Complete Game Notes (PDF)

SATURDAY  l  4 p.m.  l  Millersville, Pa.  l  Biemesderfer Stadium

Listen:  WVPO 840 AM  l  espnpoconos.com

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/user/millersvillesports/live

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

1 • ESU (3-2, 1-1) travels to Millersville (1-4, 0-2) for a late-afternoon kickoff. The Warriors are looking for their first back-to-back wins after a 54-12 win vs. Cheyney last week. Millersville has dropped 4 straight since a season-opening win vs. Pace and fell 41-13 vs. Kutztown and 29-15 at Bloomsburg in its first 2 PSAC East games.

2 • ESU head coach Denny Douds ties Roy Kidd (Eastern Kentucky, 1964-2002) for 8th on the NCAA all-division list for games coached (446) this week. Douds also ties Kidd for 4th on the list of games coached at one school. Douds faced Kidd once, a 26-0 setback at Division I-AA EKU in 1995.
2a • Games coached at 1 school (entering week):
1. 607 - John Gagliardi (St. John's MN)
2. 588 - Eddie Robinson (Grambling)
3. 548 - Joe Paterno (Penn State)
4. 446 - Roy Kidd (Eastern Kentucky)
5. 445 - Denny Douds (East Stroudsburg)

3 • Last Time Out: R-Sr. TB Robert Healy ran for 108 yards and 3 TD, had a 57-yard catch and threw a TD pass in a 54-12 win vs. Cheyney. Healy tied a school record with his 14th career 100-yard rushing game. 3 Warriors threw TD passes for the 2nd time in school history.

4 • ESU head coach Denny Douds, in his 43rd season, ranks16th on the NCAA all-division wins list (259). Douds holds the PSAC record for career wins and ranks 2nd among active NCAA coaches.
4a • Douds holds the DII record for career games (445), leading active NCAA coaches and ranking 9th in NCAA history. Douds is 5th in NCAA history in games coached at one school.

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

6 • R-Sr. TB Robert Healy is among the NCAA Division II leaders in yards from scrimmage and rushing thru 5 weeks.

RUSHING YPG
1. 199.0 - Austin Ekeler (Western State)
2. 166.2 - Romello Brown (Wayne State, Mich.)
3. 157.2 - Max Mickey (Sioux Falls)
4. 154.8 - Michael Anderson (WV Wesleyan)
5. 151.2 - Lawrence Pittman (Wingate)
6. 147.2 - Robert Healy (ESU)

YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE
1. 222.4 - Austin Ekeler (Western State)
2. 202.2 - Robert Healy (ESU)
3. 174.2 - Michael Anderson (WV Wesleyan)

7 • Healy is ESU's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,566) and yards from scrimmage (5,363). He ranks 2nd among active DII players in career yards from scrimmage and 4th in career rushing yards.

8 • Healy has the most rushing yards (736) and yards from scrimmage (1,011) thru 5 games by an ESU player in 43 years under Douds.

9 • ESU has had 20 players make starts on defense this season.  Just 5 Warriors - R-Sr. DE Ahmad McFarland, R-Jr. NG Marc Ranaudo, R-Jr. LB Mike Wiand, R-Jr. LB Sekou Jones and Sr. FS Jimmy Verzicco - have started all 5 games.

10 • R-So. P Sam O'Brien leads the PSAC and is 14th in NCAA DII in punting average (42.9).

For more ... Complete Game Notes (PDF)


THE SERIES: ESU holds a 41-25-1 advantage in 67 meetings with Millersville, including a 34-2 home win in 2015. ESU has won 13 of 15 since 2001 after Millersville held a 14-2-1 advantage from 1984-2000. The Warriors have won their last 8 trips to Biemesderfer Stadium, averaging 40.5 points. The two schools have played every season since 1948, with the exception of a canceled game in 1955. Greg Breitbach, in his 4th season, is the Marauders' 4th head coach in the last 16 years after 31 years under Gene Carpenter.

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 (445) 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 (259) among active NCAA coaches ... 1st in the PSAC in career wins (set in 2008) and 16th in NCAA history ... 60 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 259-183-3 (.585) 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.

Greg Breitbach (Montana-Western '94) has a career record of 5-33 in his 4th season at Millersville. The Marauders won their last 2 games in 2015, 26-6 vs. Cheyney and 31-21 vs. Edinboro. Breitbach took over for Greg Colby (11-44 in 5 years) prior to the 2013 season. He was formerly offensive coordinator at North Dakota for 5 years. In 7 total years at UND, he helped the Bison post a 49-30 record, including 2 NCAA Division II Playoff appearances (2006-07) before transitioning to DI FCS. He has also coached at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Lewis & Clark and alma mater Montana-Western.

