EAST STROUDSBURG -- In its first game in 653 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the East Stroudsburg University football team opened up the 2021 season with an impressive 35-14 victory over Pace at Eiler-Martin Stadium on Thursday night.
The Warriors (1-0) owned the line scrimmage, rushing for 319 yards and two touchdowns. It's the most rushing yards for the Warriors in a single game since putting up 334 yards against Cheyney in 2012. Overall Thursday's 319 rushing yard output ranks 10th all-time in school history.
The defensive line brought the pressure, sacking FCS transfer Carlton Aiken seven times. The offensive line protected quarterback Jake Cirillo, who avoided getting sacked. Overall, ESU outgained Pace 524 yards to 279.
ESU's consistent rushing attack from running back Gunner Anglovich (career-high 140 yards on 23 carries, avg. 6.1, 1 touchdown), fullback David Akinwande (91 yards on 9 carries), Cirillo (72 yards on 6 carries, 1 TD) and running back Tyriq Lewis (20 yards, 5 carries) combined for 319 yards from the ground.
Cirillo finished with a line of 11-18 for 205 yards and three passing touchdowns without throwing an interception. A 79-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Rece Bender in the fourth quarter ended a potential threat for Pace to comeback from a 21-point deficit with 11:31 to go.
Deshawn McCarthy led the ESU pass rush with an impressive four sacks, which is the most in a single game since Brian Holkovic recorded four quarterback takedowns against Kutztown in 2001. Aiden Hayward added 1.5 sacks., while Andre Eldridge (1.0 sacks) and Ryan Hieber (0.5) each frequented the backfield. McCarthy finished with six of ESU's 14 tackles for a loss.
The Warriors came out of the gate on fire, scoring the game's first 21 points in the first quarter. Anglovich and Akinwande combined for 73 yards of rushing, including a 50-yard scamper from Akinwande. Anglovich would find paydirt from 19 yards out to give ESU's first touchdown the campaign.
The Warrior defense did not disappoint, forcing a three and out in its first action.
Again, ESU's three-headed rushing attack of Anglovich, Cirillo and Akinwande would drive down the field. A nine-yard drive was capped with a one-yd sneak by Cirillo on fourth and goal to extend the ESU advantage to 14-0.
A roughing the punter penalty on ESU would lead to Pace's first, first down of the evening. The ESU defense buckled down the next three plays to force its second of seven punts of the day.
On the next Warrior drive, Cirillo's first completion of the season would land in Clifford Brinkley's hands for a 35-yard completion, which set up ESU in the redzone on the Pace 18-yd line. The next play, Cirillo found Syracuse transfer James Cherry in the end zone, as the Warriors lengthened its lead to 21-0 in the first quarter. The Red and Black outgained the opposition 192-19 during the opening quarter of the season.
Pace could not gain any momentum yet on its next offensive drive, with Hayward forcing a fumble that was recovered by Darn Blackwell.
After a few punts back and forth from the Warriors and Setters, Aiken completed a 38-yd touchdown pass to Ramir Tann-Davis to put Pace on the scoreboard at 21-7.
A big drive was up next for ESU, with 4:59 left in the first half and Pace receiving the second half kickoff. An 11-play, drive with Cirillo finding Bender for an 8-yd score would put the Warriors on top 28-7 at the half.
After the intermission, Tann-Davis returned the second-half kickoff to the house, to cut the ESU lead to just 14 points. The Warrior defense would prevent the Setters to get closer, with two punts and a turnover-on-downs on their final three drives of the game.
ESU would put an exclamation mark on the game with a 79-yd toss from Cirillo to Bender to make it a 35-14 contest.
Bender finished with 86 yards on two catches, with both receptions being touchdowns. Brinkley would lead ESU with four catches and would finish with 75 yards receiving.
Linebacker Paul Carerras added six tackles in his Warrior debut. Defensive back Shavar Hussett and linebacker Jacob Keane each added five take downs.
Freshman Nate Reed averaged 42 yards on four punts with three landing inside the 20-yard line. Devin Bartholomew would convert all five extra points to wrap up the scoring.
ESU hosted a #RelentlesS Get in the Game Marrow Drive in honor of late ESU men's basketball student-athlete Ryan Smith before and after the game on campus. Both ESU and Pace raised their helmets during a video slideshow presentation prior to kickoff.
Following the week one victory, ESU heads to nationally-ranked Slippery Rock on Sat. Sept. 11. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium
