GAME NOTES (PDF)

THE MATCH-UP: East Stroudsburg University hosts Gannon in their first-ever meeting a week after upsetting No. 25 Virginia Union, 14-11, in the first game on the new FieldTurf at Eiler-Martin Stadium last Thursday night. Gannon, which joined the PSAC as a full member along with Mercyhurst for the 2008 season, is playing its first game against a conference opponent in tonight's mandated crossover game.

LAST TIME OUT: Sr. WR Drew Stem caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from R-Sr. QB Tim Roken to give ESU a 14-11 lead midway through the fourth quarter, and the defense blanked the Panthers the rest of the way to give the Warriors an upset victory over No. 25 Virginia Union on Thursday, August 28. The win is ESU's first over a team ranked in the top 25 of the AFCA poll since a 41-34 victory over No. 25 California in 2006.

Both of ESU's touchdowns were set up by fumble recoveries. R-Sr. TB Joe Partridge scored on a three-yard run one play after a recovery by R-Sr. LB Fred Rice, and R-Fr. DE Cody Berry had a sack and forced fumble that was recovered by R-Jr. DE Matthew Faas. Roken and Stem found the end zone two plays later to put the Warriors ahead with 8:29 left. Virginia Union scored 11 straight points between the two scores, with a touchdown in the first quarter and a field goal and a safety in the third. The Warriors defense limited Virginia Union to 43 yards of total offense (13 net yards, including penalties) on its final seven possessions.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rice was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his performance, which included 11 tackles and the fumble recovery in the first quarter. Rice had his first double-figure tackle game since leading ESU with 132 stops in 2005 after being limited by injuries the last two seasons.

NEW SURFACE: FieldTurf was installed at Eiler-Martin Stadium this summer, the latest phase in the renovation of the Warriors' major outdoor facility which has had an all-weather track and lights installed in the last two years. ESU debuted the new surface on Thursday, Aug. 28 with a men's soccer-football doubleheader, as the defending PSAC champion men's soccer team defeated Lincoln 12-0 and the football team knocked off No. 25 Virginia Union 14-11. The estimated total cost to turf the stadium and Whitenight Field was approximately $1.7 million. The university received a $300,000 Pennsylvania state challenge grant made possible by State Senator Bob Mellow and $150,000 was donated from the ESU Student Activity Association. The balance of the funds is being secured through other donations.

THE HEAD COACHES: Denny Douds (Slippery Rock '63) is in his 35th season as head football coach at ESU, and his 43rd season at ESU overall. Douds is one of four active coaches in Division II, and one of just 11 coaches in all of college football, with at least 200 career victories. He enters tonight's game with a career record of 210-140-3 and is two victories away from tying the PSAC record of 212 wins held by Gene Carpenter, who coached at Millersville from 1970-2000. Douds has led the Warriors to nine PSAC titles and three NCAA Playoff appearances, including the Northeast Region championship in 2005 when ESU advanced to the national semifinals.

Jim Kiernan (St. Lawrence '90) is in his second season as head football coach at Gannon after spending eight seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Saginaw Valley State. Kiernan helped the Cardinals to a 69-24 record during his tenure at Saginaw Valley, and was 1-10 in his first season with the Golden Knights.

PSAC PRESEASON POLL: ESU was picked to finish third in the 2008 PSAC East Coaches Poll, which was released at PSAC media day on August 4. The Warriors, who received one first place vote, were selected behind preseason favorite and defending PSAC East champion West Chester and runner-up Bloomsburg. Shippensburg was fourth, followed by C.W. Post, Kutztown, Millersville and Cheyney.

In the West, NCAA semifinalist California was picked to defend its title, followed by IUP, Edinboro and Slippery Rock. ESU is scheduled to play the Rock in the final game of the regular season. The Warriors' other two PSAC West crossover opponents, Clarion and Gannon, were picked sixth and seventh, respectively.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: The ESU defense was on the field for more than 35 minutes against Virginia Union, but held the Panthers' offense, which averaged 32.5 points and 401.3 yards per game last season, to 9 points (the offense surrendered a safety) and 259 yards on Thursday.

