BROWNSVILLE, Pa. – Trailing 14-7 as the end of the first half neared, the East Stroudsburg University football team could not put any additional points on the scoreboard, falling to California (Pa.) by a score of 31-7 on a wet Saturday afternoon at Adamson Stadium.

The Warriors (4-7) and Vulcans (6-5) close the season in just the ninth meeting between conference foes since 1968.

Tyriq Lewis found the back of the end zone from two-yards out to put the Warriors on the scoreboard in the second quarter.

Notables

• In his final game as a Warrior, senior quarterback Jake Cirillo completed 12-of-24 passes for 85 yards and two interceptions. He closes his Warrior career ranked in the top-10 of several ESU quarterback categories, including passing yards (5,884, 7th at ESU), rushing yards (1,114, 3rd among ESU QBs), 6,998 yards of total offense (5th at ESU), passing touchdowns (42, 8th at ESU) and rushing touchdowns (11, 2nd at ESU).

• Lewis paced the rushing attach with 65 of ESU's 79 net rushing yards, with freshman Tahir Mills adding 18 yards. The Vulcans' rush defense entered the game 2nd nationally in rushing defense, averaging just 55 yards allowed per contest.
• Nine different receivers recorded a reception for the Warriors, with Benny Pembleton (30 yards), Evan Roche (15 yards), Lewis (14 yards) Jonathan Post (12 yards) and Ezeiquel Lopez all posting at least two receptions.
• Defensively, Jahan Worth (12 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks), Sergei Felizor (10 tackles, 0.5 TFL) led the way in tackles. Felizor totaled 103 tackles on the season, becoming the first Warrior since Dakota Everett in 2017 to post 100-plus tackles in a single season. Worth closes his graduate season at ESU with 82 tackles. Felizor's 103 tackles in a campaign are the most since Mike Bergey posted 110 in the 2011 season.
• ESU defensive back Adewale Obayanju recorded his first career interception for the Warriors.
• Deshawn McCarthy added six tackles, including 1.5 sacks. The 2021 AFCA All-American now has an even 25 in his career ranks fifth all-time among defenders. With a season of eligibility remaining, he would need 8.5 sacks next season to supas Warrior all-time sacks leader Des Hussey (33, 1998-91).
• 2021 All-PSAC East safety Tyler Watson also played in his last game as Warrior, totaling four tackles against the Vulcans. He posted a career-high 57 tackles on the season, and closes his career with 163 tackles, five tackles for loss, nine interceptions, 24 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries for the ball-hawk from Bucks County.
• Placekicker Devin Bartholomew closed an excellent redshirt junior season that saw him convert 17-23 field goal attempts and made all 28 PATs on the season. He has made all 57 in his career the past two seasons, with ESU entering the 2023 season with 99 consecutive made PATs.

How It Happened

• ESU won the toss and elected to receive. The Warriors had a promising drive after starting its first drive at midfield following a 44-yd return from Justin Cook. Tyriq Lewis picked up a 15-yd rush and a 13-yd reception from Cirilo. The drive ended in a 35-yd missed field goal from Bartholomew.
• California used an 8-play 80-yd drive to put the first points on the scoreboard. Eric McKan scored from the 2-yd line to put the Vulcans up by seven points.
• On the ensuing drive, ESU picked up four first downs, including an 11-yd fourth down strike to Evan Roche, but on 1st and 10 on the Cal 26-yd line, Gerald Brown would return a fumble 72 yards to extend the Vulcan lead to 14-0.
• Needing a score to get back into the game, ESU drove down the filed on a 12-play drive. The Warriors continued to convert 3rd down attempts for first downs, which cumulated in Lewis finding the end zone from the 2-yd line.

• ESU's defense stepped up with the first half winding down, as McCarthy picked up a sack on 1st and 10 and Worth followed with a critical sack on 4th and 1 to give the Warriors back possession. ESU could not tie the game however, as an interception on 1st and 10 near midfield gave the Vulcans possession with 2:55 to go. California would extend its lead to 21-7 following a 7-play 46-yd drive that resulted in a 13-yd rushing touchdown from Eric McKan.
• That would wrap the first half of scoring, with ESU running out the final 1:19 of clock.
• Both squads exchanged interceptions to begin the second half. Obayanju picked off Mitchell for his first career pick, while Jermichael Isom countered with an interception from Cirillo.

• After ESU forced a punt, California forced a sack fumble, with Ibrahim Sanogo recovering the fumble that was forced by Matt Tobey. Taking over possession at the ESU 27-yd line, the Vulcans added a 27-yd touchdown on 4th and 10 with Mitchell connecting to his favorite target JaQuae Jackson.
• With the Vulcans leading 27-7, they added its final score earlier in the 4th quarter, with a 23-yd field goal following a blocked punt. ESU forced turnover on downs defensively in hopes of adding a touchdown late, but the offense would run out of time on the scoreboard.
• The Warriors close the 2022 season with a 4-7 record following the loss.