Complete Game Notes (PDF)  l  Watch/Listen: Coach Douds on the John Mendola Show

THURSDAY  l  5:45 p.m.  l  Brevard, NC

Live Stats  l  Watch  l  Listen (online stream)  l  Listen on WVPO 840 AM in the Poconos

Updates: Twitter/@ESUWarriors

Radio: Live on WVPO (ESPN Poconos) 840 AM for the 54th season. Chuck Seese, the 2009 PSAC Heaslip Media Award recipient, is in his 28th season as the voice of the Warriors, with Bob Brittain in his 16th year providing the color commentary. Pre-game begins at 5:15 p.m.


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

1 • ESU travels to Brevard for a 5:45 p.m. kickoff for its 2016 season opener.  This marks the first meeting between the two schools, and the 3rd North Carolina-based program the Warriors have played - going 3-0 vs. Lenoir-Rhyne (1991 - W 34-17, away; 2003 - W 58-0, home; 2004 - W 26-21, away) and 0-1 vs. Elon (1997 - L 41-34, away).
1a • Brevard is the 60th different opponent the Warriors have faced, and the 40th under 43rd-year head coach Denny Douds.

2 • ESU is 30-12 in season openers under Douds, and 55-32-1 (.631) all-time in season openers entering its 89th season of varsity football.

3 • Last Time Out: ESU finished the 2015 season with a 49-37 win vs. Gannon, securing a 6-5 record and its 13th winning season (.500 or better) in 16 years. The Warriors have posted a .500 or better mark in 30 of their 42 seasons under Douds.

4 • Head coach Denny Douds holds the PSAC record for career wins (256), ranking 2nd among active NCAA coaches and 18th in NCAA (all-division) history.
4a • Douds holds the DII record for career games (440), leading active NCAA coaches and ranking 9th in NCAA history. Douds is 5th in NCAA history in games coached at one school.

5 • Douds opens his 43rd season as head coach at 51st at ESU overall. His 43 seasons as a head collegiate coach are 10th in NCAA history, and his 43 seasons at ESU are t-5th at one school.
5a • Brevard's Paul Hamilton will be the 109th different head coach Douds has faced in his career. Douds is 71-37 in his first meeting vs. a head coach.

6 • ESU returns 14 starters - 6 offense, 8 defense - plus both kicking specialists for the 2016 season. The Warriors have 30 returning letterwinners overall.

7 • ESU has 4 returning starters who were named All-PSAC East last season in R-Sr. TB Robert Healy (1st team), So. OL Michael Fleming (2nd team), R-Sr. DE Ahmad McFarland (2nd team) and R-Jr. LB Sekou Jones (2nd team).
7a • 4 of ESU's 8 departing starters were named All-PSAC East last season in QB Matt Soltes (1st team - Offensive AOY), WR Jon Schnaars (1st team), WR Gerard Wendowski (2nd team) and CB/RS Teron Dobbs (2nd team)

8 • R-Sr. TB Robert Healy is a 3-time All-PSAC East selection (2015 1st team) and is ESU's career leader in rushing yards (2,830) and yards from scrimmage (4,352) entering his senior season.
8a • In 2015, Healy 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 27 of the 33 games in his career (10 of 11 in 2015).  

9 • Soltes finished t-4th in the Harlon Hill Trophy voting in 2015. He set 5 NCAA DII records, including career TD passes per game, and set PSAC records for career passing yards per game and total offense per game. He led the PSAC in total offense (373.6 ypg), passing (354.5 ypg) and pass TD (41) in 2015.
9a • Schnaars was a consensus 1st team All-America, leading DII in receptions (114), yards (1,610) and TD (22) in 2015. Wendowski (49 rec, 781 yds, 9 TD) and Joe Welk (30 rec, 490 yds, 5 TD) are also gone, leaving Healy and a host of youngsters as the top receiving options this fall.

10 • ESU ranked 10th in DII in total offense and 2nd in passing offense last fall - ranking in the top 5 in DII in passing offense for the 8th time (1969, 1984, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2011 and 2015).