The Warriors were sixth in the PSAC in total defense (348.9) and scoring defense (26.4) and second in pass defense (162.7) last season and bettered all three marks against Virginia Union. More impressively, a rushing defense that surrendered 186.2 yards per game a year ago held the Panthers to 120 yards on the ground, and VUU was 3-of-15 on third down and 0-of-3 on fourth down conversions. Virginia Union had 155 yards of total offense in the first half and went 61 yards for a field goal in its first possession of the second half, but compiled just 43 yards of total offense from that point.

BACK IN BUSINESS: ESU lost a pair of All-PSAC East linebackers in Jayson Frank and Dave Lotier but didn't miss a step in the season opener, as the group of R-So. OLB Matt Freed (13 tackles), R-Sr. ILB Fred Rice (11), R-Sr. OLB David Pacchioni (8) and R-Sr. ILB Steve Van Alstine (7) combined for 20 solo and 16 assisted tackles and helped contain dual-threat quarterback Lamar Little, a preseason candidate for the Harlon Hill Award.

Van Alstine, a two-year starter at outside linebacker, moved inside this season where he is teaming with Rice, who led the Warriors with 132 tackles as a sophomore in 2005 but has been slowed by injuries the past two seasons. Van Alstine is the leading returning tackler with 53 stops last season.

At the outside linebacker spots, Pacchioni is one of the most versatile defenders in the conference, ranking fourth on the team with 47 tackles, second with 7.0 TFL and adding two interceptions a year ago. Freed had 21 tackles last year, mostly on special teams, and also played in passing situations.

ON THE D-LINE: The Warriors' defensive line also had an impressive debut against Virginia Union, headlined by R-Fr. DE Cody Berry, who made the play of the game with his sack and forced fumble midway through the fourth quarter that was recovered by R-Jr. DE Matthew Faas. Faas and senior tackles Miguel Rivera (2nd team All-PSAC East) and Jeff Shrive started all nine games in 2007, while R-So. DE Jeff Case made his first career start on Thursday.

THE SECONDARY: The ESU secondary, which contributed to lofty pass defense rankings (2nd in PSAC, 19th in the nation) last season at 162.7 yards per game, returned four players with starting experience and has been bolstered by Sr. CB Lionel Mitchell, a transfer from Alabama. The son of former NFL running back Stump Mitchell, Lionel made 10 starts and had five career interceptions (including three for 131 yards in 2006) for the Crimson Tide. He had four tackles and broke up a pass in the opener.

So. CB David Castillo started the final five games last season and had seven tackles and a pass break-up vs. Virginia Union. Jr. Nicholas Artinger (4 starts at CB in 2007) started at safety, and Jr. Mike Gnall (7 starts, 40 tackles at FS in 2007) saw action while returning from injury.

NOTABLES VS. VIRGINIA UNION: First win over a ranked opponent (No. 25) since a 41-34 win vs. No. 25 California in 2006 ... ESU's two scoring drives covered three and 13 yards; the Warriors had two touchdown drives of 25 yards or less in nine games in 2007 ... the final five possessions of the game ended in a turnover on downs following ESU's go-ahead touchdown ... ESU's average starting field position was the 46-yard line; Virginia Union started on its own 25 ... Sr. P Nick Krut averaged 47.6 yards on five punts, including a 60-yarder that matched his career long ... R-So. WR Jeff Giglio returned two first-quarter kickoffs for 47 and 48 yards as VUU kicked away from Sr. WR Drew Stem, the school record holder with a 29.6-yd. career average ... VUU held the ball for 13:08 in the third quarter, with ESU gaining five yards on four plays over three possessions, including a holding penalty in the end zone for a safety ... the Warriors had their longest sustained drive in the fourth quarter (11 plays, 56 yards).

