Two-time Ches-Mont rushing champion Terry Loper gives verbal to Maine

West Chester Rustin running back Terry Loper gave a verbal commitment to the University of Maine Saturday night.

Loper, the 2014 Daily Local News All-Area Player of the Year, led the area with 2,227 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Golden Knights this past season.

In his career at Rustin, Loper has rushed for 4,758 yards and 55 touchdowns. He is the school’s all-time rushing leader.

“It’s just a blessing to finally have the process over with,’ Loper said on his comittment. “I couldn’t do this without the big boys up front (Christos Moscharis, Sean Weaver, Phil Vecchiolli, Bobby Dougherty, Ray Bordley, Matt Hosking) over the years.’

Loper was selected as the Ches-Mont American Division Most Valuable Player in leading the Golden Knights to a 10-2 record, including their first playoff win since the 2010 season.

The Rustin senior is a two-time Ches-Mont League rushing champion, having amassed the most yards in 2013 as well. Loper had 22 100-yard games in his career, including nine 200-yard games and two 300-yard games.

Loper will provide much-needed rusing help for Maine, who finished 5-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association last season. The Black Bears only had 1,202 yards on the ground in 2014, which their leading rusher having just 471 yards on 118 attempts (4.0 per carry).

Maine has reached the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Tournament in three of the last seven seasons, including quaterfinal appearences in 2011 and 2013.

Other schools that offered Loper were Bryant, Buffalo, Monmouth and Rhode Island. He is the third area athlete to declare a verbal this week joing Coatesville’s Jay Stocker (Pittsburgh) and Great Valley’s Nasir Adderley (Delaware).

Eleven area players have given verbals to Division 1 schools. National Signing Day is February 4.