West Chester Drops Season Opener To Delaware

The following is a press release from the West Chester University Athletic Department.

Rondell White rushed for 209 yards and caught a touchdown pass, but Delaware captured the final game in a series that dates back to 1941 by the score of 41-21 Thursday night in a non-league season opener for both schools.
 
Delaware, ranked 15th in the country in Division I-FCS, racked up 487 yards of total offense as quarterback Trent Hurley went 24-for-35 and 310 yards with a trio of TD aerials for the hosts. White busted off runs of 49 yards and 52 yards in the third quarter en route to his career-best effort on the ground. His 209 yards rushing were the most for a Golden Rams running back against Delaware in series history. He rolled up 269 all-purpose yards in the game.
 
Despite losing their starting quarterback, starting middle linebacker and starting right guard to injury throughout the contest, West Chester found itself still within 10 points early in the fourth quarter. However, Hurley completed a 63-yard TD pass to Rob Jones with 11:35 left to put the Blue Hens on top, 34-14 and salt the game away.
 
White was the story of the game for the Golden Rams. He racked up 269 all-purpose yards in the contest while breaking the Delaware Stadium record for rushing yards by an opponent.
 
West Chester will open up its home slate next Saturday, Sept. 8, hosting Gannon at noon on Hall of Fame Day. The Golden Rams will induct seven new members plus the 1969 women’s basketball team into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
NOTES: Tonight’s contest was the 55th and final meeting in a series that dates back to 1941 … Delaware leads the all-time series 47-6-2 … the Blue Hens won the last 19 meetings in the series, dating back to 1992 … Jr., QB Sean McCartney’s 4-yard TD run in the first quarter was the first rushing touchdown of his career … Jr., DB Matt Carroll’s interception in the second quarter was the first pick of his career … he was a quarterback last season at West Chester … Jr., RB Rondell White’s 49-yard rush and 52-yard rush in the third quarter are the two longest carries of his career … his 209 yards rushing marked a career-high as well as the second career 200-yard game for White … it was also the most rushing yards accumulated by a Golden Rams running back against Delaware in series history, surpassing Jason Sims’ 194 yards in 1987 … White’s 209 is the third-highest total accrued against Delaware in a game and the highest by a visiting running back in Delaware Stadium history … his 209 rushing yards is the 14th highest single-game total in school history …  So., MLB Ronell Williams’ interception at the goal line in the third quarter was the first of his career … all three of West Chester’s scoring drives were over 80 yards, including a 98-yard scoring drive.