Complete Game Notes (PDF)

SATURDAY  l  12 p.m.  l  Erie, Pa. (Tullio Field)

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

1 • ESU (1-1) travels to Mercyhurst (1-1) on the 3rd weekend of the 2016 season. Both teams have a loss to a Top-10 team on their schedule - Mercyhurst fell 48-0 at #6 Ashland on the opening weekend, and ESU fell 73-42 vs. #10 IUP last Saturday at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

2 • This is the 3rd meeting between ESU and Mercyhurst, with the Lakers winning the first two - 52-45 in Erie in 2012, and 37-20 at ESU in 2013.

3 • Last Time Out: The Warriors dropped a 73-42 decision vs. #10 IUP in their home opener.  ESU led 7-0 and tied it at 14-14 late in the 1st quarter, before IUP scored 31 straight points in a span of 11 minutes to open its lead. The 115 combined points are t-5th in PSAC history and t-2nd in ESU history, as both teams scored at least one touchdown in each quarter.

4 • ESU head coach Denny Douds, in his 43rd season, ranks t-16th on the NCAA all-division wins list. Douds holds the PSAC record for career wins and ranks 2nd among active NCAA coaches.
4a • Douds holds the DII record for career games (442), leading active NCAA coaches and ranking 9th in NCAA history. Douds is 5th in NCAA history in games coached at one school.
4b • Douds' 43 seasons as a head coach are 10th in NCAA history, and his 43 seasons at ESU are t-5th at one school.

5 • R-Sr. QB Bruce Campbell threw for 309 yards and 3 TD vs. IUP - his 2nd 300-yard game in 5 career starts. He threw for 375 yards at Gannon as a sophomore in 2014.

6 • R-Sr. TB Robert Healy ranks among the NCAA leaders thru 2 games:
* Rushing YPG (148.0) - 1st in PSAC, 4th in DII
* Yards from Scrimmage (215.0) - 2nd in PSAC & DII
1. 216.0 - Walt Pegues (IUP)
2. 215.0 - Robert Healy (ESU)
3. 199.5 - Ja'Quan Gardner (Humboldt State)
4. 196.0 - Max Mickey (Sioux Falls)
5. 190.5 - Kamal Cass (Eastern NM)

7 • Healy had 274 yards from scrimmage vs. IUP last week (157 rushing, 117 receiving), 2nd-most in ESU history. He set a school record with his 5th career game with 200+ yards from scrimmage, and has 100+ yards in 29 of his 35 career games.

8 • Healy is ESU's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,126) and yards from scrimmage (4,782), extending records his set as a junior in 2015. He is the first ESU player to run for 3,000 career yards.
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.

9 • Jr. WR Tim Wilson had career-highs with 6 catches, 109 yards and 2 TD vs. IUP. Wilson has 11 catches in 2 games this season (had 11 catches in both 2012 and 2013 - 22 catches in 18 games).

10 • Sr. FB Sean Roth has 80 total yards (32 rushing, 40 receiving) and 2 TD, after gaining 93 yards (all receiving) with 1 TD in 2015.

For more ... Complete Game Notes (PDF)


THE SERIES: Mercyhurst has won both meetings vs. ESU, a 52-45 win in Erie in 2012 and a 37-20 win at ESU in 2013. The Lakers joined the PSAC in 2008, along with Gannon, in the conference's first expansion outside of the 14 State System institutions. This is ESU's 4th trip to Erie in the last 8 seasons - 2009 at Gannon (W 38-21), 2012 at Mercyhurst (L 52-45) and 2014 at Gannon (L 66-41) - a game in which current R-Sr. QB Bruce Campbell threw for 375 yards and 2 TD in relief of injured starter Matt Soltes.
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 113-75 (.601) with a .500+ record in 13 of 16 years.

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 (442) 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 257-182-3 (.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.

Marty Schaetzle (Bucknell '83) is in his 15th season as head coach at Mercyhurst and has a career record of 76-81. Schaetzle led the Lakers to a school-record 10 wins and the PSAC championship in 2010, and has guided his team to winning records in 5 of its first 8 years in the PSAC (since 20008), earning PSAC West Coach of the Year 3 times. Mercyhurst has posted a 6-1 record in the PSAC West in 3 of the last 6 seasons and was 23-10 overall (16-5 PSAC West) from 2012-14 before going 5-6 overall (2-5 PSAC West) in 2015. Schaetzle was an offensive lineman at Bucknell and was an assistant coach (OL and later offensive coordinator) for 5 years before arriving at Mercyhurst.

PROGRAM WINS: ESU has a 473-318-19 (.596) record in its 89th year of varsity football - ranking 4th among PSAC programs in all-time victories ... West Chester (579), IUP (538), Slippery Rock (488) and Bloomsburg (451) are the only other PSAC programs with at least 450 wins ... As head coach, Douds is responsible for 54.6 percent of the program's games (442 of 810), 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 510 of the 810 games (63.0 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 73-42 LOSS vs. #10 IUP
1. R-Sr. TB Robert Healy had 274 yards from scrimmage, 2nd-most in ESU history (157 rush, 117 rec)
• Healy's 2nd career 100 rush/100 rec game (all other ESU players under Denny Douds have 1)
2. R-Sr. QB Bruce Campbell was 23-for-38 for 309 yards and 3 TD for his 2nd career 300-yard game in 5 starts
3. Jr. WR Tim Wilson had 6 catches for 109 yards and 2 TD (all career-highs)
4. 115 combined points - t-2nd in ESU history and t-5th in PSAC history [most points allowed by ESU]
5. 1,286 combined yards - t-3rd in ESU history [ESU 497, IUP 789 - 2nd in PSAC history]

