Skip To Main Content

East Stroudsburg University Athletics

scoreboard

ESU Offense
Taj Falconer

PREVIEW: ESU vs. Mercyhurst

9/16/2021 4:30:00 PM

EAST STROUDSBURG -- The East Stroudsburg University football team returns to Eiler-Martin Stadium for Family Weekend on Saturday, when the Warriors host PSAC West foe Mercyhurst. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. between the Warriors (1-1) and Lakers (1-1) in the Poconos.

How To Follow

  • Fans will be allowed inside Eiler-Martin Stadium. All fans are encouraged to wear masks when they cannot socially distance. 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 (pxp) and Bob Brittain (color) 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 here.

The Series: Mercyhurst leads the all-time series, 3-1. The two squads have held home-and-homes in 2012-13 and 2016-17. In the most recent meeting in the Poconos, the Lakers rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit and hung on late to defeat ESU. The Lakers left the GLIAC and joined the PSAC in 2008 and have posted a record of 62-84 since joining the conference. The Warriors lone win against 'Hurst came in 2016, when ESU's Robert Healy ran for 256 yards and four touchdowns, registeringa school-record 292 scrimmage yards. His 256 rushing yards rank as the third most in a single game in program history.

Last Time Out: ESU hung with No. 8 Slippery Rock on the road, but were plagued by penalties (12) and punts (9), falling to SRU 22-7 last Saturday at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. The Warriors looked to make a comeback early on in the fourth quarter, stacking its first touchdown of the game and a Shavar Hussett interception, but ESU could not capitalize after turning the ball over on downs.

Best in the PSAC: Gunner Anglovich leads the PSAC in rushing yards through two weeks, averaging 108 yards per game on an even 5.0 yards per carry. He ranks 17th nationally in rushing yards per game.

  • Anglovich also holds the top spot in the conference in all-purpose yards (151.0 per game), which ranks 24th in Division II.
  • Led by Anglovich, ESU boasts the top rushing offense in the PSAC, averaging 210.5 yards per contest, which ranks 24th in the nation.
  • After being named the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week during week one, Deshawn McCarthy still ranks among the nations leaders in sacks and tackles for loss.
  • McCarthy's 2.25 sacks per game ranks third in the country and first in the PSAC.
  • McCarthy's 3.2 tackles per loss per game is currently fourth best in Division II.

Taking Care of the Ball: The Warriors are one of three teams in the PSAC (IUP and Edinboro are the others) to avoid throwing an interception this season and have attempted the most passes of those three squads (59). IUP and Edinboro have both only played one game this season. ESU has given up the ball via turnover (interception/fumble) once, which came on a Jake Cirillo fumble against Pace.

Avoid the Yellow Flag: ESU looks to avoid the yellow laundry on the field, as the Warriors currently rank last in penalties in the PSAC, with 20 penalties going for 180 yards against the Warriors. ESU has allowed six first downs via the penalty.

Provide the Pressure: ESU is tied for second in the PSAC with nine sacks, along with Lock Haven and Cal U. West Chester has posted 10 sacks, with all 10 coming against Mercyhurst during week two. The Warriors will look to get after the quarterback once again in week three.

Offensive Output: ESU's 8.3 yards per play against Pace in week one ranks second in the conference to only West Chester, who averaged 8.5 yards per play against Mercyhurst last week.

Pin 'Em Deep: Freshman punter Nate Reed is tied with Bloomsburg's Jaco Sattamini with six punts inside the 20 through two weeks. Two of his boots have gone 50-plus yards, which is tied for second with IUP's Dylan Grubbs in the PSAC. He currently leads the league in punts (13) and total punting yards (482).

Scouting Mercyhurst: The Lakers also enter the game with a 1-1 record, taking an 18-3 season opener at home over Alderson Broaddus, but fell in Erie to West Chester by a mark of 56-10. The Lakers defense held Alderson Broaddus to just 86 yards, with Bradley Burrows notching 10 tackles and four sacks and a safety for Mercyhurst. The Lakers led West Chester 7-0 after the first quarter, but the Golden Rams posted 28 consecutive points in the second quarter to take control of game. The Lakers rank fifth nationally and lead the league in time of possession, averaging 38:03 with the ball through two weeks. Mercyhurst could not contain the WCU pressure, allowing 10 sacks. The 'Hurst offense currently ranks last in the PSAC in yards per game (74.0) and 14th in the league in points per game at 14.0.

Around the Conference: In the Eastern Division, Shepherd and Shippensburg remain undefeated at 2-0, while ESU Kutztown, Lock Haven, Millersville and West Chester each sports 1-1 record after two weeks. Bloomsburg is the lone winless team at 0-2 and look to pick up a win against Gannon at home this week.

Out in the Western Division, Cal U, Seton Hill and Slippery Rock remain perfect 2-0, while  nationally-ranked IUP earned a victory in its first game last week against Kutztown. Gannon and Mercyhurst boast 1-1 records, while Edinboro (0-1) and Clarion (0-2) look to pick up their first victories of the 2021 campaign this week.

Family Weekend

  • On the athletics portion of Family Weekend, the national-ranked ESU field hockey team opens Family Weekend at 11:00 a.m. against Lindenwood.
  • After the football game at Eiler-Martin Stadium, ESU women's soccer will host Mansfield on its home pitch at 7:00 p.m.
  • The Warriors' field hockey team closes out the weekend at noon on Sunday against Saint Anselm.
  • For a list of Family Weekend events on campus, visit esu.edu/family-weekend.

Saving Lives: In conjunction with the season opener against Pace, the East Stroudsburg University athletic department held a #RelentlesS Get in the Game Marrow Drive in partnership with Be The Match and the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation. In total, the drive registered 498 potential donors, ranking among the most successful drives in history of the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation. 100-plus ESU student-athletes volunteered on over 10 Warrior teams, helping take donor information and administering swab kits on campus in University Center. It was the first athletic department-wide initiative event that the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation has partnered with. An average drive usually nets around 100 potential donors. If statistics hold true, ESU's event will result is three lives being saved via transplant in the near future. The ESU football team has previously hosted three Get in the Game Marrow Drives, securing 482 registrants.

Up Next: The Warriors will begin a two-game road trip at Lock Haven on September 25. Kickoff at Hubert Jack Stadium is slated for 6:00 p.m.

Print Friendly Version