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 115-76 (.602) with a .500+ record in 13 of 16 years.

PROGRAM WINS: ESU has a 475-319-19 (.596) record in its 89th year of varsity football - ranking 4th among PSAC programs in all-time victories ... West Chester (580), IUP (540), Slippery Rock (490) and Bloomsburg (453) are the only other PSAC programs with at least 450 wins ... As head coach, Douds is responsible for 54.7 percent of the program's games (445 of 813), and 54.5 percent of its wins (259 of 475) ... Including 68 games and 45 wins as an assistant coach under Charlie Reese from 1966-73, he has coached in 513 of the 813 games (63.1 percent) and 304 of the 475 wins (64.0 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 54-12 WIN vs. CHEYNEY
1. R-Sr. TB Robert Healy tied a school record with his 14th career 100-yard rushing game (4th in 5 games in 2016)
• matches Andre Castiglioni (1999-2001)
2. Healy (108 rush yds, 57 rec yds) had 100+ yards from scrimmage for the 32nd time in 38 career games (9 straight).
• Healy had 100+ yards from scrimmage in 12 straight games (school record) spanning 2014-15 seasons.
3. R-Sr. QB Bruce Campbell (2-6, 77 yds, TD; 4 rush, 54 yds) made his 5th straight start and the 8th of his career.
• R-Jr. QB Tim DiGiorgio (6-10, 101 yds, TD) made his ESU debut as the Warriors alternated QB's throughout the night.
4. R-Sr. TE Anthony Castillo had his first 2 TD catches (20 yards from Campbell, 31 yards from DiGiorgio)
5. ESU had 3 freshmen WR make their 1st career receptions. The Warriors have played 9 WR (6 true freshmen).
6. ESU had two more players make their 1st career starts on defense (20 different defensive starters thru 5 games).

WHAT TO LOOK FOR at MILLERSVILLE
1. Healy is 8 carries from tying ESU's career record. He has 595 carries, approaching Rick Sterner (603 - 1988-92).
2. Healy is 3 catches from entering ESU's career top 10. He has 128 catches, approaching Sam Shuman (131 - 2006-09).
3. Healy is 319 all-purpose yards from ESU's career record. He has 5,363 yards, approaching Evan Prall (5,682 - 2003-06).
4. ESU has an advantage of nearly 160 rushing yards per game (210.0 to 53.2).
• ESU ranks 3rd PSAC/29th DII ... Millersville ranks 16th PSAC (last)/167th DII (of 169).
5. ESU (217.8 ypg) and Millersville (197.6 ypg) have both struggled to stop the run this fall.

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 10 true freshmen and 8 redshirt freshmen in this week's depth chart ... ESU has played 12 true freshmen in 2016 ... 14 Warriors have made their 1st career starts ... 28 players have seen their first career action with the Warriors ... 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 has made 8 career starts (2 games with 300 passing yds)
• at Brevard: 14-for-26, 201 yds, 2 TD (8-for-10, 102 yds, TD in 2nd half)
• vs. IUP: 23-for-38, 309 yds, 3 TD (10-for-10, 149 yds, TD to start game)
• at Mercyhurst: 14-for-27, 159 yds
• at Shippensburg: 12-for-32, 200 yds, 2 TD
• vs. Cheyney: 2-for-6, 77 yds, TD (4 rush, 54 yds)

Campbell: 18 career games (13 games, 3 starts entering 2016 - started last 3 games with Matt Soltes out due to injury)
• He was the 32nd Warrior to start at QB under head coach Denny Douds

Campbell's career stats: 125-for-260, 1,770 yds, 14 TD, 15 Int ... 27 rush, 10 yds
• 2014: 59-for-124, 813 yds, 6 TD, 8 Int
• 2015: 1-for-7, 11 yds, 1 Int
• 2016: 65-for-129, 946 yds, 8 TD, 6 Int

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

DiGIORGIO MAKES DEBUT: R-Jr. QB Tim DiGiorgio made his ESU debut in ESU's 54-12 win vs. Cheyney last week.
• 6-for-10, 101 yds, TD

• Transferred to ESU from Temple (member of program for 3 seasons - played in one game in 2015)
• 2-time 1st team All-Philadelphia Public League at Frankford and 2nd team All-City as a senior in 2012
• 17-6 record, 4,061 passing yards, 44 TD in 2 seasons as a starter

3 WARRIORS THROW TD PASSES vs. CHEYNEY:
Campbell (1), DiGiorgio (1) and Healy (1) threw TD passes in ESU's 54-12 win vs. Cheyney in week 5.
• 2nd time under Denny Douds (445 games) that 3 players threw a TD pass
• 2008 (W 45-18 at Millersville) - QB Tim Roken (2), QB Matt Marshall (2), WR Sam Shuman (1)
• Healy was the first ESU running back to throw a TD pass since 1988 (Rick Sterner to Dennis Mailhot vs. Kutztown)

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 (3,126) and yards from scrimmage (4,782), 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

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 (43), yards (653) and TD (8).

