Complete Game Notes (PDF)

SATURDAY  l  6:05 p.m.  l  Eiler-Martin Stadium  l  BLACKOUT (t-shirts for first 1,000 fans)

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Related: Healy named PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week


1st & 10 ...  Complete Game Notes (PDF)

1 • ESU hosts No. 10 IUP in its home opener at Eiler-Martin Stadium. The Warriors are 9-7 in their 16 night games under the lights at Eiler-Martin and won their only previous evening kickoff vs. a ranked team in 2008, edging No. 25 Virginia Union, 14-11.

2 • ESU is 10-22 vs. teams ranked in the AFCA Division II Top 25 (since 2000).  The Warriors are 1-9 vs. Top 10 teams, posting a 52-39 victory at No. 2 Bloomsburg in 2005 in the 2nd round of the NCAA DII Playoffs.
2a • This marks ESU's first meeting vs. an AFCA-ranked IUP team.  In 1996, in rankings conducted by the NCAA DII Football Committee, the Warriors knocked off No. 1 IUP, 23-12, at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

3 • ESU head coach Denny Douds, in his 43rd season, faces his hometown team for the 14th time. Douds is a 1959 graduate of Indiana High School, where his teams compiled a 3-year record of 26-1. The Warriors are 4-9 vs. IUP under Douds with wins in 1978, 1981, 1996 and 1997. IUP has won the last 4 meetings.

4 • Last Time Out: The Warriors won 49-14 at Brevard (N.C.) in their season opener last Thursday, expanding on a 14-7 halftime lead with a 21-0 margin in the 3rd quarter.  After facing a Brevard team that went 0-11 in 2015, the Warriors tackle an IUP outfit that was 9-3 and reached the 2nd round of the NCAA DII Playoffs, winning 47-21 at Charleston before falling 17-13 at eventual national runner-up Shepherd.

5 • Douds moved into a tie for 16th on the NCAA all-division wins list (257) last week. Douds holds the PSAC record for career wins and ranks 2nd among active NCAA coaches.  
5a • Douds holds the DII record for career games (441), leading active NCAA coaches and ranking 9th in NCAA history. Douds is 5th in NCAA history in games coached at one school.

6 • Douds' 43 seasons as a head coach are 10th in NCAA history, and his 43 seasons at ESU are t-5th at one school.

7 • R-Sr. TB Robert Healy was named PSAC East Offensive Player of the Week for his performance at Brevard, rushing 26 times for 139 yards and 3 TD. He had his 2nd career game with 3 TD, and 1st career game with 3 rushing TD. He also added 2 catches for 17 yards for 156 yards from scrimmage.

8 • Healy enters this weekend with 2,969 career rushing yards and can become the first ESU player with 3,000 career yards. He set ESU career records for rushing yards and yards from scrimmage (currently 4,508) during his junior season in 2015.
8a • Healy leads all active PSAC players and ranks 2nd among active DII players in career yards from scrimmage. In 2015, he was the only NCAA player with 750+ yards rushing (884) and receiving (757). He had 1,641 yards from scrimmage (ESU record for back) and posted 149.2 yards from scrimmage per game, ranking 1st in the PSAC and 9th in DII.
8b • Healy has gained 100+ yards from scrimmage in 28 of the 34 games in his career (10 of 11 in 2015).  

9 • ESU and IUP both had QB's mentioned among Super Region 1's Harlon Hill candidates last fall. ESU's Matt Soltes was a finalist and finished t-4th in the national voting. IUP's Lenny Williams was named a regional candidate as a redshirt freshman.

10 • After graduating 3 of its top 4 wide receivers from last year's team which ranked 2nd in DII in passing offense (361.5 ypg), 4 of the 7 Warriors who caught a pass last week set or tied a career-high in receptions. Healy entered the season with 111 career receptions - all other current Warriors combined for 55 career catches.

For more ... Complete Game Notes (PDF)


THE SERIES: IUP leads, 10-6, and has won the last 4 meetings. ESU's most recent win was in 1997 (33-31 at IUP), following an upset of DII's No. 1-ranked team in 1996 (23-12) at Eiler-Martin Stadium.  Two of the PSAC's most successful programs met twice for the PSAC championship in 1964 and 1965, with ESU winning both games. The Warriors' 26-10 win in the 1965 State Game was their last without Douds on the sideline - he arrived in the Poconos in 1966 as an assistant coach and has remained ever since.

DOUDS' MILESTONES: Douds is one of 13 men 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 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.

Entering this week: has coached more games (441) than any active coach in NCAA football ... ranks 1st in DII history in games coached (set in 2011), and 9th in NCAA history ... 2nd in career wins (257) among active NCAA coaches ... 1st in the PSAC in career wins (set in 2008) and t-16th in NCAA history ... 58 career wins since turning 65 - more than 11 of the other 15 PSAC coaches have in their careers.

