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SATURDAY  l  6:00 p.m.  l  OFFUTT FIELD, Greensburg, Pa.

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Watch: Coach Douds recaps AIC, previews Seton Hill

Radio: Live on WVPO 840 AM for the 51st season, and redzonemedia.com. Chuck Seese, the 2009 PSAC Heaslip Media Award recipient, is in his 25th season as the voice of the Warriors, with Bob Brittain in his 13th year providing the color commentary. Pre-game begins at 5:30 p.m.


1st & 10 ...

1 • ESU and Seton Hill face each other for the first time, as the Griffins play the 2nd game of their inaugural season in the PSAC.

2 • Both schools opened their seasons last Thursday. ESU earned a 21-14 win over American International, the favorite in the Northeast-10 conference. Seton Hill fell 37-29 at Fairmont State.

3 • ESU So. CB Teron Dobbs was named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his effort against AIC - 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups, 3 tackles and a sack on 4th-and-goal from the 1. Dobbs spearheaded a 2nd-half shutout as the Warriors rallied from a 14-7 halftime deficit.

4 • ESU R-Fr. TB Robert Healy (22 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD) nearly became the first ESU freshman to run for 100 yards in a season opener in 40 years under head coach Denny Douds.

5 • ESU welcomes a newcomer to the PSAC for the 2nd time in 6 seasons. In 2008, the Warriors hosted Gannon in its first PSAC crossover game, handing the Golden Knights a 23-10 loss.

6 • Seton Hill will become the 59th opponent that ESU has faced in its 86 season of varsity football. They will be the 39th opponent to face Douds.

7 • Seton Hill's Isaac Collins will be the 101st head coach to face Douds, and the first of 4 new coaches to face Douds this year. Douds is 66-34 in his first match-up with an opposing head coach.

8 • Last week, Douds moved into a tie for 25th in career wins in college football history with 238, matching former Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes.

9 • Douds is the 13th man to reach 40 seasons as head coach in NCAA football history, the 9th to coach 40 years at one school, and the 5th to spend his entire 40+ year career at the same institution.

10 • ESU was picked 5th in the PSAC East preseason poll, while Seton Hill was picked 8th in the PSAC West. The Griffins were 0-11 a year ago with their last win coming Oct. 29, 2011 vs. West Liberty (26-22). They have currently lost 14 straight.


SERIES HISTORY: This is the first meeting between ESU and Seton Hill, after facing American International for just the 4th time (and first time since 1995) last week. ESU is 3-1 in its last four games against a first-time opponent, beating Virginia Union and Gannon in 2008, Pace in 2010, and losing at Mercyhurst in 2012.

THE HEAD COACHES: Denny Douds (Slippery Rock '63) has a career record of 238-167-3 (.587) in his 40th season. He has led the Warriors to 9 PSAC titles and 4 NCAA Playoff appearances since taking over as head coach in 1974. His teams won outright state titles in 1975, 1978 and 1982 before the State Game was discontinued following the 1987 season. His teams have claimed PSAC East divisional titles in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1991, 2002 and 2003. NCAA Playoff appearances have come in 1991, 2004, 2005 - when the Warriors won the Northeast Region title and advanced to the national semifinals - and 2009.

Isaac Collins (Rochester '94) is in his first season at Seton Hill after spending three years as head coach at Division III Widener (Pa.). Collins had a 25-8 record at Widener, including a Mid-American Conference (MAC) title and 11-1 record in his final season in 2012, when he was named MAC Coach of the Year. While Collins was the defensive coordinator, his offenses ranked 1st in DIII in scoring in 2011 (47.1 ppg) and 5th in 2012 (45.8 ppg). He also has experience at Hobart, Columbia, Lehigh, Holy Cross, Delaware and The Citadel.

DOUDS' MILESTONES: Douds is the 13th man to reach 40 seasons as head coach in college football history, the 9th to coach 40 years at one school, and the 5th to spend all of his 40+ year career at the same institution. He joins Eddie Robinson (Grambling, 1941-42, 45-97), John E. Dorman (Upper Iowa, 1905-06, 09-42, 45-59), Joe Paterno (Penn State, 1966-2011) and Jim Malosky (Minn.-Duluth, 1958-97) on that list.

PROGRAM WINS: ESU has a 454-303-19 (.597) record in its 86th year of varsity football. West Chester (548), IUP (514) and Slippery Rock (457) are the only other PSAC programs with at least 450 wins.

As head coach, Douds is responsible for 52.6 percent of the program's games (408 of 776), and 52.4 percent of its wins (238 of 454). Including 68 games and 45 wins as an assistant coach under Charlie Reese from 1966-73, he has coached in 476 of the 776 games (61.3 percent) and 283 of the 454 wins (62.3 percent) in program history. There have been at least 4 head coaches at every other PSAC school since Douds was named ESU head coach in 1974.

Along with holding the PSAC record for career wins, Douds has also coached in 105 more games than the 2nd-most in conference history (Millersville's Gene Carpenter, 303, who he faced 27 times).

DOUDS' FOES: Douds has coached against 100 different head coaches in his career at ESU, adding his 100th (Mercyhurst's Marty Schaetzle) in the 2012 season finale. He is 66-34 vs. first-time foes and will face 4 more this season - Seton Hill's Isaac Collins, Bloomsburg's Paul Darragh, Kutztown's Drew Folmar and Millersville's Greg Breitbach.

Douds faced Millersville's Gene Carpenter 27 times, and faced Danny Hale 26 times between his career at West Chester and Bloomsburg before Hale retired this spring. Among active coaches, his most frequent opponent is West Chester's Bill Zwaan (11 games).