WHAT TO LOOK FOR vs. MERCYHURST
1. Mercyhurst has struggled offensively in the first 2 weeks, gaining 188 yards in a 48-0 loss at #6 Ashland and 170 yards in a 23-19 win at Kutztown last week. The Lakers have rushed for just 69 yards (including a 47-yard gain at KU).
2. The Lakers won at Kutztown despite being outgained 390-170 (allowing 196 rush yds, 194 pass yds) - but blocked 4 kicks, including 3 punts (1 for a TD) to overcome deficits of 13-0 in the 1st quarter and 19-10 in the 3rd quarter.
3. R-Sr. RB Richie Sanders was the 2011 PSAC West Freshman of the Year but did not compete in both the 2012 and 2014 seasons. He had 121 rushing yards, 3rd-most of his career, in Mercyhurst's 37-20 win at ESU in 2013.
4. R-Fr. QB Doug Altavilla is 26-for-50 for 252 yards and a TD in his first 2 games. Altavilla is the cousin of former Mercyhurst ace pitcher Dan Altavilla, drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 5th round in 2014, who made his MLB Debut this summer and has pitched in 8 games for the Mariners.

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 ... 7 Warriors have made their 1st career starts ... 19 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


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 (3,126), yards from scrimmage (4,782)
• 3rd in career all-purpose yards (4,782)
• 2nd in career rushing attempts (530)
• 2nd in career 100-yard rushing games (12)
• 1st ESU player with 2,000 career yards rushing, 1,000 receiving

• 1st in games with 100 yards from scrimmage (29)
• 1st in games with 200 yards from scrimmage (5)
• 1st in games with 50+ yards rushing, receiving (15)
   [2nd-most is 4]
• 1st in games with 75+ yards rushing, receiving (5)
   [4 others total from 1974-2015]
• 1st in games with 100+ yards rushing, receiving (2)
   [1 other total from 1974-2015]
• 1st in consecutive games with 100 yards from scrimmage (12)
   [also has 2nd-most with 7]

• 120 career receptions - 2nd-most among backs
• 1,656 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 29 of 35 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

UNDER CENTER: R-Sr. QB Bruce Campbell has made 5 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)

Campbell: 15 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: 97-for-195, 1,334 yds, 11 TD, 11 Int ... 16 rush, -65 yds
• 2014: 59-for-124, 813 yds, 6 TD, 8 Int
• 2015: 1-for-7, 11 yds, 1 Int
• 2016: 37-for-64, 510 yds, 5 TD, 2 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 (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

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

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 (33), yards (478) and TD (7).

• 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 - 11 rec, 167 yds, 3 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)

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 23 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 - 2 games (2 starts)
• 6 rush, 32 yds, TD ... 5 rec, 48 yds, TD ... 1 KR, 10 yds
• 10-yd rec TD at Brevard
• 6-yd rush TD vs IUP

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 90 all-purpose yards, 2 TD in 2016 (32 rush, 48 rec, 10 KR)

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

Fr. FB Wyatt Clements
• 1st action vs IUP [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 - 8 rush, 32 yds, 2 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

FELLS RETURNS KICKS
• 183 kick return yards (9 KR) with long of 32 in 73-42 loss vs #10 IUP

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 442 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) -- 10 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) -- 2 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) -- 24 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) -- 20 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) -- 22 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 (22 career starts)
• Career (32 games) - 69 tackles (15.0 TFL), 6.5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR
• All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 2016 (2 starts) - 3 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 - 3 tackles
• 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 (12 career starts)
• 2016 (2 starts) - 11 tackles (1.5 TFL), sack
• 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 (2 start) - 7 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)
• 3 tackles (1.0 TFL) in first 2 career games

R-So. NG Bryant Gilliard, Jr.
• 2016 (2 games) - 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 (13 career starts)
• All-PSAC East 2nd team
• 2016 (2 starts) - 15 tackles (1.5 TFL), sack, 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 (11 career starts)
• 2016 (2 starts) - 11 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 (2 games, 1 start) - 6 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 (2 games, 1 start) - 12 tackles [started week 2 vs IUP]
transfer from Lackawanna via Milford Academy [N.Y.] and West Scranton HS

ALSO LISTED AT LB:
R-So. Justin Best
• 2016 (2 games) - 4 tackle
• 2015 (10 games) - 5 tackles

So. Mike Poulter
• 2016 (2 games) - 2 tackles (0.5 TFL), FR
• 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.

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 eff., 7.4 yds/att.
2015 - 126.5 pass eff., 6.5 yds/att.

AT CORNER
Sr. Ryon Muse and R-Jr. Wesley Pierce are listed as starters, with 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 (2 career starts)
• 2016 (2 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 -- R-Jr. Wesley Pierce (9 career starts)
• 2016 (2 games) - 7 tackles
• 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 (2 games) - 2 tackles
• 2015 (5 games) - 4 tackles
Fr. Andre' Gray (All-County 2nd team RB at Gwynn Park [Md.])
• dnp in first 2 games

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 (11 career starts)
• 2016 (2 starts) - 7 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 (2 starts) - 20 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 (2 games) - 6 tackles, 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 2 games (injury)
• 2015 (8 starts) - 47 tackles, FR, Int.
• 2014 (11 starts) - 56 tackles (4.0 TFL), Int. as true freshman

MALLARDI MAKES FIRST START:
R-So. Nick Mallardi started, replacing Gaudet, in the season opener.
• 2016 (2 starts) - 7 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 442 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 - 0-1 FG (long n/a), 13-13 PAT, 13 points
Career - 8-12 FG (long 42), 63-67 PAT, 87 points

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 - 39.7 avg
• 7 punts
• allowed 11 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)