DOUDS DWARFS PSAC EAST: Douds had 256 career wins entering 2016 ... the other 7 coaches in the PSAC East had combined for 197 wins while coaching in the PSAC - WCU's Bill Zwaan (108), Ship's Mark Maciejewski (39), Bloom's Paul Darragh (28), KU's Jim Clements (13), Mill's Greg Breitbach (4), Cheyney's Chris Roulhac (3) and LHU's Dave Taynor (2) ... Douds had coached 42 seasons in the PSAC entering 2016 (other 7 - combined for 31).

THE HEAD COACHES: Denny Douds (Slippery Rock '63) has a career record of 257-181-3 (.586) in his 43rd season. He is in his 51st season at ESU overall, including 8 years as an assistant coach from 1966-73. 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.

Curt Cignetti (West Virginia '82) is in his 6th season as head coach at IUP, entering with a record of 43-15. He has guided the Crimson Hawks to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2012 and 2015. Cignetti was previously wide receivers coach at Alabama for 4 seasons and helped the Crimson Tide to the 2009 BCS championship. He also spent 9 of his first 28 seasons as a college coach at Pittsburgh. His father, Frank Cignetti, was 182-50-1 (.783) in 20 seasons as head coach at IUP from 1986-2005. Douds was 2-2 against Frank Cignetti's teams in the 1990's, including a 23-12 upset of the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in 1996 at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

TRENDING UP: ESU has notched 3 straight winning seasons (6-5 in 2014 and 2015, 7-4 in 2013), building on a 5-5 mark in 2012 after consecutive 3-8 seasons in 2010 and 2011. Since 2000, ESU is 113-74 (.604) with a .500+ record in 13 of 16 years.

PROGRAM WINS: ESU has a 473-317-19 (.596) record in its 89th year of varsity football - ranking 4th among PSAC programs in all-time victories ... West Chester (579), IUP (537), Slippery Rock (487) and Bloomsburg (450) are the only other PSAC programs with at least 450 wins ... As head coach, Douds is responsible for 54.5 percent of the program's games (441 of 809), and 54.3 percent of its wins (257 of 473) ... Including 68 games and 45 wins as an assistant coach under Charlie Reese from 1966-73, he has coached in 509 of the 809 games (62.9 percent) and 302 of the 473 wins (63.8 percent) in program history ... There have been at least 5 head coaches at every other PSAC school since Douds was named head coach in 1974.

DOUDS' FOES: Douds has faced 109 head coaches in his career at ESU ... Paul Hamilton (Brevard) was Douds' 109th opponent in the season opener ... Douds is 72-37 against first-time foes ... Douds faced Millersville's Gene Carpenter 27 times, and faced Danny Hale 26 times between his career at West Chester and Bloomsburg ... Among active coaches, his most frequent opponent is West Chester's Bill Zwaan (14).

RETURNING ALL-PSAC EAST: ESU has 4 players who have earned All-PSAC East status in their careers:
TB - R-Sr. Robert Healy (3-time All-PSAC East [1st team 2015, 2nd team 2013-14], 2013 Freshman of the Year)
OL - So. Michael Fleming (2015 2nd team - first ESU FR OL named All-PSAC East since 1975)
DE - R-Sr. Ahmad McFarland (2015 2nd team)
LB - R-Jr. Sekou Jones (2015 2nd team)

TAKEAWAYS FROM 49-14 WIN AT BREVARD
1. ESU outgained Brevard, 475-177. BC gained 155 yards on 2 scoring drives - and 22 on its other 21 plays.
2. ESU ran for 271 yards, its most in 43 season openers under Douds. R-Sr. TB Robert Healy's 139 yards were the 3rd-most rushing yards by a Warrior in a season opener under Douds.
3. R-Sr. QB Bruce Campbell, making his 4th career start, was 14-for-26 for 201 yards and 2 TD.
4. Jr. WR Tim Wilson, in his first game action since 2013, had a career-high 5 catches for 58 yards and a TD. Wilson gained 109 all-purpose yards, adding a rush for 9 yards, a kick return for 23 and a punt return for 19.
5. Sr. FB Sean Roth had 51 yards from scrimmage (2 rec, 36 yds, TD; 2 rush, 15 yds). Roth had 10 catches for 93 yards and a TD in 2015 and had his first career rushing attempts at Brevard.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR vs. IUP
1. R-So. QB Lenny Williams threw for 1,549 yards and 9 TD, and ran for 1,229 yards and 12 TD, while leading IUP to the NCAA DII Playoffs in 2015. Williams was All-PSAC West 2nd team, the PSAC West Freshman of the Year and Football Gazette Super Region 1 Freshman of the Year. His 1,229 rushing yards were 2nd-most by a QB in DII last year.
2. Jr. TB Chris Temple (All-PSAC West 1st team) ran for 1,212 yards and 17 TD. IUP was 5th in DII in rushing (293.6 ypg).
3. Jr. WR Walt Pegues had 57 catches for 753 yards, averaged 26.8 yards on kick returns and 11.0 yards on punt returns.
4. IUP returns 7 starters from a defense that ranked 1st in the PSAC in scoring defense (17.8) and total defense (312.4).
5. IUP's 3 losses in 2015 were by a total of 6 points - 34-33 vs. Kutztown, 40-39 at Slippery Rock, 17-13 at Shepherd.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: After graduating 11 seniors and losing 8 starters, the Warriors' 2016 roster features 42 players (31 true freshmen, 11 redshirt freshmen) who have never competed collegiately ... ESU has 8 true freshmen and 6 redshirt freshmen in this week's depth chart ... ESU has played at least 7 true freshmen in each of the last 7 seasons ... 6 Warriors made their 1st career start in the season opener ... 17 players saw their first career action in the season opener ... Of the 37 returners who had seen collegiate action for the Warriors, 30 were letterwinners in 2015.

