KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- In a defensive battle, a Kutztown go-ahead touchdown with under a minute left proved to be the difference, as the East Stroudsburg University football team fell to Kutztown, 21-14 on Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium.
The Warriors fall to 3-2, 1-1 in PSAC East action, while the Golden Bears improve to 4-1, 2-0 in league play. Kutztown, the defending PSAC East champions, entered the game receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll after defeating then No. 10 Shepherd last weekend.
After allowing two touchdowns on its first two drives, the ESU defense buckled down and held the Golden Bears off the scoreboard with seven consecutive stops. The defensive unit forced five punts, an interception and a turnover-on-downs during that span. A 76-yard completion setup the Golden Bears with the game-winning touchdown with 44 seconds remaining.
Tailback Gunner Anglovich reached the century mark for the second time this season, rushing for 108 yards and both of ESU's touchdowns. The PSAC's leading rusher averaged 6.0 yards per carry on 18 rushes.
Quarterback Jake Cirillo returned to the starting lineup, with Matt DeLaurentis scratched due to injury. The East Stroudsburg native completed 21-44 passes for 180 yards. Rece Bender led the Warriors with five receptions for 60 yards. David Akinwande pulled in two catches for 28 yards. Anglovich added 17 receiving yards on three catches, while Clifford Brinkley caught two passes for 12 yards.
Tyler Watson finished with a career-best 13 tackles to lead ESU. Jacob Keane added nine tackles. Jahmere Crumpton would total eight tackles, along with a crucial interception during the fourth quarter.
Deshawn McCarthy caused havoc in the backfield all day, recording a pair of tackles for loss and a sack, for a total of seven tackles and two quarterback hits. Paul Carerras totaled seven tackles, while Ryan Hieber registered a sack.
ESU could not pick up a first down on its opening possession, sending a punt to KU territory. The Golden Bears would score touchdowns on each of its first possessions, with each drive lasting 10-plus plays. KU quarterback Eric Nickel would score on a three-yard rush on the team's first drive, while the Golden Bears' tailback Darryl Davis-McNeil would find the end zone from the one-yard line with 49 seconds left in the opening quarter.
The Warriors could not capitalize on its first offensive drive of the second quarter and were forced to punt. KU would gain a pair of first downs on its next drive, but the Warriors defense held strong at midfield and would force a punt from near midfield after the 13-play drive.
After a KU punt, ESU picked up a key first down on 3rd and 18 with a 26-yard connection from Cirillo to Akinwande. Later on in the drive, Anglovich grabbed a first down on 4th and 2 from the KU 21, finding space for 11 yards. After two incompletions, an unnecessary roughness penalty setup Anglovich for his first of two rushing touchdowns, to cut the deficit to 14-7. ESU would head to the locker room with a seven-point deficit.
The Warriors put together a promising drive to open the second half, going 18 plays and driving 79 yards. On the drive, ESU converted three third down chances and a fourth down conversion, but the drive would stall with a 21-yard missed field goal.
ESU's defense kept up the pace, with another stop to close the third frame.
After an ESU punt, Hieber would tally a sack on first down, as Crumpton came up with the pivotal interception in Golden Bear territory on the next play. On the Warriors' first play from scrimmage, Anglovich found an opening and took the touchdown 30 yards into the end zone to tie the contest at 14-14.
The Warriors kept momentum defensively, forcing a turnover-on-down on the nine-play drive.
Looking to take its first lead of the contest, ESU faked a punt for the second consecutive week. Tight end Dawson Stuart took the direct snap and rushed for a gain of 11 on 4th and 3. Later on in the drive, the Warriors could not gain a first down on 3rd and 15 after a holding penalty. ESU's Nate Reed boomed a 54-yard punt to the Kutztown six-yard line.
KU would get a first down on a 3rd and 4 with less than two minutes on the clock to extend the drive.
A 67-yard completion from KU's Eric Nickel to Jerome Kapp would set up Darryl McNeil-Davis with a short rushing touchdown, as the Golden Bears grabbed a 21-14 lead with just 44 seconds to go.
ESU with limited time to attempt to tie the game would throw an interception, ending a 219 pass attempts without an interception streak. The streak, which featured five different players attempting pass, breaks an ESU program record (175 attempts) set by Matt Soltes and Nate Daniels during the 2013 season. ESU was one of just six Division II teams entering Saturday that did not throw an interception in 2021.
The Golden Bears would run out the clock, to earn the victory.
The Warriors return to Eiler-Martin Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 9 for Homecoming. ESU battles Millersville with a 2:05 p.m. kickoff in the Poconos.
