EAST STROUDSBURG -- The East Stroudsburg University football team looks to keep momentum going after a convincing victory to begin season, when the Warriors (1-0) head to PSAC West foe No. 8 Slippery Rock (1-0) on Saturday night. ESU and Rock are scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

How to Follow

• The game can be viewed live and on-demand on the PSAC Sports Digital Network.
• Locally and globally, fans can listen to Chuck Seese (pxp) and Bob Brittain (color) to Bigfoot 103.1 FM and 840 AM.
• The Warrior faithful can listen online at bigfootpoconos.com.
• Live stats are available on rockathletics.com.
• Ticket prices and tailgating information 

Last Time Out

• The Warriors began its 93rd season with three consecutive touchdown drives in the first quarter, as the ESU defense allowed less than 300 total yards to down Pace in the program's first game in 653 days.
• ESU owned the line of scrimmage, rushing for 300-plus yards, while not allowing a sack.
• Jake Cirillo tossed three touchdown passes, while Gunner Anglovich ran for a career-best 140 yards.
• DeShawn McCarthy caused four of ESU's seven sacks of FBS Gardner-Webb transfer and 2019 NE10 Offensive Player of the Year Carlton Aiken. The PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week totaled six tackles for loss, which leads the nation.

•  First meeting in 1928, SRU owns a 14-3 lead in the all-time series over ESU.
• The Rock has won the last three matchups in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
• Most recently, ESU has picked up wins against Slippery Rock in the 2009 (54-28) and 2008 (38-21) seasons.

Best in the Nation: After one week, ESU is tied for top spot in Division II  in several categories, including fourth-down conversion (1.000, tied with 22 teams), red zone defense (0.00 tied with 22 teams), red zone offense (1.00, tied with 48 teams), sacks allowed (0, tied with 35 teams) and passes intercepted (0, 59 teams).

Historic Performance

• Only Johnny Lee Davis (5 sacks 1991 at Lenoir-Rhyne) and Eric Sampson (5 sacks in 1988 vs. Kutztown) have recorded more than McCarthy's four sacks in a game.
• McCarthy is tied for the national lead in Division II in sacks with Mercyhurst's Bradley Burrows and leads the nation with six tackles for loss through the first week of the season. He led the Warriors with six sacks during the 2019 campaign.

Back-To-Back

• The Warriors have technically earned back-to-back PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Weeks, as linebacker Joel Ozoemena was selected as the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week after leading the Warriors defense with seven tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in a win against Clarion in the 2019 season finale.
• There was 653 days in between games, due COVID-19 pandemic canceling the 2020 season. 

Rush ESU

• The Warriors found success running the ball against Pace, as Anglovich (140 yards), David Akinwande (91 yards), Jake Cirillo (72 yards) and Tyriq Lewis (20 yards) combined for 319 yards rushing, which ranks 11th in program history.
• ESU did not attempt a pass on its first two drives of the season, with both resulting in touchdowns. Akinwande scampered for 50 yards on the second play from scrimmage to setup Anglovich's 19-yd touchdown trot on the opening series.  

Ranked Foes 

• The Warriors look to snap a 19-game losing streak against ranked AFCA Coaches Poll ranked foes.
• A win would be the first over a nationally ranked squad since 2008, when ESU opened the season with a 14-11 victory over No. 25 Virginia Union in the inaugural game on the Eiler-Martin Stadium turf surface.
• ESU has not won against a ranked opponent on the road since now Warriors head coach Jimmy Terwilliger led the No. 7 Warriors to a 52-39 thrilling victory over No. 2 Bloomsburg on Nov. 19, 2005 in the NCAA playoffs. Terwilliger threw for 224 yards and four touchdowns, including a pair to Evan Prall. Trailing 32-28 after three quarters, ESU scored 24 consecutive points in the fourth quarter. Terwilliger found Prall for a 40-yd touchdown and a 27-yd touchdown. To build a 42-32 advantage. Mark Brubaker converted a 43-yd field goal attempt, while Anthony Carfagno found the back of the endzone from the one-yd line with with 3:55 left. BU added a touchdown late with 18 seconds remaining for the final score of 52-39.  

Scouting Slippery Rock

• The defending PSAC Champions opened the season with a 24-21 victory of Wayne State.
• Trailing at halftime, the Rock would go-ahead for good with a 26-yd rushing touchdown from quarterback Andrew Koester late in the third quarter to win 24-21. Koester finished with 314 yards passing on 24-38 completions with one touchdown and interception.
• Henry Litwin led all receivers with 159 yards receiving, earning PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Week. He pulled in a highlight-reel worthy one-handed catch that was featured on SportCenter's Top 10 plays.

Up Next: After battling The Rock, ESU hosts Mercyhurst for Family Weekend at Eiler-Martin Stadium on September 18. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. in the Poconos.