TWO TERWILLIGERS: Jimmy Terwilliger, the 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy winner as a junior at ESU, is in his 2nd year on the Warriors' coaching staff as defensive backs coach ... He joins his father, Mike Terwilliger, ESU's offensive coordinator, on Denny Douds' staff ... Mike Terwilliger enters his 39th year as assistant coach after 4 years as ESU's starting QB from 1974-77 - Douds' first 4 years as head coach ... Mike was a 2-time 1st team All-PSAC East selection, leading ESU to a 30-4-1 record, the 1975 PSAC championship (10-0) and a tie in the 1976 State Game (9-0-1) ... Jimmy was 36-12 in 4 years as ESU's starting QB from 2003-06 and is the only 4-time 1st team All-PSAC East QB in conference history ... he set 18 DII and 2 NCAA all-division records, tying the all-time mark with 148 career TD passes and setting DII records for passing yards (14,350) and total offense (16,064), among other standards.


THE OFFENSE

ESU has routinely fielded one of the top offenses in DII, both in passing offense and total offense. The Warriors are one of 2 teams in DII (along with Colorado Mines) to average 300+ yards passing per game in each of the last 5 years:
2011 - 323.2 ypg ... 2012 - 327.6 ypg ... 2013 - 318.6 ypg ... 2014 - 329.1 ypg ... 2015 - 361.5 ypg.

WHO'S BACK (Starters)
TB Robert Healy (R-Sr.) ... FB Sean Roth (Sr.)
OL Fran McMenamin (Sr.) ... Devon Ackerman (R-Jr.) ... Norman Rogers III (R-Jr.) ... Michael Fleming (So.)

WHO'S GONE (Starters)
QB Matt Soltes ... WR Jon Schnaars, Gerard Wendowski, Joe Welk ... OL John Appice

UNDER CENTER: R-Sr. QB Bruce Campbell made his 4th career start at Brevard in the season opener.
• at Brevard: 14-for-26, 201 yds, 2 TD (8-for-10, 102 yds, TD in 2nd half)

Campbell has played in 14 career games and made 3 starts in 2014 (last 3 games - Matt Soltes out due to injury)
• He was the 32nd Warrior to start at QB under head coach Denny Douds

Campbell's career stats: 74-for-157, 1,025 yds, 8 TD, 9 Int ... 14 rush, -70 yds
• 2014: 59-for-124, 813 yds, 6 TD, 8 Int
• 2015: 1-for-7, 11 yds, 1 Int
• 2016: 14-for-26, 201 yds, 2 TD

Campbell's 3 starts in 2014:
• 12-for-25, 109 yards, TD, 2 Int at Bloomsburg (week 9 - 1st career start)
• 21-for-51, 266 yards, 3 TD, 3 Int vs. West Chester (week 10)
• 22-for-36, 375 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int at Gannon (week 11)

TOP TARGET: R-Sr. TB Robert Healy, one of the most versatile offensive players in DII and ESU's all-time leader in rushing yards (2,969) and yards from scrimmage (4,508), was ESU's top returning pass catcher entering the season:
• Receptions (66.9%) - 111 of 166 catches among ESU returners
• Receiving Yards (70.6%) - 1,522 of 2,157
• Receiving TD (61.1%) - 11 of 18

ROBERT HEALY SEASON, CAREER NOTES

Honors:
• 2015 Football Gazette All-Region 2nd team (all-purpose back)
• 2015 All-PSAC East 1st team
• 2013 and 2014 All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 2013 PSAC East Freshman of the Year
• 2013 Football Gazette All-Region 3rd team

Records and Milestones:
• ESU career records for rushing (2,969), yards from scrimmage (4,508)
• 3rd in career all-purpose yards (4,508)
• 2nd in career rushing attempts (513)
• 2nd in career 100-yard rushing games (11)
• 1st ESU player with 2,000 career yards rushing, 1,000 receiving