• 2016 - 21 rec, 342 yds, 4 TD
• 5 rec, 58 yds, TD at Brevard (109 yds - 58 rec, 9 rush, 23 KR, 19 PR)
• 6 rec, 109 yds, 2 TD vs IUP (138 yds - 109 rec, 16 KR, 13 PR)
• 8 rec, 65 yds at Mercyhurst (144 yds - 65 rec, 64 KR, 15 PR)
• 2 rec, 110 yds, TD at Shippensburg (129 yds - 110 rec, 19 KR)
• dnp vs. Cheyney

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

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

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 26 games on offense, defense (linebacker in 2014) and special teams

• 2016 - 5 games (5 starts)
• 8 rush, 34 yds, TD ... 7 rec, 59 yds, TD ... 1 KR, 10 yds
• 10-yd rec TD at Brevard
• 6-yd rush TD vs IUP

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

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

Sr. FB Sean Roth
• 2015 ESU Red Shirt Award winner has 103 all-purpose yards, 2 TD in 2016 (34 rush, 59 rec, 10 KR)

R-Fr. FB Dylan Smith
• 1 rush, 4 yds in 2016 (played in 2015 season opener vs. LIU Post - suffered season-ending injury)

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

R-Sr. TE Anthony Castillo
• 2016 - 5 rec, 131 yds, 2 TD
• 2 rec, 61 yds at Brevard
• 1 rec, 19 yds at Mercyhurst
• 2 rec, 51 yds, 2 TD vs Cheyney (1st career TD at ESU)

• 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
• 2016 - 131 all-purpose yds (20 rush, 99 yds, 3 TD ... 2 rec, 9 yds ... 2 KR, 23 yds)
• 10 rush, 67 yds, TD vs Cheyney

• 2015 - 6 rush, 21 yds, TD ... 8 rec, 51 yds ... 3 KR, 18 yds

• 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

FELLS ENTERS ROTATION
• 183 kick return yards (9 KR) with long of 32 in 73-42 loss vs #10 IUP
• 4 rec, 54 yds (28-yd catch at Mercyhurst)
• 1st career start vs Cheyney (lined up as slot receiver)

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 445 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.

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:

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)

LT -- So. Michael Fleming (6-4, 300) -- 13 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) -- 5 career starts
• 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) -- 27 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) -- 23 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) -- 25 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


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.

20 STARTERS ON DEFENSE IN 2016
Just 5 Warriors have started all 5 games on ESU's defense:
DE Ahmad McFarland, NG Marc Ranaudo, LB Mike Wiand, LB Sekou Jones,
S Jimmy Verzicco

Starts by Position
DE - Ahmad McFarland (5)
DE - Joseph Odebode (2), Mike Zakrzewski (2), Justin Barat (1)
NG - Marc Ranaudo (5)
LB - Mike Wiand (5)
LB - Sekou Jones (5)
LB - Mike Poulter (3), Dakota Everett (1), Marquis Brownlee (1)
CB - Ryon Muse (3), Andre' Gray (2)
CB - Christian Campbell (2), Wesley Pierce (2), Jamal Cooley (1)
S - Nick Mallardi (3), Andrew Linder (2)
S - Jimmy Verzicco (2), Justin Johnson (3)
FS - Jimmy Verzicco (3), Chase May (2)

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 (25 career starts)
• Career (35 games) - 76 tackles (17.5 TFL), 7.5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR, 2 Blk
• All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 2016 (5 starts) - 10 tackles (2.5 TFL, 1 sack), 1 Blk
• 2015 (11 starts) - 29 tackles (7.5 TFL), 2.0 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 Blk
• 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 (12 career starts)
• 2016 (5 games, 2 starts) - 11 tackles (TFL)
• 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 (15 career starts)
• 2016 (5 starts) - 25 tackles (5.0 TFL), 2.0 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 has made his first 2 career starts this fall:
•  2016 (3 games, 2 starts) - 11 tackles (1.0 TFL)
•  2015 (11 games) - 6 tackles (1.0 TFL)