PSAC CHANGES: The PSAC admitted Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown for full membership beginning July 1. With the entrance of Seton Hill, associate member LIU Post has left the conference and joined the Northeast-10. Lock Haven, which ended a 52-game losing streak with a 15-7 win over Cheyney in the 2012 season finale, moves to the PSAC East.

The PSAC's 18 members (16 football) form the largest NCAA conference regardless of division or state borders. The conference sponsors 23 championships, the most at the NCAA Division II level.

5 TAKEAWAYS FROM 21-14 WIN vs. AIC
1. ESU allowed just 14 points - and 0 after halftime - after giving up 35.9 points per game in 2012. The Warriors won their 24th straight game when holding an opponent until 20 points.
2. ESU currently ranks 20th in DII in pass efficiency defense (82.5) after ranking 153rd last year (163.5).
3. AIC was just 1-for-3 in the red zone, with 1 TD and 2 turnovers on downs.
4. The Warriors lost their top 2 tailbacks from last year, but still hit their 2012 average (170.3) with 173 rushing yards.
5. ESU had 22 plays in the 4th quarter - including 19 rushing plays for 88 yards.

5 STATS TO LOOK FOR vs. SETON HILL
1. Seton Hill ran 97 plays - including 70 pass plays - in last week's 37-29 loss at Fairmont State.
2. QB's Nick Halfhill (27-42, 305 yds, 4 TD; 15 rush, 36 yds) and Andrew Jackson (10-26, 48 yds; 1 rush, 7 yds) combined to account for 84 of the Griffins' 97 plays, either rushing or passing.
3. Seton Hill held Fairmont State to 99 yards on 42 carries (2.4 yards per rush) and had 4 sacks.
4. Fairmont State averaged 10.0 yards per attempt and 17.3 yards per completion, going 15-for-26 for 260 yards.
5. Fairmont State sacked Halfhill 5 times. ESU had just 1 sack in 37 passes by AIC last week, but had 24 sacks over the last 4 games of the 2012 season.

DOBBS RECOGNIZED BY PSAC
So. CB Teron Dobbs made nearly every big play for the ESU defense against AIC to earn the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week award. His selection gives ESU at least one award recipient in 10 straight seasons (since 2004).
* 1st quarter - interception with AIC near midfield
* 3rd quarter - saved TD, tackling Terrell Williams (61-yard run) on 3-yard line, with ESU trailing 14-7
   3rd-and-goal from 1 - assisted tackle at goal line
   4th-and-goal from 1 - sack and 10-yard loss
* 3rd quarter (4:30 left) - 3rd-down pass breakup in end zone (ESU tied game on ensuing possession)
* 4th quarter (13:30 left) - 3rd-down pass breakup (ESU took lead on ensuing possession)
* 4th quarter (8:00 left) - interception with AIC driving near midfield

PITCHING THE SHUTOUT
ESU's 2nd-half shutout in a victory after trailing at halftime is just its 3rd in the last 20 years - overcoming a 14-7 halftime deficit to win 21-14. The Warriors won 10-6 at Cheyney in 2011 (trailed 6-2 at half), and beat Mansfield 57-20 in 2005 (trailed 20-17 at half).

THE OFFENSE

SOLTES AS A SOPHOMORE: R-So. QB Matt Soltes opened his 2nd season as ESU's quarterback with 263 yards of total offense (215 passing, 48 rushing) in the Warriors' 21-14 win over American International. He was 4-for-4 for 52 yards on the season's first possession, culminating with a 7-yard TD to R-So. WR Jon Schnaars. He was 7-for-9 on a 13-play, 83-yard drive late in the 3rd quarter with R-So. TB Robert Healy scoring on the first play of the 4th quarter. On the Warriors' next possession, they took the lead with a 9-play, 63-yard drive.

PSAC EAST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Soltes had one of the top freshman seasons in PSAC history last fall, gaining 3,158 yards of total offense (2,622 passing, 536 rushing). He was the 4th PSAC quarterback, and first non-senior, with 2,500 yards passing and 500 yards rushing in a season.

• Soltes led DII freshmen in both total offense (315.8 ypg) and pass efficiency (157.5)
• His 3,158 total yards are 2nd-most among PSAC freshmen behind ESU's Jimmy Terwilliger (3,342 yards, 2003)
• His 2,622 passing yards are 3rd-most among PSAC freshmen

Soltes started the final 7 games of the season and had 6 games with 300+ yards of total offense. He set an NCAA freshman record with 666 yards at LIU Post, becoming the first PSAC QB to throw for 500 yards (535) and rush for 100 (131) in a single game.

• He had 1,907 yards over the final 4 games - the most in school history
• His 402.7 yards of total offense per game as a starter would have led NCAA Division II

He was a 3-time PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week in games against West Chester, LIU Post and Millersville. Against West Chester, he set ESU's single-game completion percentage record (81.1, 30-for-37) in his 2nd career start, throwing for 366 yards and 3 TD.

DOING IT ON THE GROUND: Soltes ranked 2nd at ESU in rushing yards by a QB in a season (536) in 2012, trailing only current Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin, who ran for 543 yards as a senior in 1994. Soltes had the 3rd- and 4th-most rushing yards in a game by an ESU QB since 1968 last year, with 131 at LIU Post and 126 at Millersville in back-to-back weeks. He was 1st ESU QB to run for 100+ yards in consecutive games since at least 1968.

FAMILY TRADITION: Soltes and his father, Andy, are the 3rd father-son tandem to throw a TD pass for the Warriors under Douds. Matt's first career TD was a 49-yard pass to Thomas Tippett vs. Cheyney on Sept. 22, 2012.