• 1st in games with 100 yards from scrimmage (28)
• 1st in games with 200 yards from scrimmage (4)
• 1st in games with 50+ yards rushing, receiving (14)
   [2nd-most is 4]
• 1st in games with 75+ yards rushing, receiving (4)
   [4 others total from 1974-2015]
• 1st in consecutive games with 100 yards from scrimmage (12)
   [also has 2nd-most with 7]

• 113 career receptions - 2nd-most among backs
• 1,539 career receiving yards - 2nd-most among backs

• Has top 3 seasons in yards from scrimmage by an ESU back
    (1,641 in 2015 ... 1,378 in 2014 ... 1,333 in 2013)
• 100+ yards from scrimmage in 27 of 33 career games

Entered season:
• 2nd among active DII players (1st in PSAC) in career yards
    from scrimmage (4,352)
• 5th among active DII players (2nd in PSAC) in career rushing yards
    (2,830)

• 2015 - only NCAA player with 750+ yards rushing (884), receiving (757)
• 1,641 yards from scrimmage (ESU record for back)
• 149.2 yards from scrimmage per game - 1st in PSAC, 9th in DII

• 2014 - one of 2 players in DII, and one of 10 in NCAA football, with
   500+ yards rushing and receiving
• 1,378 yards from scrimmage
• 125.3 yards from scrimmage per game - 3rd in PSAC, 32nd in DII

• 2013 - ESU freshman record with 1,129 rushing yards
• Ranks 2nd on ESU single-season list (1,160 - Andre Castiglioni, 2000)
• ESU freshman record for yards from scrimmage in a game
   (226 at Shippensburg - 189 rushing, 37 receiving)
• Tied ESU freshman record with 5 100-yard rushing games
• First ESU freshman named All-PSAC East since 2003
• 102.6 rushing ypg - 5th in PSAC, 37th in DII (#2 among freshmen)

THORP AWARD WINNER: Healy was the recipient of the Thorp Award as the top player in Nassau County in 2011 as a high school senior at East Meadow (N.Y.). Previous winners include D'Brickashaw Ferguson (2001), Amos Zereoue (1993-94), Matt Snell (1959), John Mackey (1958) and Jim Brown (1952).
• 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

SCHNAARS, WENDOWSKI, WELK GONE: ESU's 3 senior WR combined for 193 catches, 2,881 yards and 36 TD in 2015:
• Jon Schnaars - 114 rec, 1,610 yds, 22 TD (led DII in all 3 categories)
• Gerard Wendowski - 49 rec, 781 yds, 9 TD
• Joe Welk - 30 rec, 490 yds, 5 TD

THE RECEIVERS: ESU played 8 wide receivers, a tight end and had 4 running backs line up in the slot at Brevard in the season opener. 5 of the wide receivers were true freshmen (only ESU true FR to play in opener).

• Jr. Tim Wilson - 2016 (5 rec, 58 yds, TD) ... Career (27 rec, 369 yds, 5 TD)
• R-Jr. Tommy House - 2016 (2 rec, 15 yds) ... Career (14 rec, 150 yds, 2 TD)
• R-Sr. Varney Dassin - 2016 (1 rec, 3 yds)
• Jr. Rasheed Black - 2016 (dnp)
• Fr. Javier Buffalo - 2016 (1 rec, 14 yds)
• Fr. Nolan Ridgway - 2016 (started at Brevard - 0 rec)
• Fr. Mike Manzo-Lewis - 2016 (0 rec)
• Fr. Adam Warehime - 2016 (0 rec)
• Fr. Raheem Wilson - 2016 (0 rec)

WILSON RETURNS: Jr. WR Tim Wilson returns to the Warriors after playing in 2012 and 2013. He is 2nd among current Warriors, behind Healy, in career receptions (27), yards (369) and TD (5).

• 2012 - 11 rec, 167 yds, 2 TD
• game-winning 33-yd TD in 35-28 win vs. West Chester

• 2013 - 11 rec, 144 yds, 2 TD
• 4th on team with 663 all-purpose yds - 439 kick return, 73 punt return yds

• 2016 - 5 rec, 58 yds, TD at Brevard
• 109 all-purpose yds (58 rec, 9 rush, 23 KR, 19 PR)

WARRIORS REPLACE TOP RECEIVERS: ESU continues to find productive receivers year after year. Career numbers for recent Warriors:
Jon Schnaars (2012-15) - 239 rec, 3447 yds, 45 TD
Gerard Wendowski (2012-15) - 80 rec, 1211 yds, 9 TD
Joe Welk (2012-15) - 64 rec, 1111 yds, 7 TD
Dusty Reed (2010-12, 14) - 183 rec, 2820 yds, 24 TD
Steven Jones (TE) (2011-14) - 87 rec, 1444 yds, 20 TD
Robert Bleiler (2010-13) - 153 rec, 2613 yds, 20 TD
Jordan Hallman (2009-12) - 105 rec, 1986 yds, 19 TD
Ed Kiser (2008-10) - 124 rec, 2109 yds, 14 TD
Jeff Giglio (2007-10) - 117 rec, 1901 yds, 18 TD
Sam Shuman (2006-09) - 131 rec, 2043 yds, 18 TD
Doug Ogden (2005-08) - 117 rec, 1808 yds, 20 TD
Evan Prall (2003-06) - 236 rec, 4093 yds, 50 TD (all ESU records)
Tim Strenfel (2002-05) - 193 rec, 3696 yds, 34 TD
Anthony Carfagno (FB) (2002-05) - 172 rec, 2425 yds, 27 TD

