EAST STROUDSBURG -- In Week 11, the East Stroudsburg University football team closes its season by hosting Gannon in a PSAC crossover matchup at Eiler-Martin Stadium. The Warriors (5-5, 3-4 PSAC East) and Golden Knights (4-6, 3-4 PSAC West) are slated to kickoff at 1:05 p.m. in the Poconos.

How To Follow

• Fans are allowed inside Eiler-Martin Stadium. All fans are encouraged to wear masks when they cannot socially distance. Masks are required when inside any University building on campus. Ticketing information can be found here.
• TV: For the 34th consecutive season, Blue Ridge TV 13 will broadcast all home games to the region, with Chris Doty and Jim Riley calling the action.
• Stream: Fans can watch a stream of the Blue Ridge TV 13 broadcast online via the PSAC Sports Digital Network. The PSAC Sports Digital Network is available on the web, along with streaming applications for television and mobile devices for Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku (TV), iOS, Android (mobile) and Amazon Fire Tablet. Search "PSAC Sports Digital Network" to download the app. All ESU broadcasts are archived on the PSAC Sports Digital Network and can be watched on-demand.
• Radio: Bigfoot Country 103.1 FM 840 AM enters its 56th year broadcasting Warriors' football. Chuck Seese and Bob Brittain are on the call for every home and away game on the radio dials and online. 90.3 FM WESS Radio will also broadcast the game.
• Live stats are available on esuwarriors.com.

The East Stroudsburg University athletic department will honor eight seniors prior to kickoff against the Golden Knights. 

• David Akinwande
• Kutory Alexander
• Andre Eldridge
• Carter Forney
• Davino Frazer
• Bo Heshler 
• Anthony Marrone
• Teddy Mitchell

The Series: ESU and Gannon meet for the fifth time on Saturday, with ESU holding a 3-1 advantage in the series. First meeting in 2008, the two squads meet for the first time since 2015. In that contest at Eiler-Martin Stadium, the Warriors defeated the Golden Knights 49-37 on the senior day of ESU legends Matt Soltes and Jon Schnaars. 

Last Time Out: ESU could not contain one of the top offenses in Division II, falling to No. 11 Shepherd, 55-7, on Saturday at Ram Stadium.

A Win Would... 

ESU looks to put together its second consecutive winning season after boasting a 6-5 record in Jimmy Terwilliger’s first full seasons as head coach in 2019. This would mark the first time ESU had back-to-back winning seasons since 2014 and 2015. 

ESU looks to end the season with a win for the third consecutive season, defeating Clarion to end the final two seasons.

With a 4-1 record in the Poconos, ESU seeks its first five-win home slate since 2008.

McCarthy the Menace: Since tallying four sacks during week one against Pace, Deshawn McCarthy has ranked among the top defensive ends nationally in terms of sacks and tackles for loss. He is currently tied with Tylen Coleman of Western New Mexico for the Division II lead with 12 sacks in 10 games. The native of Philadelphia will need a big game if he looks to tie the school record of 15 sacks in a single season. His 12 sacks are the most by a Warrior since 1992. McCarthy ranks 21st nationally and third in the league with 1.5 tackles for loss per game.

The Turf Bender: Rece Bender looks to wrap up his explosive season strong. He currently ranks second in the conference and 12th in Division II in yards per catch (20.45). Always a threat to score when in open space, Bender ranks third in the PSAC in all-purpose yards per game (131.0). Along with a program record 99-yard kickoff return, Bender has tallied receptions of 96 yards (longest for a Warrior since 2013), 79 yards, 66 yards, 64 yards, 53 yards, 47 yards and 40 yards. In his last game at Eiler-Martin Stadium against Shippensburg, Bender registered a career-high 188 yards of receiving on just five catches (receptions of 66 yds., 47 yds., 39 yds., 31 yds. and five yds.)  Bender’s 2,827 all-purpose yards ranks 14th all-time in program history with a season of eligibility remaining. 

Cirillo Making Moves: Quarterback Jake Cirillo continues to inch in the record books in several categories during his career at ESU. Cirillo now ranks 8th all-time in total offense (5,372), 10th in career passing yards (4,515) nad10th in passing touchdowns (34). 

Scouting Gannon: The Golden Knights enter the contest with a 4-6 record, falling in their last two games to nationally-ranked Slippery Rock and rival Mercyhurst. The matchup will feature two of the top four rushers in the PSAC, with GU’s Melvin Blanks ranking second in the conference with 1,015 yards and Gunner Anglovich posting 841 yards. Blanks ranks 17th in the country in the category and 15th in yards per carry, averaging 6.42 yards per rush for the Pittsburgh native. Another matchup to watch is Gannon’s offensive line against the Warrior defensive pass rush. Gannon ranks third in the PSAC and 21st nationally in sacks allowed, while the Warrior defensive pass ranks in the top-20 nationally in total sacks with an average of 3.2 per contest.