Andy's only career TD was a 73-yard pass to Scott Benoit that put the Warriors ahead in the 4th quarter of a 17-9 win at West Chester in 1982. He suffered an injury in the spring game the following year.  Matt's 5th career TD was the 33-yard pass to Tim Wilson to beat West Chester, 35-28, on Oct. 6, 2012.

Other tandems are Mike and Jimmy Terwilliger and Brian and Matt Marshall.

Mike Terwilliger, ESU's offensive coordinator, was QB for Douds' first four years (1974-77) and has been an assistant coach ever since. He led ESU to a 30-4-1 record in 35 starts and threw 33 TD passes. His son, Jimmy, was a four-year Harlon Hill candidate from 2003-06, the 2005 Harlon Hill Award winner, and tied the NCAA all-division record with 148 TD passes. Jimmy was 36-12, starting all 48 games, and took the Warriors to the NCAA DII semifinals in 2005.

Brian Marshall was the Warriors' QB in 1981, under Terwilliger's tutelage, and threw 5 TD passes. His son, Matt, was a two-year starter, led ESU to the 2009 NCAA Playoffs and threw 61 TD passes (4th in school history) from 2007-10.

ADDING IT ALL UP: TD passes by family ... Terwilligers 181 (Mike 33, Jimmy 148) ... Marshalls 66 (Brian 5, Matt 61) ... Soltes 23 (Andy 1, Matt 22) ... TD passes by fathers -- 39 ... TD passes by sons -- 231 and counting.

DANIELS PROVIDES DEPTH: R-Sr. QB Nate Daniels has made 4 career starts, including the first 3 games last season. He made his first career start as a redshirt sophomore at Shippensburg in the 10th game of the 2011 season.

In last year's season opener, a 31-0 win over Lock Haven, Daniels was 17-for-26 for 355 yards and 4 TD - the 4th-most passing yards in a season opener in ESU history.

He was 35-for-60 for 631 yards, 7 TD and 3 Int. for a pass efficiency rating of 175.2 last year. In his career, he is 52-for-96 for 960 yards, 9 TD and 5 Int.

REBUILDING THE GROUND GAME: ESU ran for 170.3 yards per game in 2012 - its most since 2001 (173.6) - and had 3 players gain 500+ yards for just the 2nd time in school history - Eric Deery (551), Soltes (536) and Kendrick Williams (532). In 1994, Orlando Williams (628), Jason Killian (559) and QB James Franklin (543) all went over 500 yards.

The Warriors must replace both tailbacks in Williams and Deery. Williams ranks 5th at ESU in career rushing yards (2,177), 3rd in rushing TD (23), 2nd in carries (475) and 5th in all-purpose yards (3,580). Deery ran for 1,421 yards and 9 TD in 4 seasons.

HEALY, VAN DE CRUZ, DYER MAKE ESU DEBUTS
ESU's 3 tailbacks combined for 29 carries for 124 yards and 2 TD in the season opener vs. AIC, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. They spearheaded a rushing attack that gained 173 yards - and gained 88 yards on 19 carries in the 4th quarter.

R-Fr. Robert Healy - East Meadow, N.Y.
• 22 car, 91 yds, 2 TD (2, 4 yds in 4th quarter) of ESU's 21-14 win vs. AIC in 1st career game, start
• nearly became 1st ESU FR to run for 100 yds in season opener in 40 years under Coach Douds
• 2011 Thorpe Award winner as top player in Nassau County
• ran for 1,800 yards and 38 TD to set Long Island record for points (236) in a single season
• All-Long Island and 2nd team All-State
• led team to Nassau County championship

Jr. Gerald Van De Cruz - Phillipsburg, N.J.
• 2 car, 16 yds in 4th quarter vs. AIC
• transfer from Lackawanna College
• 4-year letterwinner at FB and NG at Phillipsburg
• 2010 Warren County Player of the Year
• 1st team All-West Jersey and All-Area

Jr. Derrick Dyer - Pennsauken, N.J./Palmyra
• 5 car, 17 yds in 4th quarter vs. AIC
• transfer from Seton Hill
• led Griffins in rushing in 2012, with 66 carries for 274 yards and 3 TD
• 2-time All-Freedom Division defensive back at Palmyra HS
• ran for 1,097 yards on 152 carries

EXPERIENCED FULLBACK: R-Sr. Thomas Tippett was named to the Football Gazette All-Region 3rd team last year. He had 19 catches for 288 yards and a TD, and 19 carries for 51 yards and 5 TD (all from 1 yard) ... 2013: 2 car, 5 yds (both 1st downs), 2 rec, 11 yds.

In his career, Tippett has played in 32 games and made 15 starts. He has 36 receptions for 448 yards and 1 TD, and has scored 6 rushing TD.

AIRING IT OUT: ESU has led the PSAC in passing in 7 of the last 11 years, and the Warriors' quarterback has been in the top 3 in the PSAC in total offense all 11 seasons ... the Warriors were 2nd in the PSAC and 4th in DII in total offense (497.9 ypg) and Soltes was 3rd in the PSAC and 12th in DII (315.8).

BIG PLAY OFFENSE: ESU was 3rd in Division II with 7.20 yards per play and 9.58 yards per pass attempt during the 2012 season ... ESU's 15.83 yards per completion were also 3rd-most among DII schools (min. 15 completions/game) ... the Warriors had 27 pass plays of 30+ yards, including 8 TD ... ESU led DII with 15.59 yards per completion in 2011.