1,000 YARD CLUB: R-Sr. WR Doug Ogden joined R-Jr. WR Sam Shuman as a member of the 1,000-yard receiving club with two catches for 21 yards vs. Virginia Union. Ogden has 1,004 yards and 12 TDs on 80 catches in his career at ESU, while Shuman has 1,033 yards and 7 TDs on 68 career receptions. Drew Stem (42-454-4) will have a chance to reach 1,000 yards during his senior season and led ESU with six catches for 46 yards, including the game-winning 13-yard touchdown, last week.

Shuman and Stem were both second team All-PSAC East selections last season. Shuman led the Warriors with 36 catches for 534 yards and scored four touchdowns a year ago, and Stem led the team with 21 receptions through five games before suffering a season-ending injury vs. Slippery Rock. Shuman was also an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection and is majoring in Pharmacy.

The other wide receivers include R-So. Jeff Giglio, who had 17 catches for 288 yards (16.9 avg.) and two touchdowns last season, and R-So. Ed Kiser, who holds the school record in the indoor 400m (49.49 seconds) and is a member of three school record relay teams. His first career reception went for 18 yards against Virginia Union.

THE RUNNING GAME: R-Sr. Joe Partridge (11 carries, 39 yards) and R-Fr. Russell Johnson (7 carries, 31 yards) shared time at tailback last week and combined to average 3.9 yards per carry. The team's rushing yardage was hurt by three sacks of R-Sr. QB Tim Roken (for 19 yards) and a bad snap (for 17 yards).

Partridge was second team All-PSAC East as a junior after ranking fifth in the PSAC with 87.2 rushing yards per game. He ran for 698 yards and seven touchdowns, including a school-record 284 yards and four TD at Cheyney. He also caught 18 passes for 141 yards and averaged 104.9 yards per game, 11th in the PSAC.

THE PASSING GAME: Roken was 12-for-28 for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception against a Virginia Union defense that was in the top 10 in the nation in passing defense last season. Roken is in his second year as a starter and was second in the PSAC in total offense (269.0 ypg) and third in passing (252.1 ypg) last season, compiling 1,765 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions in seven starts. He averaged 269 yards per game in his final four starts, with 8 TDs and 3 Ints in 154 attempts.

IN THE FRONT ROW: Three Warriors made their first career starts on the offensive line against Virginia Union - Gr. LT Ryan Ehrie, Sr. LG Keith Weaver and R-Fr. C Dan Caffrey. On the right side, R-Jr. G Morgan Thomas made his 21st straight start, and R-Jr. T Matthew Keller started his eighth career game, all at right tackle.

Ehrie is a graduate student in Education at ESU and transferred from Syracuse, where he was a letterwinner on the offensive line and majored in History and Political Science. Weaver is in his second year at ESU after playing at Lackawanna JC, and Caffrey was redshirted as a defensive lineman last fall.

ESU lost three starters from last year's team - LT Mike Habel (four-year starter, two-time first team All-PSAC East), LG Thomas Sugden (three-year starter) and C Michael Parshley (two-year starter).

SPECIAL TEAMS: Often overlooked, ESU's special teams should be a strength in 2008 with three of the top players in school history at their respective positions - Jr. K Greg Knauss, Sr. P Nick Krut and Sr. KR/WR Drew Stem. Knauss and Krut added another chapter to ESU's lengthy history of All-PSAC kickers and punters last season. The Warriors have boasted the top specialists in the East in four of the past seven years - 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

KNAUSS: 13-of-19 on field goals last season ... missed both attempts (43 and 49 yards) vs. Virginia Union ... ranked third in Division II with 1.4 field goals per game ... set two school records last season ... made 53-yard field goal on the final play of the first half against IUP ... drilled five field goals for all of the scoring in a 30-15 loss at West Chester ... made game-winning 40-yard kick with 18 seconds left to give ESU 24-23 victory at Kutztown in season finale.

KRUT: second in the PSAC with a 40.7-yard average (48 punts) last year ... helped ESU finish sixth in Division II with a 36.5 net punting average ... averaged 47.6 yards (39.6 net) on five punts vs. Virginia Union ... ESU has been ranked in the top 10 in the nation in net punting in each of the last four seasons ... had 15 punts inside the 20 and nine of more than 50 yards last year.