ROTH WELL-RESPECTED: Sr. FB Sean Roth was voted ESU's 2015 Red Shirt Award recipient by his teammates for his contributions to upholding the Warriors' football tradition.
• 2-year letterwinner has played in 22 games on offense, defense (linebacker in 2014) and special teams

• 2015 - 11 games (8 starts) at fullback
• 10 rec, 93 yds, TD ... 7 tackles, fumble recovery on special teams

• 2016 - 1 game (1 start)
• 2 rec, 36 yds, TD at Brevard
• 2 rush, 15 yds (first career carries)

WARRIORS VERSATILE: ESU carries 3 fullbacks and 2 tight ends for the 2016 season:

Sr. FB Sean Roth
• 2015 ESU Red Shirt Award winner had 10 rec, 93 yds, TD in 2015

R-Fr. FB Dylan Smith
• played in 2015 season opener vs. LIU Post (suffered season-ending injury)

Fr. FB Wyatt Clements
• All-State at Lehighton HS as standout FB/LB (4,005 career rushing yards)

R-Sr. TE Anthony Castillo
• 2016 - 2 rec, 61 yds at Brevard (long 44)
• 2015 - 3 rec, 45 yds in 11 games (transferred from Kutztown)

Fr. TE Anthony Angelichio
• All-Berks County at Pottsville HS as TE/DE

IN THE BACKFIELD: Along with R-Sr. TB Robert Healy, two other Warriors - So. TB James Bell and R-So. TB Marquis Fells - are listed in this week's two-deep.

RINGING THE BELL
• 2015 - 6 rush, 21 yds, TD ... 8 rec, 51 yds ... 3 KR, 18 yds
• 2016 - 6 rush, 19 yds, TD

• prior to ESU: No. 3 tailback on St. Joseph's Prep's back-to-back (2013-14) AAAA state championship teams
• 96 carries, 550 yds (10 rec, 51 yds) as a senior
• coached by former ESU QB Tim Roken (starter 2007-08), SJP offensive coordinator, and OL Tom Sugden (starter 2005-07), run game coordinator

ANDERSON ARRIVES: Jr. TB Jaymar Anderson had 8 carries for 79 yards and a TD in the season opener at Brevard before leaving due to injury.

Transferred to ESU from Lackawanna College ... also attended Hargrave Military Academy ... All-State at West Windsor-Plainsboro North (N.J.) ... ran for 1,506 yards as a junior ... ran for 1,400 yards as a senior at Hargrave.

GOAL LINE OPTION: Departed TB Gerald Van De Cruz was ESU's short-yardage specialist, rushing for 26 TD (24 from inside the 5-yard line, and 16 from the 1-yard line) in 23 games from 2013-15.

FIRST PLAY THEATRICS: Healy scored on a 58-yard run on the game's first play from scrimmage vs. Millersville in 2013 - 19 seconds into the game.

The Warriors have scored on the game's first snap 5 times in 441 games under Douds:
14:41 - Robert Healy 58 yard run, 2013 vs. Millersville
14:37 - Robert Bleiler 75 yard pass from Matt Soltes, 2012 at Mercyhurst
14:40 - Ben Culver 85 yard pass from Jimmy Terwilliger, 2005 vs. Edinboro
14:40 - Mike Mancuso 79 yard pass from Damian Poalucci, 1996 vs. Millersville
14:41 - Jason Killian 76 yard run, 1994 at Springfield

FAMILY TRADITION: R-Fr. QB Tyler Soltes, the brother of 2015 All-America and Harlon Hill finalist QB Matt Soltes, will look to join an exclusive ESU list if he sees game action this season.

Matt and his father, Andy, are one of 3 father-son tandems to throw a TD pass for the Warriors under Douds. Other tandems are Mike and Jimmy Terwilliger, and Brian and Matt Marshall. Andy Soltes' only career TD pass was the game-winner in a 17-9 win at West Chester during the 1982 PSAC championship season.

ADDING IT ALL UP: TD passes by family ... Terwilligers 181 (Mike 33, Jimmy 148) ... Soltes 127 (Andy 1, Matt 126) ... Marshalls 66 (Brian 5, Matt 61) ... TD passes by fathers -- 39 ... TD passes by sons -- 335 and counting.