PSAC EAST'S OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: The PSAC East had 3 of the top 8 offenses in DII in 2012:

1. Shippensburg - 529.9 ypg (46.9 ppg)
4. ESU - 497.9 ypg (38.5 ppg)
8. Kutztown - 481.1 ypg (44.6 ppg)
16. Bloomsburg - 472.5 ypg (37.6 ppg)
35. West Chester - 433.0 ypg (35.3 ppg)

The division also had the #2 passing offense (Shippensburg - 387.7 ypg), the #5 rushing offense (Bloomsburg - 315.8 ypg) and the #2 and #4 scoring offenses (Shippensburg - 46.9 ppg, and Kutztown - 44.6 ppg).

BIG PLAY BLEILER: R-Sr. WR Robert Bleiler is averaging 16.8 yards per catch in his career, with 1,464 yards on 87 catches.

• 2013 - 5 catches, 49 yards
• 2012 - 37 catches, 609 yards, 4 TD
• 2011 - 33 catches, 659 yards, 4 TD
• 2010 - 12 catches, 147 yards

Bleiler has three 100-yard games in his career - including 6 catches for 137 yards, and a 75-yard TD on the game's first play, in the 2012 season finale at Mercyhurst. He had 172 yards vs. Pace and 153 at Kutztown in 2011.

SOPHOMORE RECEIVERS: The Warriors have 5 sophomores who are expected to contribute at receiver this season:

R-So. Jon Schnaars
• AIC: 5 catches, 50 yards, TD (7 yds) on 1st possession
• 16 catches, 312 yards, 1 TD in 2012
• 4th on team in receiving yards
• 5 catches, 124 yards at LIU Post
• 3 catches, 90 yards, TD (46 yards) vs. Kutztown

So. Tim Wilson
• AIC: 2 catches, 34 yards (30 yds on 1st play of game)
• 11 catches, 167 yards, 2 TD in 2012
• Played in final 7 games
• 33-yard TD with 5 seconds left to beat West Chester
• 2 catches, 47 yards on final drive

R-So. Brandon Mercer
• AIC: 1 catch, 18 yards
• 3 catches, 23 yards in 2012
• 31.9 kick return average - 2nd-best in ESU history
• 94-yard kick return TD vs. Cheyney (ESU's first since 2002)
• Career bests of 7.02 in 60m and 10.74 in 100m for ESU track team
• Member of PSAC champion 4x100m relay in 2012

So. Joe Welk
• AIC: 2 catches, 12 yards (1st career receptions)
• Played in 9 games, primarily on special teams in 2012
• Ran for 1,335 yards as a senior at Solanco in 2011
• Member of ESU wrestling team as starter at 149 pounds

So. Gerard Wendowski
• Played in 7 games, primarily on special teams in 2012
• All-Suburban One 2nd team at North Penn (HS teammate of Mercer)

THE TIGHT END: R-Jr. Steven Jones emerged as an impact receiver over the 2nd half of the 2012 season. In the final 3 games, he had 10 catches for 135 yards and 5 TD - including 5 catches, 58 yards and 2 TD at LIU Post, and 4 catches, 61 yards and 2 TD at Millersville.

• 2013 - 2 catches, 32 yards (both on game-tying TD drive)
• 2012 - 18 catches, 260 yards, 5 TD
• 2011 - 13 catches, 154 yards, 3 TD

RUNNING THE CLOCK: ESU held the ball for 30:22 per game in 2012 - its best since 2002, and just the 2nd time since that season (2009, 30:09) that the Warriors had a TOP advantage over an entire year ... 2013: ESU held the ball for 32:27 - including 18:41 in the 2nd half, and 10:28 in the 4th quarter, in 21-14 win vs. AIC in the season opener.

IN THE FRONT ROW: ESU's offensive linemen have combined for 55 career starts after the season opener vs. AIC. Two Warriors made their 1st career starts up front in So. RG Eric Burleson and R-So. RT Raymond Ocasio, Jr.

The Warriors lost 84 career starts from guard Seve Rivers (41), a 2-time All-PSAC East selection, and tackle Wrenton Wright II (43) - but return their other 3 starters for 2013. Rivers and Wright were the 6th and 7th Warriors - and 4th and 5th offensive linemen - to make 40 career starts since 2003.

Last year, the Warriors started the same 5 offensive linemen in all 10 games and had just one position change, flipping Wright II to right tackle and current So. Cody Laubach to left tackle for weeks 8-10.

LT -- So. Cody Laubach (6-5, 315)
• 11 career starts (every game)
• Started all 10 games (first 7 at RT, last 3 at LT) in 2012
• 1st true FR to start every game since 2004 (OL Jeff Kocsis)
• first true freshman OL to start opener since 2004

LG -- Jr. Pete Wolmart (6-3, 310)
• 13 career starts (11 straight)
• Started all 10 games at LG in 2012
• 2 starts as a freshman, both at LT
• Missed rest of season due to injury

C -- R-Sr. Greg Blue (6-2, 285)
• 29 career starts (18 straight - both lead team)
• 11 at center, 9 at LG, 9 at RG
• Started all 10 games at center in 2012
• Started 9 games at LG as a R-SO in 2011
• Started 9 games at RG as a R-FR in 2010

RG -- So. Eric Burleson (6-4, 305)
• 1st career start vs. AIC
• Played in 7 games, primarily on short-yardage offense and special teams
• Replaces Seve Rivers (41 career starts), who was 1st team All-PSAC East
• All-Area honorable mention at Parkland HS

RT -- R-So. Raymond Ocasio, Jr. (6-7, 300)
• 1st career start vs. AIC
• Played in 3 games in 2012
• Starter on District and AAA state championship team at Allentown Central Catholic
THE SPECIAL TEAMS

GROFF AMONG NATION'S BEST KICKERS
Sr. K Taylor Groff enters his senior season within reach of several ESU career records, and the PSAC career record for field goals made.

