Complete Game Notes (PDF)
SATURDAY l 6:05 p.m. l Eiler-Martin Stadium
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1st & 10 ... Complete Game Notes (PDF)
1 • ESU hosts Mercyhurst in its 2017 home opener at Eiler-Martin Stadium. The Warriors have played two 2016 NCAA Division II Playoff teams, both on the road, to open the season.
2 • ESU has played 2 of its 3 2017 opponents that qualified for the NCAA Playoffs in 2016.
• W 20-16 at Fairmont State (Aug. 31)
• L 38-14 at #6 IUP (Sept. 9)
• vs. California (Nov. 11) [regional runner-up]
• ESU is 14-37 all-time vs. teams that qualified for the NCAA postseason the previous year
3 • ESU head coach
Denny Douds leads active NCAA coaches in games coached (453) and ranks 2nd in wins (261).
• 8th in NCAA history in games coached
• 1st in DII history in games coached
• 4th in games coached at one school
• t-16th in NCAA history in wins
• 1st in PSAC history in wins (set in 2008)
4 • Douds is in his 44th season as head coach, ranking t-9th in NCAA history and ranking 5th in years coached at one school.
• 60 - John Gagliardi (St. John's Minn.)
• 55 - Eddie Robinson (Grambling)
• 50 - John E. Dorman (Upper Iowa)
• 46 - Joe Paterno (Penn State)
• 44 -
Denny Douds (ESU)
5 • The Warriors are 60-27-2 in their 89 home openers since 1926 (28-15 under Douds since 1974).
6 • This marks the 11th straight home opener under the lights at Eiler-Martin Stadium.
• ESU has a 10-9 record in night games since lights were installed in 2007
• Mercyhurst is ESU's 14th different opponent for night football
7 • R-Jr. TB
Jaymar Anderson (25 rush, 151 yds, 2 TD at IUP) had his 2nd straight 100-yard rushing game to open the season.
• ranks 3rd in PSAC (12th DII) with 138.0 ypg
• ranks 2nd in PSAC (6th DII) with 51 carries
• will play first career home game (first 3 games were on road - season-ending injury in 2016 opener at Brevard)
8 • Sr. WR
Tim Wilson was 7th in the PSAC in receptions (5.8) and yards (91.0) per game in 2016 (58 rec, 910 yds, 8 TD). He had 4 catches for 84 yards and a TD in the opener at Fairmont.
9 • ESU's offensive line, led by Jr. LT
Michael Fleming (2x All-PSAC East 2nd team - 21 starts), R-Sr. RG
Norman Rogers III (2016 All-PSAC East 2nd team - 31 starts) and R-Sr. C
Devon Ackerman (35 starts) combined for 92 career starts entering the season.
• other 17 positions combined for 130
10 • So. K
Jordan Walters (2-for-2 FG, 4-for-4 PAT) and R-Jr. P
Sam O'Brien (41.2 avg - 3rd in PSAC) have been solid in the kicking game in 2017. Walters was named PSAC East Special Teams AOW at Fairmont (2-2 FG, 2-2 PAT).
THE SERIES:
• Mercyhurst leads, 2-1 (Lakers joined PSAC in 2008)
• ESU won 34-31 (away) last year after Mercyhurst won first two in 2012 (52-45) and 2013 (37-20)
TAKEAWAYS FROM 38-14 LOSS at IUP
1. After holding Fairmont State to 9 offensive points and 330 yards, IUP had 31 offensive points and 607 yards
• ESU was 15th in PSAC in scoring defense (39.3 ppg), 16th in total defense (502.7) in 2016
• IUP posted 62-13 win vs. Fairmont State in 2016 NCAA DII Playoffs 1st round
2. R-Jr. TB
Jaymar Anderson (25 carries, 151 yards, 2 TD) gained 67.7 percent of ESU's 223 yards
3. Anderson ran for 43 yards on both of ESU's scoring drives (scored TD's of 28 yds in 1st quarter, and 1 yd in 3rd)
4. Sr. WR
Tim Wilson (2 rec, 30 yds) has led ESU in receiving yards in 9 of its last 11 games (played in 10)
5. ESU has yielded an interception return for TD in 2 straight games, and the 5th time in 6 games dating to last year.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR vs. MERCYHURST
1. Both offenses have struggled to start 2017:
• ESU - 17.0 ppg (13th in PSAC), 265.5 ypg (15th) ... Hurst - 13.5 ppg (14th in PSAC), 327.5 ypg (12th)
2.
Robert Healy (ESU's all-time leader in rushing, yards from scrimmage) gained 292 total yards (256 rushing) and scored 4 TD in last year's 34-31 win at Mercyhurst.
3. R-Jr. TB
Jaymar Anderson can become the 4th ESU player with 100 rushing yards in each of the first 3 games of a season:
• Pete Radocha (1976 - 3 straight), Andre Castiglioni (2000 - 4 straight),
Robert Healy (2016 - 3 straight)
4. ESU's defense has forced 5 fumbles (recovering all 5) to open the 2017 season - 3 at Fairmont State, 2 at IUP
5. Mercyhurst R-So. QB Doug Altavilla (189-327 for 2,334 yds, 19 TD, 11 Int in 2016) is the cousin of former Mercyhurst ace pitcher Dan Altavilla, drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 5th round in 2014, who has appeared in 49 games in relief for the Mariners over the last 2 seasons (49.2 IP, 51 K, 19 BB, 3.81 ERA).
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