R-Fr. DE/DL Justin Barat made his 1st career start vs Cheyney:
• 2016 (5 games, 1 start) - 7 tackles (1.5 TFL), 0.5 sacks

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 (16 career starts)
• 8th in PSAC in tackles per game (8.4)
• All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 2016 (5 starts) - 43 tackles (3.5 TFL), 2.0 sacks, FF
• 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 (14 career starts)
• 2016 (5 starts) - 32 tackles (4.0 TFL), 1.5 sacks, FF, 2 Int.
• 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 (5 games, 1 start) - 15 tackles [started opener at Brevard]
• 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)

LB -- R-So. Marquis Brownlee (1 career start)
• 2016 (5 games, 1 start) - 17 tackles [started week 2 vs IUP]
transfer from Lackawanna via Milford Academy [N.Y.] and West Scranton HS

LB -- So. Mike Poulter (3 career starts - last 3 games)
• 2016 (5 games, 3 starts) - 17 tackles (1.5 TFL), 0.5 sacks, FR
• started week 3 at Mercyhurst
• 2015 (11 games) - 12 tackles (TFL), 0.5 sacks

DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
ESU returned 3 starters in the defensive secondary and several others with starting experience.
• 10 Warriors have started games in the secondary this season

AT CORNER
This week: Fr. Andre' Gray and Fr. Justin Haynes

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

CB -- R-Jr. Wesley Pierce (11 career starts)
• 2016 (4 games, 2 starts) - 14 tackles (1.0 TFL)
• 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

CB -- Fr. Andre' Gray (2 career starts - has played last 3 games)
• 1st career game at Mercyhurst in week 3 (Int. and 3 pass breakups)
• 2016 (3 games, 2 starts) - 7 tackles, 1 Int., 5 PBU

CB -- Sr. Ryon Muse (3 career starts)
• 2016 (3 starts) - 10 tackles (1.5 TFL), 0.5 sacks
• 2015 (played in 3 games in first season at ESU)
• Transferred to ESU from Valley Forge Military Academy

CB -- Fr. Jamal Cooley (started vs Cheyney - 1st career game)
CB -- Fr. Justin Haynes (Int. vs Cheyney - 1st career game)

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 (14 career starts)
• 2016 (5 starts) - 26 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

FS -- Jr. Chase May (4 career starts)
• 2016 (4 games, 2 starts) - 28 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 (4 games) - 17 tackles (3 TFL), sack, FR
• 2015 (11 games, 3 starts in first season) - 40 tackles (2 TFL), 1.5 sacks, Int.

S -- Jr. Marc Gaudet (19 career starts)
• 2016 - dnp in first 4 games (injury)
• 2015 (8 starts) - 47 tackles, FR, Int.
• 2014 (11 starts) - 56 tackles (4 TFL), Int. as true freshman

S -- R-So. Nick Mallardi (3 career starts)
• 2016 (3 starts) - 9 tackles
• 2015 (8 games) - 11 tackles (2 TFL)

S -- R-Fr. Justin Johnson (3 career starts - last 3 games)
• 2016 (5 games, 3 starts) - 31 tackles (2.0 TFL), 2.0 sacks
• 1st career start at Mercyhurst

S -- R-Fr. Andrew Linder (2 career starts - last 2 games)
• 2016 (5 games, 2 starts) - 8 tackles (0.5 TFL)

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

SAFETY FIRST: ESU had 2 safeties at Seton Hill in week 2 of the 2013 season (W 70-7) for the only time in 445 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 - 8-11 FG, long 42, 50-54 PAT, 74 points
2016 - 3-6 FG, long 33, 26-26 PAT, 35 points
Career - 11-17 FG, long 42, 76-80 PAT, 109 points

2016
• Missed 52-yd FG at Brevard in season opener (would be career long)
• 2-for-2 FG (21, 28), 4-for-4 PAT in 34-31 win at Mercyhurst in week 3
• named PSAC Special Teams Athlete of the Week
• Missed 49-yd FG at Shippensburg
• 1-for-2 FG (made 33, missed 48), 7-for-7 PAT vs Cheyney in week 5

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, Morning Call All-Area in football, soccer (GK) at Stroudsburg HS
• 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 - 42.9 avg (1st in PSAC, 14th in DII)
• 22 punts
• career-long 70-yd punt at Mercyhurst

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 2016:
week 3 at Mercyhurst - Ahmad McFarland blocked FG (47-yd - early 3rd Q)

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)