Groff is a member of the Watch List for the Fred Mitchell Award (top kicker in DII, DIII, NJCAA and NAIA) for the 3rd straight year. He was one of 10 finalists for the award last season.

As a junior in 2012, he was named to the Daktronics and Football Gazette All-Region 1st team, and the All-PSAC East 1st team.

• Led DII kickers with 9.3 points per game
• 1 of 2 kickers in DII with 3 field goals of 50+ yards
• 15-for-23 on field goals - including 10-of-11 to finish season
• Perfect 48-for-48 on extra points

Among active DII kickers, Groff ranks 1st with 1.4 FG made and 2.0 FG attempted per game.

He has made 4 field goals of 51+ yards in his career - the only kicker in PSAC history with more than 1 field goal from that distance.

Career - 42-61 - 26-34 inside 40 - 16-27 over 40
• 15-for-20 (7-for-10 40+) to tie or give ESU lead
• 7-for-8 (2-for-2 over 40) in final 1:00 of 1st half
• 6 FG of 48+ yards (4-for-7 from 50+ yards)
• has made 4 of the 5 longest FG in school history

2013 - 0-3 - 0-2 inside 40 - 0-1 over 40
• Groff was 0-for-3 vs. AIC in the season opener (50, 29, 32)
• He had his first career miss in the final 1:00 of the 1st half (29 yards), and had been 7-for-7 in the last 1:00 of the half in his career
• Extended made PAT streak to 61 (final 10 of 2011, all 48 in 2012, 3 in 2013)

2012 - 15-23 - 9-13 inside 40 - 6-10 over 40
• Made FG of 52 at Bloomsburg and Millersville, and 51 at Clarion
• t-3rd in DII with 1.5 field goals/game
• 1st in DII with 9.3 points/game
• 93 points were 2nd-most in school history

2011 - 11-14 - 5-7 inside 40 - 6-7 over 40
• 6 FG of 40+ yards - tied for ESU record
• the rest of PSAC kickers were 9-for-30 from 40+
• made 2 longest FG in the PSAC (52 and 48 yards)
• 52-yard FG at Kutztown
• missed first 3 games due to injury

2010 - 16-21 - 12-12 inside 40 - 4-9 over 40
• ESU record with 16 field goals
• perfect inside 40 yards
• 1 of 2 kickers in DII to make a FG in every game
• 87 points rank 3rd in school history

ESU Career Field Goal Percentage
1. 68.9 -- Taylor Groff (42-61)
2. 67.2 -- Mark Brubaker (39-58)

ESU Career Field Goals
1. 50 -- Ed Detwiler (1989-92)  [also PSAC record]
2. 42 -- Taylor Groff (2010-pres.)
3. 39 -- Mark Brubaker (2002-05)

ESU Career Field Goals of 40+ Yards
1. 16 -- Taylor Groff
2. 12 -- Ed Detwiler

ESU Career Points by Kicker
1. 287 -- Mark Brubaker
2. 262 -- Ed Detwiler
3. 233 -- Taylor Groff

BAIR ENTERS 3RD YEAR AS PUNTER
Jr. Jordan Bair is one of the PSAC's most experienced punters, entering his 3rd year as the Warriors' starter.

In 2012, he was 10th in the PSAC in net average (33.8) after ranking 6th in net punting (32.9) as a freshman.

• 2013 - 39.2 avg, 37.2 net, 5 punts (1 inside 20), long 47
• 2012 - 37.2 avg, 33.8 net, 30 punts (11 inside 20), long 53
• 2011 - 37.8 avg, 32.9 net, 44 punts (10 inside 20), long 53

ESU has been a regular among the Division II leaders in net punting, ranking in the top 5 in three of the last nine years. The Warriors led the nation in 2004 (40.6) and 2008 (39.7) and ranked 3rd in 2006 (36.0).

RULE CHANGE
The NCAA instituted two rule changes on kickoffs prior to the 2012 season. The kickoff spot was moved up 5 yards (to the 35-yard line), and the touchback spot was moved up 5 yards (to the 25-yard line).

Sr. Taylor Groff has helped ESU rank 3rd in the PSAC in average opponents drive start in 2012, and 1st in 2010. In his career, he has 37 touchbacks on 178 kickoffs (20.8 percent):
• 2013 - 0 touchbacks, 4 kickoffs (0%)
• 2012 - 23 touchbacks, 72 kickoffs (31.9%)
• 2011 - 3 touchbacks, 37 kickoffs (8.1%)
• 2010 - 11 touchbacks, 65 kickoffs (16.9%)

THE RETURN GAME
R-So. WR Brandon Mercer and So. WR Tim Wilson are handling the kick and punt returns early in the 2013 season.

Mercer:
* averaged 31.9 yards on 14 KR as a redshirt freshman in 2012, the 2nd-best average in school history
* 94-yard KR return vs. Cheyney in 2012 (ESU's first since 2002)
* 11 punt returns for 29 yards in 2012
2013 ...
* 2 KR, 69 yards (36, 33 yards) vs. AIC in season opener
Track ...
* PR's of 10.74 in 100m, and 7.02 in 60m
* Member of PSAC champion 4x100m relay as freshman in 2012
* 5th in PSAC in 100m (10.83), and 6th in 60m (7.04), in 2012
* 4th in PSAC in 60m (7.06) in 2013

Wilson:
* averaged 16.3 yards on 7 KR in 2012, with a long of 29
* 5 punt returns for 10 yards
2013 ...
* 2 PR for 13 yards, and 1 KR for 28 yards, vs. AIC in season opener

THE DEFENSE

6 RETURNING STARTERS - BUT STILL YOUNG
After returning just 2 starters entering the 2012 season, the Warriors returned 6 starters for 2013 - including the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year in R-Jr. DL Bryan Thomson.

