GAME NOTES
Senior Day: Prior to kickoff at Eiler-Martin Stadium, the East Stroudsburg University athletic department will honor its 19 seniors at approximately 12:45 p.m. Honorees include Gunner Anglovich, Clifford Brinkley, Anthony Capitini, Jake Cirillo, Matt DeLaurentis, Cole Fryer, Elijiah Johnson, Jacob Keane, Elie Lavarin, Ezequiel Lopez, Jared Namnun, Isaiah Reigel, Devante Robinson, Jaco Sattamini, Tyler Watson and Christian Weissman. In addition, student coaching staff members Scotty Mish and Ryan Perlmutter will also be honored.
The Series: Saturday’s meeting will be the ninth overall between East Stroudsburg and Shepherd, with the Rams holding a 5-3 edge. SU has won both meetings since joining the PSAC in 2019, as the Rams head to Eiler-Martin Stadium for the first time since 2002. ESU is a perfect 2-0 when Shepherd visits Eiler-Martin Stadium as a ranked team.
Most Recent Meeting: In 2021 in Shepherdstown, W. Va., eventual Harlon Hill Trophy winner Tyson Bagent completed 27-45 passes for 437 yards and six touchdowns for the Rams in a 55-7 win over ESU.
Last Time Out: For the second consecutive week, the East Stroudsburg University defense stepped up late, forcing and recovering a Shippensburg fumble at the 5-yd line to hang on to defeat the Raiders, 23-16, on Saturday afternoon at Seth Grove Stadium. ESU led 17-0 after a solid second quarter offensively, but Ship came back within a point at 17-16. ESU posted six points with a pair of field goals from Devin Bartholomew in the fourth quarter, but Shippensburg drove the ball down the field with little time remaining. With Shippensburg quarterback rushing inside the 5-yd line, Jacob Keane stripped the ball away that was recovered by Deshawn McCarthy, as the ESU defense came up clutch for a second consecutive week.
POW: All three reigning PSAC East Athletes of the Week will be on display on Gregory-Douds Field on Saturday, with Bagent earning PSAC East Athlete of the Week for the fifth time in nine weeks, while ESU’s Jacob Keane (PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week) and Justin Cook (PSAC East Special Teams Athlete of the Week) were also honored.
Know the Foe: The Rams enter the contest with as one of eight undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division II, leading the PSAC East with a 9-0 record. Led by reigning Harlon Hill winner Tyson Bagent, the potent Rams offense leads the nation in scoring with an average of 46.2 points per game and first in total offense with an average of 531.8 yards per contest. Bagent leads the nation in completion percentage (72%), fourth in completions per game (26.9), fourth in passing efficiency (169.0), second in passing touchdowns (28), third in total passing yards (2,873), second in points responsible for (192) and fifth in total offense (327.9). Along with the potent passing numbers, don’t sleep in the ground game led by Ronnie Brown, who ranks second in the nation in all-purpose yards, with the Rams leading the PSAC in rushing with 200 yards per game. SU’s defense is impressive as well, ranking 14th in the country and second in the conference by allowing just 14.8 points per game.
Changing of the Guard: In a story-line that could be in a movie script, Tyson Bagent needs to just three touchdowns passes to surpass current NCAA Division II leader in touchdown passes and current ESU head coach Jimmy Terwilliger. Bagent’s 146 touchdown passes trails Terwilliger’s 148 touchdowns, as Bagent could potentially pass (pun-intended) Terwilliger on the same field that Terwilliger set the record in 2006 with the record holder on the opposite sideline. For more on Bagent’s accomplishments, click here.
Ranked Squads: The Warriors seek their 11th win against a nationally-ranked team in program history and its first since 2008, when ESU downed Virginia Union, 14-11 in the first-ever night game at Eiler-Martin Stadium. ESU looks to snap a 21-game losing streak to nationally-ranked opponents. Overall, ESU holds a record of 10-31 against AFCA Poll ranked teams. A potential win against the third-ranked Rams for the Warriors would be the second-highest ranked team in program history, with No. 17 ESU defeating No. 2 Bloomsburg in the NCAA Tournament during Terwilliger’s 2005 Harlon Hill run. Saturday’s matchup would be the highest ranked win at Eiler-Martin Stadium and would mark the third time ESU has defeated a nationally-ranked Shepherd team in three opportunities. The Warriors handed No. 15 Shepherd a 35-28 overtime loss in 2000 and followed up that win in 2002 with a 35-23 victory in the Poconos.
Taking Care of the Ball: ESU has owned turnovers throughout the season, ranking 12th in NCAA Division II in turnover margin (+0.89 per game), 16th in turnovers lost (10) and 28th in turnovers gained (18).
Playing Spoiler: For the third consecutive week, ESU will look to play spoiler, with the Warriors defeating Bloomsburg on its homecoming and Shippensburg on its senior day last week. ESU will look to spoil Shepherd’s perfect season, with the Rams already clinching a spot in the State Game next week.
Up Next: After facing the Rams, ESU heads west to California (Pa.) on Sat., Nov. 11 for the 2022 season finale against the Vulcans.
