Box Score
EAST STROUDSBURG - Freshman quarterback Jamal Smith ran for 136 yards and threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns to lead Millersville to a 36-24 win at East Stroudsburg University in the PSAC East opener for both schools on Saturday afternoon at Eiler-Martin Stadium.
Smith led a Millersville offense that failed to produce a touchdown in its first four games but struck for a pair of first quarter scores against the Warriors. Cardoza Jacks scored on a three-yard run midway through the opening quarter, and Brad Lantz plunged in for a three-yard touchdown on the final play of the period to give Millersville a 13-0 lead.
Smith completed only 5-of-12 passes for the day but found Jimmie Cotton for a 36-yard score with 6:25 left in the half to take a 20-0 advantage.
Senior linebacker Jayson Frank (14 tackles) intercepted a pass deep in Millersville territory and returned the ball 15 yards to the three-yard line to set up the Warriors' only touchdown of the first half. Junior tailback Joe Partridge scored on a one-yard run with 3:00 remaining in the half to cut the deficit to 20-7 at intermission.
Sophomore kicker Greg Knauss hit a 40-yard field goal on the first possession of the third quarter to make the score 20-10, and the ESU defense held Millersville to 14 yards on its first nine plays to open the half.
The Warriors drove inside the 20-yard line on their next possession, but the drive ended with an interception by Matt Buck to keep ESU off the scoreboard. Millersville struck quickly with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Randall Eggleton to extend the lead to 27-10 with 1:37 on the clock in the third quarter.
John Banzhof made a 30-yard field goal to put Millersville ahead 30-10 to cap an 11-play, 67-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter.
The Warriors scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, on a 15-yard pass from Tim Roken to Sam Shuman, and a nine-yard run by Roken with two minutes remaining.
Sandwiched between the scores was a 40-yard kick return for a touchdown by Millersville tailback Brad Lantz, who picked up the ESU onsides kick attempt to put the Marauders ahead 36-17 with 3:19 left.
Junior wide receiver Drew Stem led ESU offensively with eight catches for 60 yards, returned six kickoffs for 181 yards and two punts for 27 yards for 268 all-purpose yards in the game.
Roken completed 21-of-44 passes for 171 yards with two interceptions and the touchdown pass to Shuman, and also carried nine times for 31 yards. Partridge was the leading rusher with 15 carries for 50 yards.
Buck and Brandon Shelton had a hand in all four ESU turnovers, as Buck recovered two first-quarter fumbles, one which was forced by Shelton. Shelton also ended the Warriors' first drive with an interception deep in Millersville territory.
ESU will host Slippery Rock next Saturday in the Homecoming game at 1 p.m. at Eiler-Martin Stadium.