Even with a large number of returners, the Warriors have just 1 senior on the defense in OLB Darius Jackson.

Of the 25 players on the depth chart, there are:
SR -- 1 starter
JR -- 7 starters, 2 backups
SO -- 2 starters, 2 backups
R-FR -- 0 starters, 4 backups
FR -- 1 starters, 6 backups

THE RETURNERS: ESU's 6 returning defensive starters ...
DE -- R-Jr. Brandon Gattelli (19 starts - all 10 in 2012)
DL -- R-Jr. Bryan Thomson (12 starts - all 10 in 2012)
MLB -- Jr. Cody Simcox (10 starts - last 9 in 2012)
OLB -- Sr. Darius Jackson (15 starts - 9 in 2012, 5 at fullback in 2011-12)
CB -- So. Teron Dobbs (9 starts - 8 in 2012 after moving to CB from WR)
S - R-Jr. Anthony Singlar (16 starts - all 10 in 2012)

THE NEWCOMERS: ESU broke in 5 new starters in the 2013 opener - including 3 who saw their first career action for the Warriors ...
DE - Jr. Tarik Haddad (3 career starts - 2 in 2012)
DL - R-Jr. Jon Noble (1st career start)
OLB - R-So. Kaje Cowans (1st career game - transfer from Bowie State)
CB - R-Jr. Konrad Mims (1st career game - on roster, dnp in 2011)
FS - Fr. Dean Vitale (1st career game - joined team last spring)

SHUTDOWN HALF: ESU opened the 2nd half with a goal-line stand, holding AIC out of the end zone on 4 plays from the 3-yard line and in after So. CB Teron Dobbs had a TD-saving tackle on a 61-yard run by Terrell Williams.

The Warriors held AIC to 144 yards on 31 plays after halftime after allowing 14 points on 42 plays (258 yards) in the 1st half.

PASS DEFENSE TURNAROUND: ESU was 155th of 156 schools in pass defense (310.0 ypg) and 153rd in pass efficiency defense (163.5) last year.

In Thursday's opener, the Warriors held AIC's Kevin Arduino to 15-for-37 for 193 yards, 1 TD and 2 Int. They rank 20th of 166 schools in pass efficiency defense (82.5).

ESU is 2nd in the PSAC in pass efficiency defense, 5th in yards allowed (191) and one of 3 teams with multiple interceptions. ESU and defending PSAC champion IUP are the only PSAC schools with more interceptions than passing TD allowed.

DEPTH, EXPERIENCE ON THE LINE: Of the 8 players on the depth chart on the defensive line, 7 are in at least their 3rd year in the Warriors' program and have combined for 117 games and 35 starts.

Along with Thomson and Gattelli, the other 2 starters have plenty of experience in R-Jr. DL Jon Noble and Jr. DE Tarik Haddad, who started 2 games last year and is also the Warriors' long snapper.

Listed as backups are R-Jr. DE Sam Trunzo, R-So. DE Antoine Ray, R-Jr. DL Josh Przywara and R-Fr. DE Ahmad McFarland, who will also play tackle.

RUSHING THE PASSER: The Warriors led the PSAC and were tied for 9th in DII with 3.0 sacks per game in 2012, after posting just 6 sacks in their first 6 games. In the final 4 games, they got to the quarterback 24 times - 4 vs. Kutztown, 6 at LIU Post, 6 at Millersville and 8 at Mercyhurst.

The Warriors return players who had 16.5 of their 30 sacks last year, including Thomson (team-high 5.0), Gattelli (4.5), Przywara (3.0) and Noble (1.5) on the defensive line ... 2013: ESU had 1 sack vs. AIC (Teron Dobbs).

RETURNING ALL-AMERICA: R-Jr. DL Bryan Thomson opened the 2013 season with 9 tackles and a pass breakup in ESU's 21-14 win vs. AIC.

Thomson was named to the Football Gazette All-America 3rd team and was the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year in his 1st season as a starter in 2012. He played in all 11 games and made 1 start as a redshirt freshman in 2011.

Thomson had 50 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and blocked 6 kicks to tie ESU's single-season school record. He had all 5.0 sacks over the final 4 weeks of the year - including 9 tackles, 2.0 TFL, a sack, fumble recovery and blocked PAT in the season finale at Mercyhurst. He also had 2.0 sacks at LIU Post and sacks against Kutztown and Millersville.

Thomson was the first sophomore to be named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year since ESU linebacker Kevin Nagle in 1998.

BLOCK THAT KICK: Thomson tied the school single-season record in 2012 with 6 blocked kicks (3 PAT, 3 FG) held by linebacker Joe Menton (1995), and the career record of 8 blocked kicks (5 PAT, 3 FG) held by defensive tackle Matt Delancey (1993-96), currently a strength coach at Florida.

ESU opponents were just 3-for-8 on field goals in 2012, with Thomson accounting for 3 blocks.

DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT: ESU is shifting from a 4-4 defense to a 4-3 this season, but opponents should still see plenty of the 8-man front that Warriors fans are accustomed to.

The 4th linebacker is replaced by a 2nd safety who will primarily play close to the line of scrimmage - similar to the "chief" outside linebacker position in the previous incarnation of the Warriors' defense.

The new safety position is filled by one of ESU's most experienced players, R-Jr. Anthony Singlar, who led the Warriors with 86 tackles and ranked 6th in the PSAC with 8.6 tackles per game as free safety in 2012.

