COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK TWO RECAP – WEST CHESTER’S LONG IS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rock Hoffman
The FootballStories College Football Player of the Week is A.J. Long of West Chester University. The redshirt junior quarterback from Bethlehem, PA transferred to West Chester from Syracuse. He appeared in eight games in 2017 and earned the starting job this year. In the Golden Rams 31-7 win over Gannon, Long threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns. In addition, he ran for 47 yards and a touchdown. For the season, he’s completed 65.1% of his passes for 484 yards and five touchdowns and has run for 101 yards and three touchdowns.
West Chester (2-0) is ranked No. 18 in Division II and will play at Seton Hill (0-2) on Saturday.
Other players who were under consideration for the Player of the Week were Villanova wide receiver Jarrett McClenton, University of Delaware quarterback Pat Kehoe, Delaware State linebacker Brian Cavicante, running back Samuel Ragland from Ursinus, Rowan running back John Mannion and wide receiver Dan Allen from Delaware Valley University.
The region’s Ivy League schools open play this weekend, Penn (0-0) hosts Bucknell (0-2) and Princeton (0-0) is at Butler (2-0).
McClenton had 114 yards and two touchdown catches in the Wildcats (2-0) 31-9 win over Lehigh. This week, Villanova, who is ranked 10th at the FCS level, opens CAA play by hosting Towson (1-1).
Delaware (1-1) rebounded from a week one loss with a 37-0 shutout of Lafayette. Kehoe threw for three touchdowns and 279 yards in the victory. The Blue Hens entertain Cornell (0-0) on Saturday.
Cavicante, who earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, had 12 tackles, including five for a loss which totaled 14 yards and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the Hornets 45-14 loss to St. Francis (PA). Delaware State (0-2) is on the road at Western Michigan (0-2) on Saturday.
Ursinus moved to 2-0 with a 42-7 clobbering of Gettysburg. Ragland, who was Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week, tied a school record with four touchdown runs. The Bears are at Juniata (0-2) on Saturday.
Delaware Valley (1-1) scored their first win of the year by topping UMass Dartmouth 52-21. Allen caught four balls, two for touchdowns and had 143 yards receiving. The 22nd ranked Aggies play at home fore the first time in 2018 on Saturday when Wilkes (1-1) visits Doylestown.
Rowan traveled to Southern Virginia and came away with a 20-17 win. Mannion had a pair of touchdown runs and was part of a ground attack that chewed up the final 5:37 of the game with the Profs protecting a three-point lead. Rowan (2-0) hosts William Patterson on Saturday night.
Wesley (1-0) was idle. The Wolverines host TCNJ (0-2), who lost to Frostburg State, on Friday night.
Widener (0-2) was defeated by Lycoming 33-19. The Pride looks for their first win when they visit Misericordia.
Lincoln (PA) fell to 0-2 with a 55-0 loss at Central Connecticut State. The Lions are at Clarion on Saturday.
Temple was tripped up by Buffalo 36-29. The Owls (0-2) are on the road to meet Maryland on Saturday.
Email Rock Hoffman at Rock@footballstories.com