2008 Woodie Awards
Edinboro spoils football opener
Matt Lombardo
Issue date: 9/11/06 Section: Sports
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West Chester, PA- Under rainy skies the Golden Rams welcomed the Edinboro Fighting Scots to Farrell Stadium in the opening game of the 2006 season on Saturday September 2. This game also marked the first game played on Farrell's state of the art artificial surface. The Golden Rams were poised to show the nation that they belonged in the pre-season national top 25 poll, but Edinboro had other ideas.
The Fighting Scots committed to running the football early in this game. Aided by a strong play from senior All-American center Chris Kaczor, both Spud Davis and Chaz Cobbs were able to pierce the middle of the Golden Rams defense early in the first quarter. The Golden Rams forced a Davis fumble which was recovered by Joe Cefalo at the Edinboro 48 yard line, but the Golden Rams could not capitalize, going three and out which would become a trend in the game.
On their ensuing drive the Fighting Scots continued their ground assault, handing off to Cobbs six times. The Golden Ram defense had no answer as the sophomore tailback rushed for 24 of Edinboro's 71 yards on this drive. The Fighting Scots managed a field goal, but the result could have been much worse for the Golden Rams had senior linebacker Lateef Ferguson not come up with a bone rattling hit on Cobbs forcing an incompletion at the West Chester 11 yard line. The Golden Ram defense surrendered 71 yards on the drive, but came up huge in the red zone.
The Golden Rams next possession began with plenty of sizzle as Mike Washington made a highlight reel leaping catch along the sidelines for a sixteen yard gain. In the end the drive would fizzle, and West Chester would be forced to punt after an incomplete pass intended for James Ethridge stalled the drive at the Edinboro 33 yard line.
The two teams traded possessions until the Golden Rams finally got on the board with twenty six seconds remaining in the first half. West Chester took over possession at their own 38 yard line and engineered a very balanced four play drive that covered sixty two yards. Osagie Osande began to assert himself with 3:05 left in the half when he broke loose for a seven yard gain to the West Chester 45, followed on the very next play with an eleven yard burst up the middle of the Edinboro defense. Once the Golden Rams drew the Edinboro secondary closer to the line to anticipate the rush, Burdalski then took to the air, completing an eight yard pass to Eric Ruffenach to the Edinboro 36 yard line. Then, on the very next play Burdalski spotted Washington in single coverage at the five yard line, Washington hauled in the pass, juked the defender and high stepped into the endzone giving the Golden Rams a 7-3 lead with 1:50 left in the half.
The Fighting Scots committed to running the football early in this game. Aided by a strong play from senior All-American center Chris Kaczor, both Spud Davis and Chaz Cobbs were able to pierce the middle of the Golden Rams defense early in the first quarter. The Golden Rams forced a Davis fumble which was recovered by Joe Cefalo at the Edinboro 48 yard line, but the Golden Rams could not capitalize, going three and out which would become a trend in the game.
On their ensuing drive the Fighting Scots continued their ground assault, handing off to Cobbs six times. The Golden Ram defense had no answer as the sophomore tailback rushed for 24 of Edinboro's 71 yards on this drive. The Fighting Scots managed a field goal, but the result could have been much worse for the Golden Rams had senior linebacker Lateef Ferguson not come up with a bone rattling hit on Cobbs forcing an incompletion at the West Chester 11 yard line. The Golden Ram defense surrendered 71 yards on the drive, but came up huge in the red zone.
The Golden Rams next possession began with plenty of sizzle as Mike Washington made a highlight reel leaping catch along the sidelines for a sixteen yard gain. In the end the drive would fizzle, and West Chester would be forced to punt after an incomplete pass intended for James Ethridge stalled the drive at the Edinboro 33 yard line.
The two teams traded possessions until the Golden Rams finally got on the board with twenty six seconds remaining in the first half. West Chester took over possession at their own 38 yard line and engineered a very balanced four play drive that covered sixty two yards. Osagie Osande began to assert himself with 3:05 left in the half when he broke loose for a seven yard gain to the West Chester 45, followed on the very next play with an eleven yard burst up the middle of the Edinboro defense. Once the Golden Rams drew the Edinboro secondary closer to the line to anticipate the rush, Burdalski then took to the air, completing an eight yard pass to Eric Ruffenach to the Edinboro 36 yard line. Then, on the very next play Burdalski spotted Washington in single coverage at the five yard line, Washington hauled in the pass, juked the defender and high stepped into the endzone giving the Golden Rams a 7-3 lead with 1:50 left in the half.
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