Singlar has made 16 career starts - 10 in 2012, and 5 in 2011. In those 5 starts as a redshirt freshman, he had 42 tackles.

Fr. Dean Vitale, who joined the Warriors for spring practice, is the starter at free safety.

AT THE CORNERS: So. Teron Dobbs was last week's PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week, with 2 Int., 2 PBU, 3 tackles and a sack in ESU's 21-14 win vs. AIC.

Dobbs started 8 games as a true freshman in 2012. He made the roster as a wide reciever but moved to corner after week 1, played in week 2 vs. Shippensburg and made his first career start in week 3 vs. Cheyney. He led the Warriors with 3 interceptions, had 32 tackles and 4 pass breakups.

At the other corner, R-Jr. Konrad Mims had his 1st career game and start against AIC. Mims was a member of the roster in 2011 but did not see any game action. Freshmen Derek Ramseur-Benson and Christopher Sutton may also see playing time. Ramseur-Benson played on special teams in the opener.

MANNING THE MIDDLE: Jr. Cody Simcox had a team-high 10 tackles in the season opener vs. AIC. Warriors' 3rd-leading tackler last year (71) and 2nd-leading returner in 2013, will man the middle linebacker spot in ESU's 4-3 alignment.

Simcox started the final 9 games of 2012, his first at ESU after transferring from Maine, where he was a tight end. He was an All-State AAAA 2nd team linebacker as a senior at Wilson-West Lawn in 2010.

YOUNG ON THE OUTSIDE: Sr. Darius Jackson, the only senior on the ESU defense, is the only outside linebacker with on-field experience for the Warriors entering the season.

Jackson and R-So. Kaje Cowans both had 8 tackles in the opener vs. AIC. Cowans is a transfer from Bowie State, where he played in 8 games in 2012, and saw his first career action for the Warriors.

Jackson started 9 games and played in all 10 in 2012, his first on defense after playing fullback his first 2 years. He was named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Cheyney - 5 tackles, 2.5 TFL, forced fumble, interception return for 54-yard TD, and defensive 2-point conversion. He had 46 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 2 interceptions last year.

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: ESU's rushing defense improved by almost 80 yards per game last year - from 220.2 ypg (16th in the PSAC) to 142.8 (7th). The pass defense fell by almost the same amount, however - the Warriors allowed 310.0 passing yards per game, 155th of 156 schools in DII. They ranked 153rd in pass efficiency defense (163.5), tied for 138th in interceptions (8) and 133rd in scoring defense (35.9 ppg).

The PSAC East schedule doesn't figure to get any easier after the division produced 5 of the top 35 offenses in DII in terms of yards per game in 2012.

The highlights last year were a top-10 national ranking in sacks (t-9th - 3.0 per game), with 24 in the last 6 games, and limiting opponents to 3.9 rushing yards per attempt.

Two areas will be key to the Warriors' performance in 2013 - red zone defense and turnovers forced. ESU has ranked in the top 5 in the PSAC in red zone defense in 3 of the last 5 years, but was t-11th last year allowing points on 80.5 percent of opponents' possessions. In the turnover department, the Warriors forced just 19 turnovers last season (8 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries). Their output has declined in each of the last 4 years - 33 in 2009, 23 in 2010, 21 in 2011 and 19 in 2012.

vs. AIC: The Warriors held AIC to 1-for-3 in the red zone (1 TD, 2 turnovers on downs) and forced 2 turnovers, both interceptions by Teron Dobbs.

WARRIORS HISTORY

2012 HIGHLIGHTS: ESU's 2012 season saw the Warriors (5-5, 4-3 - t-3rd) return to the top half of the PSAC East standings for the first time since 2008 (9-2, 5-2 - 3rd). The key victory was a 35-28 win over West Chester in the 2nd career start for current R-So. QB Matt Soltes, who hit current So. WR Tim Wilson for the game-winning 33-yard TD with 5 seconds left.

The Warriors' offense, led by Soltes, ranked 4th in Division II in total offense (497.9 ypg), 9th in passing (327.6 ypg) and 18th in scoring (38.5 ppg). They set a PSAC record and had a Division II season-high of 828 yards of total offense (552 passing, 276 rushing) in a 45-37 win at LIU Post on Oct. 27. Soltes set a PSAC record and NCAA all-division freshman record with 666 yards of total offense (535 passing, 131 rushing).

PSAC PRESEASON POLL
• ESU was picked to finish 5th in the 2013 PSAC East Coaches Poll
1. Shippensburg (6 1st-place votes)
2. Bloomsburg (1)
3. West Chester (1)
4. Kutztown
5. ESU
6. Lock Haven
7. Millersville
8. Cheyney

WARRIORS FROM 2000-09
• The Warriors wrapped up their winningest decade in school history in the 2000's, going 77-34 for a .694 winning percentage
• They had 9 winning seasons in 10 years, made 3 NCAA Playoff appearances (2004, 2005, 2009), won PSAC East titles in 2002 and 2003, and had a school-record 11 wins in 2005
• ESU has an all-time record of 454-303-19 (.597)

UNDER THE LIGHTS
ESU is 7-4 in night games since lights were installed in 2007:
9-15-07 -- L 23-38 vs. IUP
8-28-08 -- W 14-11 vs. #25 Virginia Union
9-6-08 -- W 23-10 vs. Gannon
9-27-08 -- W 52-12 vs. Cheyney
9-12-09 -- W 45-31 vs. Clarion
9-11-10 -- L 17-23 vs. IUP
9-1-11 -- W 56-14 vs. Pace
9-17-11 -- L 19-22 vs. #21 California
9-8-12 -- W 31-0 vs. Lock Haven
9-15-12 -- L 21-63 vs. Shippensburg
9-5-13 -- W 21-14 vs. American International