IN THE FRONT ROW: ESU returned 4 of its 5 starters from 2015, but just one started the season opener in the same spot where he finished last fall.

LT -- So. Michael Fleming (6-4, 300) -- 9 career starts
• All-PSAC East 2nd team (1st ESU FR OL named All-PSAC East since 1975)
• First start at LT in season opener
• Started last 8 games at RT after removing redshirt in 2015
• AAAA All-State at Easton HS in 2014

LG -- R-Fr. Levi Murphy (6-3, 290) -- 1 career start
• First career game, start in season opener (redshirted 2015)
• All-YAIAA 1st team offensive tackle in 2014
• 2-time All-York County, 3-year letterwinner and 2-year captain

C -- R-Jr. Devon Ackerman (6-3, 300) -- 23 career starts (every game)
• First season at center
• Started all 22 games at LG in 2014 and 2015
• 2015 Academic All-America 1st team and PSAC Fall Top 10 (Biochemistry major, 4.0 GPA)

RG -- R-Jr. Norman Rogers III (6-3, 300) -- 19 consecutive starts at RG
• has started every game at RG since entering lineup in week 5 of 2014

RT -- Sr. Fran McMenamin (6-4, 280) -- 21 career starts
• Started 20 straight games at LT until week 10 of 2015 season (all 11 in 2014, first 9 in 2015)
• Served in U.S. Marines (2 tours in Afghanistan building camps) after graduating from Father Judge HS (Philadelphia) in 2007

STABILITY UP FRONT: ESU has had just 32 players make starts on the offensive line in the last 10 years (since 2007). 7 Warriors have made at least 30 career starts:
• 46 - Mike Habel (2004-07), every game of career
• 45 - Dan Caffrey (2008-11), every game of career
• 43 - Wrenton Wright II (2009-12)
• 42 - Morgan Thomas (2006-09)
• 41 - Seve Rivers (2009-12)
• 39 - Greg Blue (2010-13)
• 33 - Zach Sarginger (2008-11)

# of players starting games on OL since 2007:
2007 - 6 (3 started every game)
2008 - 6 (4)
2009 - 7 (3)
2010 - 7 (3)
2011 - 6 (4)
2012 - 5 (5)
2013 - 6 (4)
2014 - 7 (3)
2015 - 7 (2)
2016 - 5 (5)


THE DEFENSE

WHO'S BACK (Starters)
DE Ahmad McFarland (R-Sr.) ... Joseph Odebode (So.)
NG Marc Ranaudo (R-Jr.)
LB Sekou Jones (R-Jr.) ... Mike Wiand (R-Jr.)
CB Wesley Pierce (R-Jr.)
S Jimmy Verzicco (Sr.) ... Marc Gaudet (Jr.)

WHO'S GONE (Starters)
LB Kaje Cowans ... CB Teron Dobbs ... FS Dean Vitale

Current ESU defensive players combined for 105 career starts entering the season opener. Returning defensive experience entering the season opener the last 8 years:
• 2016 - 105 starts
• 2015 - 95
• 2014 - 167
• 2013 - 67
• 2012 - 17
• 2011 - 93
• 2010 - 120
• 2009 - 90

DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT: ESU has shifted defensive alignments in recent years - from a 4-4 in 2012, to a 4-3 in 2013, to a 3-3-5 in 2014.

The current alignment still has similarities to ESU defenses of the past, with 2 of the safeties playing close to the line of scrimmage.

RUSHING THE PASSER: ESU has ranked in the top 4 in the PSAC and the top 25 in DII in sacks in 5 of the last 7 seasons - but not 2015:
• 2015 - 1.9 per game (21 in 11 games) - t-10th in PSAC, t-97th in DII
• 2014 - 3.0 per game (33 in 11 games) - 1st in PSAC, t-15th in DII
• 2013 - 2.9 per game (32 in 11 games) - 3rd in PSAC, t-23rd in DII
• 2012 - 3.0 per game (30 in 10 games) - 1st in PSAC, t-9th in DII
• 2011 - 24 sacks - t-8th in PSAC, t-51st in DII
• 2010 - 36 sacks - t-3rd in PSAC, t-10th in DII
• 2009 - 33 sacks - 4th in PSAC, 22nd in DII

ALL-PSAC EAST PICKS MCFARLAND, JONES LEAD RETURNERS
R-Sr. DE Ahmad McFarland and R-Jr. LB Sekou Jones were named to the All-PSAC East 2nd team for the Warriors' defense in 2015.

DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH
McFarland, So. DE Joseph Odebode and R-Jr. NG Marc Ranaudo gave the Warriors all 3 returning starters on the defensive line.

