WEST GOSHEN – With its superstar quarterback returning after nearly a month and sparking a wild-and-crazy 46-44 triple overtime PSAC East victory for West Chester over visiting Bloomsburg, the result Saturday from Farrell Stadium was a storybook ending.
But it was perilously close to being a nightmare if not for more than a few clutch plays. And Jordan had a bunch of those, including 278 passing yards, four total touchdowns, and a huge two-point conversion in the third OT session that wound up being the difference in the longest WCU game in 15 years.
“It was crazy. I’ve been in some games and this one was different,” said Golden Rams’ head coach Duke Greco.
“It was fun, but I can say that now (after a win).”
In all, Jordan accounted directly for 26 points in his first action since a nagging injury to his left ankle knocked him out of a game nearly a month ago against East Stroudsburg. It put a halt to a four-game losing streak and upped WCU’s record to 2-4 in the division, 4-5 overall.
“I’ve never been in a game like this – not high school or even pee-wee. I didn’t even know what the rules were for triple overtime,” said junior receiver Dylan McKenzie, who had the best outing of his career.
“This is the craziest game I’ve even been a part of,” Jordan agreed. “It was also the most fun game. There were a lot of ups and downs, but we came out on top.”
Deadlocked at 44-44 after the first two OTs, it went to matching two-point conversions. West Chester’s try from the three-yard line resulted in a catch in the end zone for sophomore wideout Matt Iuvara from Jordan. The Huskies’ ensuing try, to send it to a fourth overtime, was ultimately incomplete.
“It’s a super big win for us,” said McKenzie, who finished with six catches for 133 yards. “October was a difficult month for us, so to get this one is huge for confidence-wise.”
After Bloomsburg (1-5, 2-7) booted a 32-yard field goal to make it 31-31 with no time on the clock at the end of regulation, it took the Huskies one play – a 25-yard burst up the middle by runner Declan Clancy – to make it 38-31. But with their backs to the wall, the Rams responded with a 23-yard pass from Jordan to McKenzie to the two. Moments later Jordan ran it in to knot the score again.
In double OT, Jordan broke several tackles and roamed from sideline to sideline before finally finding freshman receiver Jordan Johnson from 13 yards in the end zone. But Jordan was sacked on the two-pointer to make it 44-38. Bloomsburg’s possession went similarly as a TD toss tied it, but junior defensive tackle Debrick Johnson came up with a sack on the conversion, setting up the third overtime.
“All we wanted today was to get back in the winning column and finish the season strong,” McKenzie said.
The Rams appeared to be in control 28-14 heading into the fourth period, but WCU’s beleaguered defense surrendered back-to-back long scoring drives that tied it at 28-all with 5:26 on the clock. Freshman kicker Rylan Zuk booted a 34-yard field goal with 1:06 to go and the Rams led by three, but the Huskies promptly drove 60 yards and tied it once again, this time on a 32-yard kick by Aaron Johnson.
The boot came on an untimed down due to a roughing the kicker call against WCU during a failed 47-yarder by Johnson on the play before.
“We had a ton of guys make big plays – Coop (Jordan), Dylan (McKenzie), Matt (Iuvara) – and some young guys like Jayden Johnson, Mick Johnson, Future (Robinson) and Ivan (Thorpe),” Greco pointed out. “That was the cool thing about today. Everyone made contributions.”
Locked in a 14-14 tie at the half, WCU looked to take control with a pair of third quarter TDs. Jordan set up the first with a 31-yard scramble, and a 29-yard strike to receiver Robby Luongo in traffic. The possession ended with a short scoring run by Robison, a sophomore transfer from Central Connecticut State.
The Rams then strung together big chunks of yardage on the ground to make it 28-14 after freshman runner Mick Johnson took it into the end zone from four yards out for the first touchdown of his college career.
And Jordan’s impact was immediate as he connected with McKenzie for 38 yards on the very first play from scrimmage. That series fizzled, but the next went 75 yards, and culminated with a 22-yard scoring pass from Jordan to Iuvara.
“Coop is a dynamic player and he’s proven himself,” Greco said. “It’s nice to have him back. I was impressed right from the first play of the game. Especially being out for several weeks because the game moves fast once a player returns. He got it done like he usually does.”
Early in the second, Jordan hit running back Khalil Owens on a screen for eight yards and a TD to cap another long march, and put WCU in front 14-7. But just like when it was 7-7, Bloomsburg came back with an immediate touchdown.
In all, the Huskies rolled up 447 yards of total offense.
“Earlier in the season the defense was ahead – today it was the offense,” Greco said. “Bloomsburg does some different things, especially in the run game. But we will regroup and be fine going into next week.”
With Jordan at the helm, West Chester scored six of seven times in the red zone and amassed 487 yards of offense.
“He spreads the field out. The opposing defense has to keep their focus on Coop, so it makes it easier on guys like me,” McKenzie said.
“It’s great being back,” Jordan added. “These past three-four weeks have been very tough on me, especially mentally. But coach Greco kept me in high spirits, and coming back and being with the team lifted my spirits even more.
“I was rusty in practice at the start of the week, but the coaches put me in the best position to be successful, and my teammates trusted me.”
Source: Berkshire mont