AND WE GO TO...OVERTIME
• ESU is 4-6 all-time in overtime contests and has won its last two games in OT, 27-20 at Kutztown in 2009 and 44-41 vs. Shippensburg in 2008
• The win vs. Shippensburg gave head coach Denny Douds the PSAC record with his 213th career victory

OVERTIME GAMES
1991 - L 34-33 vs. Shippensburg (NCAA Playoffs)
1996 - W 27-20 vs. Kutztown
1999 - L 33-27 at Shepherd (2OT)
2000 - W 35-28 vs. Shepherd
2000 - L 33-26 vs. Millersville
2000 - L 17-14 vs. Shippensburg
2004 - L 38-37 vs. West Chester
2005 - L 31-24 vs. Bloomsburg
2008 - W 44-41 vs. Shippensburg
2009 - W 27-20 at Kutztown

GREGORY-DOUDS FIELD AT EILER-MARTIN STADIUM
• Field renamed to honor coaches Jack Gregory and Denny Douds after ESU's 58-14 win vs. Cheyney on Oct. 30, 2010
• Gregory had 49-11-2 (.806) record from 1959-65 and won 1964 and 1965 PSAC championships
• Douds has been ESU's head coach since 1974
• Eiler-Martin Stadium has been the home of the Warriors since 1938
• John R. Eiler was an outstanding athlete at the school in the early 1930s and later athletic director and a championship soccer coach
• Gene Martin was the Warriors' head football coach from 1942-57 and the school's long-time Dean of Men
• The Warriors have a 124-74 home record (.626) under Douds

Renovations include:
• New home bleachers were added in 1960
• The current press box was installed in 1988
• The track was resurfaced and expanded to 8 lanes in 2005
• Lights were added prior to the 2007 season
• FieldTurf was installed prior to the 2008 season

ESU IN THE NCAA PLAYOFFS
• ESU has played in the NCAA Division II Playoffs four times, most recently in 2009 when they fell to Edinboro, 31-16, in the first round
• The Warriors have also played in the postseason in 1991, 2004 and 2005, when they advanced to the national semifinals
• ESU has a 4-4 record in four postseason trips

PSAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
• ESU has won a share of nine PSAC titles under head coach Denny Douds, and 12 in school history
• The most recent championships came in 1991, 2002 and 2003, when the Warriors won the PSAC East championship
• Overall PSAC titles came in: 1942, 1954, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1975, 1976, 1978 and 1982
• ESU has a 203-111-1 (.646) record in PSAC games for the 3rd-best winning percentage since the first on-the-field title was awarded in 1960

WARRIORS ON RADIO
• WVPO 840 AM is in its 51st season broadcasting ESU football and will once again carry all 11 games in 2013
• Chuck Seese, the 2009 PSAC Heaslip Media Award winner,  is in his 25th season as the voice of the Warriors
• He is joined in the booth by Bob Brittain, who is in his 13th year providing the color commentary

WARRIORS ON TV
• Blue Ridge TV-13 will broadcast ESU football for the 27th year this season, with all 6 home games airing live across the region
• Play-by-play man Chris Doty (24th year) is joined by color commentator Jim Riley (6th year) and sideline reporter Ellen Currie (1st year)

ESU WARRIORS ALL ACCESS
• All 6 broadcasts this year will be available online through ESU Warriors "All Access" at www.esuwarriors.com
• The single-season package ($24.95) gives access for all football content, live and archived, through August 31, 2014
• The single-day package ($6.95) gives access for a 24-hour period

JAMES FRANKLIN UPDATE (Bio  l  Twitter)
• James Franklin '95, a two-year starter at QB and a Harlon Hill candidate in 1994, is in his 3rd season as head coach at Vanderbilt
• Franklin led the Commodores to a 9-4 record - their first 9-win season since 1915 - and a Music City Bowl win over NC State in 2012
• Vandy is 1-1 this year, falling to Ole Miss and beating Austin Peay
• next up: Sept. 14 at South Carolina (7 p.m. ET)

WARRIORS IN THE PROS/DIVISION I
James Franklin is one of 9 former ESU players or graduate assistant coaches in the NFL or Division I college football:
• Pat Flaherty '78: NY Giants, offensive line coach, 2x Super Bowl champion
• Vic Fangio '80: SF 49ers, defensive coordinator
• Joe Marciano (GA): Houston Texans, special teams coordinator
• Joe Baker (GA): Dallas Cowboys, assistant secondary coach
• John Glenn '05: Seattle Seahawks, assistant special teams coach
• James Franklin '95: Vanderbilt, head coach (Packers, Chiefs in NFL)
• Brent Pry (GA): Vanderbilt, co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach
• Harry Hiestand '83: Notre Dame, offensive line - also Tennessee, Bears (NFL)
• Marshall Roberts M'03: Liberty, special teams coordinator/cornerbacks

ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
• ESU has produced 66 Capital One Academic All-District selections over the last 6 years, 2nd-most in the PSAC
• ESU led the PSAC with 15 selections in 2010-11 and 10 selections in
2007-08 and 2008-09
• ESU has 21 PSAC "Top 10" award winners over the last 5 years, also 2nd-most in the PSAC

The football program has had 5 Academic All-Americans:
2010, 2009 - Matt Freed, LB, 1st team
2004 - Matt Crispell, DB, 1st team
1992 - Ed Detwiler, P, 2nd team
1984 - Ernie Siegrist, TE, 1st team
1979 - Warren Brown, LB, 2nd team