DE --- R-Sr. Ahmad McFarland (21 career starts)
• Career (31 games) - 68 tackles (15.0 TFL), 6.5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR
• All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 2016 (1 start) - 2 tackles (0.5 TFL)
• 2015 (11 starts) - 29 tackles (7.5 TFL), 2.0 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR
• blocked PAT with 52 seconds left vs. Ship (maintained 41-41 tie)

• 2014 (9 starts) - 31 tackles (4.5 TFL), 3.5 sacks, 2 FF
• 2013 (8 games) - 6 tackles, 2.5 TFL, sack

DE -- So. Joseph Odebode (10 career starts)
• 2016 - 1 tackle
• 2015 (10 starts) - 30 tackles (8.5 TFL), 4.5 sacks, 2 FF
• led Warriors in TFL
• 6 tackles (5 TFL), 3 sacks, FF vs. Millersville in week 7
• 1st ESU defender with 5+ TFL since at least 2001

NG -- R-Jr. Marc Ranaudo (11 career starts)
• 2016 (1 start) - 9 tackles (0.5 TFL), 0.5 sacks
• 2015 (10 starts) - 21 tackles (6.5 TFL), sack, FR
• all 6.5 TFL in final 5 games

• Transferred to ESU from Shippensburg (played in 8 games on OL as redshirt freshman in 2013 - moved to DL for ESU in preseason 2015)

So. DE Mike Zakrzewski made his 1st career start at Brevard in the season opener.
•  2016 (1 start) - 5 tackles (1.0 TFL)
•  2015 (11 games) - 6 tackles (1.0 TFL)
ALSO LISTED ON DL:
R-Fr. DE Justin Barat (redshirted 2015 - can play DE/NG)
• 2 tackles (1.0 TFL) at Brevard in first career game

R-So. NG Bryant Gilliard, Jr.
• 2016 (1 game) - 3 tackles
• 2015 (10 games) - 4 tackles

BACK IN BUSINESS
Jones and R-Jr. Mike Wiand are both returning starters at linebacker and are joined by Jr. Dakota Everett, a Pleasant Valley HS product (Jones' HS teammate) and a transfer from Division I FCS Stony Brook.

LB -- R-Jr. Sekou Jones (12 career starts)
• All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 2016 (1 start) - 8 tackles (1.5 TFL), sack
• 2015 (11 starts) - led ESU in tackles (73) in 1st year as starter
• 8.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, FR, Int.
• Played for Jimmy Terwilliger at Pleasant Valley HS (All-Area LB)

LB -- R-Jr. Mike Wiand (10 career starts)
• 2016 (1 start) - 5 tackles (0.5 TFL), 0.5 sacks, FF
• 2015 (10 games, 9 starts) - 36 tackles (TFL), Int.
• Transferred to ESU from Penn State (member of program 2013-14)
• Played for James Franklin '95 at Penn State in 2014
• 3x All-District 4 at Mifflinburg as FR, SO and JR (missed SR - injury)

LB -- Jr. Dakota Everett (1 career start)
• 2016 (1 start) - 5 tackles
• Transferred to ESU from Stony Brook (19 games in 2 seasons)
• 2015 (10 games) - 7 tackles, FR
• 2014 (9 games) - 8 tackles
• Local standout at Pleasant Valley HS (All-State AAAA selection)
• Played for Jimmy Terwilliger (teammate of Sekou Jones)

ALSO LISTED AT LB:
R-So. Justin Best
• 2016 (1 game) - 1 tackle
• 2015 (10 games) - 5 tackles

R-So. Marquis Brownlee
• 2016 (1 game) - 5 tackles
transfer from Lackawanna via Milford Academy [N.Y.] and West Scranton HS

So. Mike Poulter
• 2016 (1 game) - FR
• 2015 (11 games) - 12 tackles (TFL), 0.5 sacks

DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
ESU returns 3 starters in the defensive secondary and several others with starting experience.

IMPROVED EFFICIENCY
The Warriors improved their defensive pass efficiency rating by 14 points last season, largely due to allowing almost a yard less per attempt:
2014 -- 140.4 pass efficiency, 7.4 yds/attempt
2015 -- 126.5 pass efficiency, 6.5 yds/attempt

AT CORNER
R-So. Christian Campbell and Sr. Ryon Muse are listed as starters, with R-Jr. Wesley Pierce, R-So. Isaiah Copes and Fr. Andre' Gray the backups.

DOBBS DEPARTS
Teron Dobbs, a 2-time All-PSAC East 2nd team selection, started 38 games and had 13 interceptions from 2012-15

CB -- Sr. Ryon Muse (1 career start)
• 2016 (1 start) - 2 tackles
• 2015 (played in 3 games in first season at ESU)
• Transferred to ESU from Valley Forge Military Academy

CB -- R-So. Christian Campbell (4 career starts)
• 2016 (1 start) - 1 tackle
• Moved to CB after playing in 11 games (3 starts) at safety in 2015 (30 tkl)

CB -- R-Jr. Wesley Pierce (9 career starts)
• 2016 (1 game) - 1 tackle
• 2015 (9 games, 8 starts) - 23 tackles (2.0 TFL), FF, 2 Int.
• Missed 2 games due to injury
• 2014 (11 games, 1 start) - 26 tackles

ALSO LISTED AT CORNER:
R-So. Isaiah Copes
• 2016 (1 game) - played in season opener at Brevard
• 2015 (5 games) - 4 tackles
Fr. Andre' Gray (All-County 2nd team RB at Gwynn Park [Md.])