For more ... Complete Game Notes (PDF)


THE SERIES: ESU travels to Brevard (N.C.) for the first meeting between the two schools. Brevard is in its final season as a full NCAA Division II member and will begin the reclassification process to DIII membership during the 2017-18 academic year. This marks Brevard's 9th season as a full DII member after transitioning from the NAIA ranks.  

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 (440) 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 (256) among active NCAA coaches ... 1st in the PSAC in career wins (set in 2008) and 18th in NCAA history ... 57 career wins since turning 65 - more than 11 of the other 15 PSAC coaches have in their careers.

DOUDS DWARFS PSAC EAST: Douds has 256 career wins entering 2016 ... the other 7 coaches in the PSAC East have 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 has 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 256-181-3 (.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.

Paul Hamilton (Appalachian State '81) has a career record of 67-132 in his 19th season as a collegiate head coach. He has a 23-75 record in his 10th season at Brevard. He was head coach at Division I FBS schools East Tennessee State from 1997-03 (38-41) and Elon from 2004-05 (6-16). He coached fullbacks at Air Force in 2006 under head coach Fisher DeBerry, who coached Hamilton as a quarterback at Appalachian State. His career as an assistant coach also includes a stint at Air Force as quarterbacks coach from 1990-96, where he coached standout Beau Morgan (1996 AP All-America 3rd team, set NCAA single-season quarterback rushing record).

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 112-74 (.602) with a .500+ record in 13 of 16 years.

PROGRAM WINS: ESU has a 472-317-19 (.596) record in its 89th year of varsity football - ranking 4th among PSAC programs in all-time victories ... West Chester (578), IUP (537) and Slippery Rock (486) are the only other PSAC programs with at least 450 wins (Bloomsburg has 449) ... As head coach, Douds is responsible for 54.4 percent of the program's games (440 of 808), and 54.2 percent of its wins (256 of 472) ... Including 68 games and 45 wins as an assistant coach under Charlie Reese from 1966-73, he has coached in 508 of the 808 games (62.9 percent) and 301 of the 472 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 108 head coaches in his career at ESU ... Paul Hamilton will be Douds' 109th opponent this week ... Douds is 71-37 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)

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 5 redshirt freshmen in this week's depth chart ... ESU has played at least 7 true freshmen in each of the last 7 seasons ... 4 Warriors are projected to make their 1st career start this week ... Of the 37 returners who have 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 is listed as the Warriors' starter for the 2016 opener. Campbell has played in 13 career games and made 3 starts - the final 3 games of 2014 with Matt Soltes out of the lineup due to injury.
• He was the 32nd Warrior to start at QB under head coach Denny Douds
• He will be the 20th Warrior QB to start a season opener under Douds

Campbell's career stats: 60-for-131, 824 yards, 6 TD, 9 Int ... 13 rush, -62 yards
• 2014: 59-for-124, 813 yards, 6 TD, 8 Int
• 2015: 1-for-7, 11 yards, 1 Int

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 (2,830) and yards from scrimmage (4,352), is ESU's top returning pass catcher:

• 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 (2,830), yards from scrimmage (4,352)
• 3rd in career all-purpose yards (4,352)
• 2nd in career rushing attempts (487)
• 2nd in career 100-yard rushing games (10)
• 1st ESU player with 2,000 career yards rushing, 1,000 receiving

• 1st in games with 100 yards from scrimmage (27)
• 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]

• 20th in career receptions (111) - 2nd-most among backs
• 24th in career receiving yards (1,522) - 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

• 2nd among active DII players (1st in PSAC) in career yards
    from scrimmage (4,352)
• 6th 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: Just 2 of ESU's top 6 wide receivers on this week's depth chart have played for the Warriors:
• R-Jr. Tommy House (career) - 12 rec, 135 yds, 2 TD (10 rec, 119 yds, 2 TD in 2015)
• Jr. Tim Wilson (career) - 22 rec, 311 yds, 4 TD (2012-13)
• Jr. Rasheed Black (transfer from Valley Forge Military Academy) - All-City at George Washington HS (Phila.)
• Fr. Javier Buffalo (Ben Franklin HS) - Philadelphia city records for receiving yards (2,537) and TD (36)
• Fr. Nolan Ridgway (Parkland HS) - 45 rec, 736 yds, 5 TD (26 rush, 264 yds, 2 TD) on Parkland's AAAA runner-up team
• Fr. Raheem Wilson (Cardinal Hayes HS) - 1st team All-Conference and honorable mention All-Bronx in NY

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 (22), yards (311) and TD (4).
• 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 - including 439 kick return and 73 punt return yds)

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 21 games on offense, defense (linebacker in 2014) and special teams
• 11 games (8 starts) at fullback in 2015 - 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 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
• 3 rec, 45 yds in 11 games in 2015 (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 Jr. TB Jaymar Anderson - are listed on this week's depth chart.

