Welcome to playoff football. It is win or go home this time of the season and all of the teams are vying for a chance to play for a national championship. Only one team can be crowned champion.

West Chester Playoff History

10th overall playoff appearance

5-9 overall record

3-1 against the NE-10

AIC Playoff History

2nd overall playoff appearance

0-1 overall record

1st game against the PSAC

Head to Head

West Chester leads the series 10-2-0

Last Meeting in 1991

Last AIC win in 1980

10/29/60: West Chester 13 @AIC 0
10/19/74 West Chester 24 @ AIC 21
9/20/75 @AIC 13 West Chester 9
10/29/77 @ West Chester 21 AIC 7
9/29/79 West Chester 14 @ AIC 10
9/27/80 AIC 37 @ West Chester 9
9/8/84 West Chester 26 @ AIC 10
9/11/87 @ West Chester 30 AIC 3
9/10/88 West Chester 54 @ AIC 21
9/9/89 @ West Chester 34 AIC 7
9/8/90 West Chester 31 @ AIC 18
9/13/91 @ West Chester 36 AIC 13


Week 12 Capsules

# 6 American International (9-2, 8-1 NE-10) @ # 3 West Chester (10-1, 6-1 PSAC East)

When: November 23rd, 12:00 PM

All-Time Series: West Chester leads the series, 10-2-0

Common Opponents: They share two common opponents this year and walked away with mixed results in those games.

vs. New Haven (NE-10)

9/7/13 @ West Chester 45 New Haven 14
11/2/13 AIC 43 @ New Haven 34

vs. East Stroudsburg (PSAC)

9/5/13 @ East Stroudsburg 21 AIC 14
10/12/13 @ West Chester 34 East Stroudsburg 20

Link to Team Stats:

AIC

West Chester

Game Day Central

Web Stream of the Game

My thoughts: AIC Scouting Report:

AIC has been a team on a mission since they dropped the final two games of the 2012 season to New Haven. They had hoped not to repeat those struggles and succeeded. They defeated Stonehill in the NE-10 championship game to earn the number six seed in the region.

The Yellow Jackets have one of the best offenses in the NE-10. They feature a mix of running and passing that moves them up and down the field with ease. It starts with their quarterback Kevin Arduino. He is a dual threat who is not afraid to call his own number to grind out the tough yards. He led the team in rushing with 942 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He also threw for over 2,300 yards through the air to go along with 13 touchdowns.

When Arduino is not calling his number in the huddle, he has a number of other backs to handle the ball off to. Maurice Easterling has been the main running back after converting from his wide receiver position. Hunter Beckman and Shervon Barthelmy will also see carries based on the offensive formation. Matt Brown and Stephan Davis are the main threats to stretch the field. Cal Brownridge will also see action at the receiver position. Gary Farley will see the majority of snaps at the tight end position and is also a threat in the passing game.

The strength of the offense for AIC is their big offensive line. George Grosz, Viondy Merisma, Shawn Schellenger, Daniel Naja and Geoffrey Thompson are physical and have dominated games this year. Daniel Backx is a solid punter and Jared Hulsey will handle the kicking duties.

The defense is anchored by the linebacking core. Jaquawne Simpkins, Joel Brown and Demetrius Steed are the most talented group in the NE-10. They fly to the ball and don't allow the big play. Simpkins led the team in tackles and is the main force on the field. The defensive line is a little banged up but expect to see Patrick Hunter, Andrew Justice, Jordan Thompson and Omari Manhertz in the trenches.

The secondary is capable of making big plays like the four interceptions they recorded in the NE-10 championship game. Mike Ford and Carron McCluney will see most of the action from their corner back positions. Darion Chappel and Daquan Holmes will be the safeties and patrolling the middle of the field.

West Chester Scouting Report:

West Chester has enjoyed their best season in five seasons. They won their first nine games of the season before falling to eventual PSAC championship Bloomsburg. It was a very successful season for the Golden Rams as they enter the playoffs for the 10th time in school history.

West Chester's offense is centered around all-conference running back Rondell White. The senior led the team in rushing with 1,626 yards and 19 touchdowns. He leads the team in receptions with 56 and as well as receiving yards at 660. He has even thrown a touchdown pass this year and boasts a 100% completion percentage. When he is not throwing touchdowns passes, Sean McCartney is running the offense from his quarterback position and figuring out a way to get the ball into White's hands as many times as possible.

Brandon Monk is the backup running back and averaging 8.1 yards per carry this year. Erick Brundidge, Tim Keyser and Adam Dempsey are the down field threats for West Chester. They have combined for over 90 catches this year and 16 touchdowns. Shawn Driggins is a touchdown machine from his tight end positions as he has two receptions, both for scores.

The guys up front were all rewarded for this season by being named to the all-conference teams. Justin Bathurst, Trey Farmer and Derek Schatz were first team all-PSAC while James Colivas and Adam Citko were named second team all-conference. They are very experienced and very good at controlling the line of scrimmage. Shawn Leo will handle the place kicking duties while Rich Bruno is the punter.

The defensive side of the ball for West Chester was very balanced this year. They limited opponents to just 21 points per game. The linebackers are the core to the Golden Ram defense. Ronell Williams led the team in tackles and is usually around the opposing ball carrier. Mike Labor and Drew Formica also patrol the middle of the field from their linebacking position.

Andrew Cohen is the anchor of a very talented defensive line. He led the team with five sacks and is part of a front four that seems to spend a lot of time in the backfield. Chris DiValentino, Anthony McCloskey and Eric Edwers bring a lot of experience to the defensive line. Shawn Krautzel and Al-Hajj Shabazz are part of the secondary attack. Blaise Schieler and Brandon Pepper help to stop the opposing passing game.


AIC Keys to the Game:

1. Establish their running game and let the offensive line control the tempo of the game.
2. Account for Rondell White on each play and not allow him to break off big gains.
3. Win the battle in the turnover game. Giving the ball to West Chester more than you have to will not win the game.
4. Play disciplined and not allow to be flagged for stupid penalties. It happened in the NE-10 championship that they were flagged four times on consecutive plays.

West Chester Keys to the Game:

1. Give the ball to Rondell White and let him run wild as usual
2. The offensive line needs to dominate and not allow the AIC linebackers to make any plays.
3. Account for Arduino on each play and not allow him to find seams in the defense.
4. Playing a complete game. If West Chester is able to play 60 minutes, they are nearly unbeatable.

So who wins and why?

AIC is one of the few teams in the NE-10 that can match up physically with any of the PSAC teams. That is the style of football that they prefer to play. They have not played a team like West Chester this year that has so many quality players. The Yellow Jackets will be able to hang with West Chester for the first three quarters of the game but the Golden Rams will wear them down in the fourth quarter. They have the more talented athletes on both the offensive and defensive line and that will allow them to control the tempo of the game.

Prediction: West Chester 31 AIC 20