a first down with a 3-yard rush. Clancy continued to move the chains, and a West Chester facemask penalty helped set up first-and-goal at the 4-yard line.

After Clancy and Etheridge combined to move the ball to the 3, Wolfe took the handoff on third down and raced left into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. Kashynski converted the extra point to give the Huskies a 22-15 lead.

The overtime heroics capped a wild fourth quarter in which Bloomsburg appeared to have secured the victory in regulation.

Trailing 8-7 with less than five minutes remaining, the Huskies took possession at their own 46-yard line following a West Chester punt. Etheridge directed an eight-play, 54-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 43-yard touchdown strike to Xavier Diaz (Mount Carmel, Pa./Mount Carmel) with 1:30 remaining.

Etheridge connected with Diaz for the touchdown to put Bloomsburg ahead 13-8, then found Wolfe for the two-point conversion, extending the advantage to 15-8.

West Chester answered with a six-play, 75-yard drive in just 1:15. O'Sullivan connected with Dylan McKenzie on a 38-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds remaining, and Tommy Pajic's extra point tied the game at 15.
The Golden Rams nearly had an opportunity to steal the victory in regulation after recovering a Bloomsburg fumble on the ensuing kickoff return. West Chester took possession at the Huskies' 41-yard line with eight seconds remaining, but the Bloomsburg defense limited the Golden Rams to a 3-yard rush, forcing a 55-yard field goal attempt. Pajic's kick missed as time expired, sending the contest to overtime.

Bloomsburg established an early advantage thanks to its special teams and defense. After the Huskies' opening possession ended in a punt, West Chester returner Adrien Mosley fumbled the kick, and Brian Callahan (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) recovered at the Golden Rams' 18-yard line.

Three plays later, Etheridge found Nick Ryan (Shenandoah, Pa./Shenandoah Valley) for a 23-yard touchdown on third-and-15, giving Bloomsburg a 7-0 lead with 9:32 remaining in the opening quarter. Kashynski added the extra point.

West Chester responded with a lengthy drive that carried into the second quarter. The Golden Rams advanced 71 yards on eight plays, highlighted by a 50-yard completion from O'Sullivan to Thomas. However, Bloomsburg's defense stiffened inside the 10-yard line, and Mason Yacovelli (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood) broke up a third-down pass to force a 26-yard field goal from Pajic with 11:42 remaining in the half.

The Huskies threatened on their next possession, moving 48 yards in eight plays behind a 34-yard completion from Etheridge to Wolfe. The drive stalled at the West Chester 17, however, and Kashynski's 34-yard field goal attempt missed.

Bloomsburg's defense came through again on the ensuing Golden Rams possession. West Chester moved from its own 20-yard line to the Huskies' 10, but the Maroon and Gold forced a turnover on downs with two minutes remaining in the half.

The Golden Rams added two points moments later when Bloomsburg was penalized for a safety, trimming the Huskies' lead to 7-5 heading into halftime.

West Chester took its first lead of the afternoon midway through the third quarter following a Bloomsburg interception. The Golden Rams marched 75 yards on 12 plays before the Huskies' defense held firm near the goal line. Pajic connected on a 22-yard field goal with 3:16 remaining in the period to give West Chester an 8-7 advantage.

The defensive stand proved important as Bloomsburg kept the deficit to one point heading into the final quarter.

Despite surrendering 397 yards of total offense, the Huskies consistently made plays when West Chester threatened to score. Bloomsburg held the Golden Rams without a rushing touchdown, forced four turnovers on downs and limited West Chester to four third-down conversions in 16 attempts. West Chester converted just two of its six fourth-down opportunities.

Garcia's 16-tackle performance highlighted the Huskies' defensive production. Booker recorded the game's lone sack for Bloomsburg, while Donohue continued to disrupt the Golden Rams' running game. Thompson, Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) and Ryan Corros (Honey Brook, Pa./Twin Valley) helped anchor a unit that repeatedly answered in critical situations.

Offensively, Etheridge finished 12-of-22 passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Ryan and Diaz for the Huskies' scores through the air. Diaz led Bloomsburg's receivers with three catches for 58 yards and a touchdown, while Ryan added three receptions for 41 yards and a score.

Clancy led the rushing attack with 41 yards on 15 carries, while Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) added 22 yards on five attempts. Zimmerman also contributed 84 all-purpose yards, including 45 on kickoff returns and 11 on a punt return.
The Huskies finished with 245 yards of total offense but converted seven of their 13 third-down opportunities, including the decisive third-down touchdown in overtime.

The victory gave Bloomsburg its seventh win of the season and fourth in PSAC Eastern Division play, continuing the Huskies' strong conference campaign behind a defense that has been a cornerstone of their success throughout the fall.

The Huskies travel to #3 Kutztown next week for a 12:00 p.m. kickoff in their PSAC East finale.

Inside the Box Score
16: Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) recorded a game-high 16 tackles, including 12 solo stops, and added a pass breakup and quarterback hurry.
79: Bloomsburg held West Chester to 79 rushing yards on 34 attempts, an average of just 2.3 yards per carry.
4-of-16: The Golden Rams converted just four of their 16 third-down opportunities against the Huskies' defense.
4: Bloomsburg forced four turnovers on downs, including the game-ending stop in overtime.
7: The Huskies converted seven of 13 third-down opportunities, including Wolfe's game-winning touchdown run.
178: Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns, completing 12 of 22 passes.
84: Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) totaled 84 all-purpose yards, including 56 combined return yards.
5: Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) finished with five tackles, including two tackles for loss, as the Huskies recorded four tackles for loss as a team.
1: Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) registered the Huskies' lone sack, a 9-yard loss on West Chester's first overtime play.
7-2: Bloomsburg improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in PSAC East play.