BELL IN 2015: 6 carries, 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

ANDERSON ARRIVES: 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.

IN THE FRONT ROW: ESU returns 4 of its 5 starters from 2015, but just one is projected to start in the same spot where he finished last fall.

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

LG -- R-Fr. Levi Murphy (6-3, 290)
• Redshirted in 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) -- 22 career starts
• 2015 Academic All-America 1st team and PSAC Fall Top 10 (Biochemistry major, 4.0 GPA)
• has started all 22 games in his career at LG

RG -- R-Jr. Norman Rogers III (6-3, 300) -- 18 career starts
• has made 18 straight starts at RG since entering lineup in week 5 of 2014

RT -- Sr. Fran McMenamin (6-4, 280) -- 20 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 31 players make starts on the offensive line in the last 9 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)

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 440 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.


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 have combined for 105 career starts. 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 give the Warriors all 3 returning starters on the defensive line.

DE --- R-Sr. Ahmad McFarland (20 career starts)
• Career (30 games) - 66 tackles (14.5 TFL), 6.5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR
• All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 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)
• Started final 10 games of 2015 (played in opener)
• 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 (10 career starts)
• Started first 10 games (R-Sr. Steven Wright started week 11)
• 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)

ALSO LISTED ON DL:
• So. DE Mike Zakrzewski (11 games in 2015 - 6 tackles, TFL)
• R-Fr. DE Justin Barat (redshirted 2015 - can play DE/NG)
• R-So. NG Bryant Gilliard, Jr. (10 games in 2015 - 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 (11 career starts)
• All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 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 (9 career starts)
• 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
• 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 (10 games in 2015 - 5 tackles)
• R-So. Marquis Brownlee (transfer from Lackawanna via Milford Academy [N.Y.] and West Scranton HS)
• So. Mike Poulter (11 games in 2015 - 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 efficiency ... 7.4 yds per attempt
2015 - 126.5 efficiency ... 6.5 yds per 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 -- R-Jr. Wesley Pierce (9 career starts)
• 2015 (9 games, 8 starts) - 23 tackles (2.0 TFL), FF, 2 Int.
• Missed 2 games due to injury (has missed time due to injury this fall)
• 2014 (11 games, 1 start) - 26 tackles

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

CB -- R-So. Christian Campbell (3 career starts)
• 2015 (11 games, 3 starts at safety) - 30 tackles

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

THREE SAFETY SET
All 3 projected starters have starting experience in Sr. Jimmy Verzicco, Jr. Marc Gaudet and Jr. Chase May, along with R-Jr. Maurice Jackson.

S -- Sr. Jimmy Verzicco (9 career starts)
• 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)
• 2015 (8 starts) - 47 tackles, FR, Int.
• 2014 (11 starts) - 56 tackles (4.0 TFL), Int. as true freshman
• believed to be ESU's 1st-ever letterwinner from New Hampshire (2-time All-State linebacker at Concord, captain of undefeated state champ in 2013)

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

ALSO LISTED AT SAFETY:
• R-So. Nick Mallardi (8 games in 2015 - 11 tackles, 2 TFL)
• Jr. Bill Inge III (transfer from Camden CC)

SAFETY FIRST: ESU had 2 safeties at Seton Hill in week 2 of the 2013 season (W 70-7) for the only time in 440 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 returns both kicking specialists for 2016 (both 2nd-year starters):

So. K Nicolas Ruiz
• 8-for-11 on FG
• 50-for-54 on PAT
• 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
• 6th in PSAC in punting average (37.8)
• 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)