STEM: career kick return average of 29.6 yards is the best in school history ... average of 30.9 yards on 14 returns in 2007 ranks second in a single season ... averaged 12.7 yards on seven punt returns ... 143.2 all-purpose yards per game would have ranked fourth in PSAC ... 268 all-purpose yards (60 receiving, 181 KR, 27 PR) vs. Millersville.

PSAC CHANGES: There are two major developments in the PSAC leading up to the 2008 season - the conference's expansion and the return of the "State Game" - as the conference celebrates 75 years since the first football championship was awarded in 1934. The Eastern and Western division champions played a state championship game from 1960 until 1987, and ESU participated nine times, posting a 5-2-2 record. The Warriors are 3-1-1 in the State Game under Denny Douds, winning outright state titles in 1975, 1978 and 1982, and tying for the crown in 1976.

The expansion of the conference to 16 members with the addition of Gannon and Mercyhurst to the PSAC West provides another storyline for the 2008 season. Shippensburg will switch divisions and compete in the PSAC East, and C.W. Post has joined the conference as an associate member in football and field hockey.

WARRIORS ON TV: ESU's first eight games, including all six home games, will be televised in 2008. Blue Ridge TV-13 is in its 21st year televising ESU football and will have live coverage of every game from Eiler-Martin Stadium. Veteran play-by-play man Chris Doty is joined in the booth by Jim Riley, along with Drenen Tucker on the sidelines. Additionally, four games will be available statewide through an agreement with PA SPORTSfever TV - Sept. 13 at Clarion, Sept. 20 vs. Shippensburg, Oct. 11 at Bloomsburg and Oct. 18 vs. Kutztown. The broadcast outlets in the Poconos are WQMY-53 (channel 16 on Blue Ridge Cable) and WSWB-38 (channel 11 on Blue Ridge).

WARRIORS ON RADIO: WVPO 840 AM has broadcast ESU football for 46 years, with Chuck Seese and Bob Brittain forming the broadcast team once again in 2008. Seese is in his 20th season as the voice of the Warriors on WVPO. WESS 90.3 FM, ESU's campus radio station, will also broadcast selected games.

PSAC CHAMPIONSHIPS: ESU has won a share of nine PSAC titles under head coach Denny Douds, and 15 in school history. The most recent championships came in 2002 and 2003, when the Warriors tied for the PSAC East championship. Outright PSAC titles came in 1964, 1965, 1975, 1978 and 1982. ESU has a 199-95-1 (.676) record in PSAC games for the third-best winning percentage since the first on-the-field championship was awarded in 1960.

ESU IN THE DIVISION II PLAYOFFS: ESU has made three appearances in the Division II Playoffs, with the first coming in 1991, followed by back-to-back trips in 2004 and 2005. The Warriors are 4-3 all-time in playoff games. Their first Division II Playoff victory was a 36-32 win over Edinboro in 2004, while the 2005 playoff run included wins over Southern Connecticut State (55-33), Bloomsburg (52-39) and C.W. Post (55-28) to earn the Northeast Region championship. The run finally ended with a 55-20 loss to eventual national champion Grand Valley State.

RETURNING ALL-PSAC PLAYERS: The Warriors return six All-PSAC East selections for the 2008 season, including Jr. K Greg Knauss and Sr. P Nick Krut, who were both members of the first team. Also back are Sr. TB Joe Partridge, Jr. WR Sam Shuman, Sr. WR Drew Stem and Sr. DT Miguel Rivera.

WHO'S GONE: ESU graduated three All-PSAC East players in first team OL Mike Habel, first team LB Jayson Frank and second team LB Dave Lotier. Frank (93) and Lotier (80) led the team in tackles, and Frank was second in the PSAC. Other starters who departed are WR Jon Clouse, FB Joe Kircher, OL Michael Parshley, OL Thomas Sugden, DE Dave Iobst, CB Mike Gowen and LS Brock Williard.