THREE SAFETY SET
ESU returned 4 players with starting experience to fill the 3 safety spots - Sr. Jimmy Verzicco, Jr. Marc Gaudet, Jr. Chase May, and R-Jr. Maurice Jackson.

S -- Sr. Jimmy Verzicco (10 career starts)
• 2016 (1 start) - 4 tackles
• 2015 (11 games, 9 starts between S/FS)
• 62 tackles (2nd on team), 3 FF (1st on team), 3 Int. (1st)
• Played in 7 combined games in 2013-14

S -- Jr. Marc Gaudet (19 career starts)
• 2016 - dnp in season opener (injury)
• 2015 (8 starts) - 47 tackles, FR, Int.
• 2014 (11 starts) - 56 tackles (4.0 TFL), Int. as true freshman

FS -- Jr. Chase May (3 career starts)
• 2016 (1 start) - 11 tackles
• 2015 (5 games, 2 starts) - 30 tackles, FR, 2 Int. (both at Slippery Rock)
• Academic All-District selection
• 2014 (6 games) - 16 tackles

S -- R-Jr. Maurice Jackson (3 career starts)
• 2016 (1 game) - 3 tackles, FR
• 2015 (11 games, 3 starts in first season) - 40 tackles, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks, Int.

MALLARDI MAKES FIRST START:
R-So. Nick Mallardi started, replacing Gaudet, in the season opener.
• 2016 (1 start) - 5 tackles
• 2015 (8 games) - 11 tackles (2 TFL)

SAFETY FIRST: ESU had 2 safeties at Seton Hill in week 2 of the 2013 season (W 70-7) for the only time in 441 games under head coach Denny Douds. SHU QB Nick Halfhill's knee went down in the end zone after a bad snap in the 1st quarter, and Cody Simcox stopped Halfhill in the end zone in the 2nd quarter.


THE SPECIAL TEAMS

ESU returned both kicking specialists for 2016 (both 2nd-year starters):

So. K Nicolas Ruiz
2015 - 8-for-11 FG, 50-for-54 PAT, 74 points, long FG 42
2016 - 0-for-1 FG, 7-for-7 PAT, 7 points
Career - 8-for-12 FG, 57-for-61 PAT, 81 points, long FG 42

2016
• Missed 50-yd FG at Brevard in season opener (would be career long)

2015
• 74 points (2nd-most by ESU freshman)
• 3rd in PSAC in points per game (6.7)
• 3rd in PSAC in field goal % (0.727)

• ESU record for consecutive FG (5) to start career (25, 42, 32, 30, 23)
• ESU record for FG by a freshman vs. LIU Post (4-for-4 - 25, 42, 32, 30)

• All-EPC in football, soccer (GK) at Stroudsburg HS
• Morning Call All-Area in both sports
• 4-for-8 on field goals (long 47), 41-44 on PAT's
• also lettered in track & field (MVC runner-up in hurdles)

R-So. P Sam O'Brien

2016 - 24.0 avg
• 1 punt
• allowed 0 return yards

2015 - 37.8 avg (6th in PSAC)
• 47 punts - 15 inside 20, 5 50+ (long 60 vs. LIU Post)
• allowed just 31 yards on 17 punt returns

• Transferred to ESU from Temple prior to 2015 season
• All-State as senior at Palisades HS in 2013 (redshirted at Temple)
• USA Today All-PA team
• Morning Call and Colonial League 1st team
• 2013 - 40.9 avg (33 punts), 16 inside 20, long 62
• 3-for-5 on field goals, 25-32 on PAT's

NET AVERAGE
ESU has been a regular among the Division II leaders in net punting, ranking in the top 5 in three of the last 12 years:
• 1st in DII in 2004 (40.6) and 2008 (39.7)
• 3rd in DII in 2006 (36.0)

BLOCK THAT KICK: ESU had 3 blocked kicks in 2015 following the graduation of DL Bryan Thomson (2011-14) - who had 16 career blocked kicks (10 PAT, 6 FG), doubling the Warriors' previous school record.

BLOCKED KICKS IN 2015:
week 3 vs. Edinboro - Marc Ranaudo blocked PAT
week 4 at Lock Haven - Steven Wright blocked FG (30-yd - would have given LHU 37-29 lead with 3:20 remaining)
week 5 vs. Ship - Ahmad McFarland blocked PAT (would have given Ship 42-41 lead with 52 seconds remaining)


Complete Game Notes (PDF)