EAST STROUDSBURG – Trailing 20-0 in the second quarter, the East Stroudsburg University football team scored 28 consecutive points to take a second-half lead, but ultimately fell short by a game-winning field goal as time expired, falling to IUP by a score of 38-35 on Saturday evening inside Eiler-Martin Stadium.

The Warriors fall to 0-2, while the Crimson Hawks, who received votes in this weeks AFCA Top-25 Coaches' Poll (1-0) picks up a win in its season opener. The Crimson Hawks were predicted to tie for the PSAC West Championship with Slippery Rock in the PSAC Coaches' Preseason Poll.

After IUP took a 35-28 lead with 5:54 to go, the Warriors answered with a clutch 41-yd reception from Gunner Anglovich, which setup Ezequiel Lopez for his third touchdown of the game, which tied the contest at 35-35 with 4:08 to go. A Tyler Watson interception would give the Warriors possession with 1:28 to go, but a short punt would setup IUP on the ESU 45-yard line with just 34 seconds left.

The Crimson Hawks moved possession all the way to the ESU three-yard line as time ticked away, but a 15-yd penalty on IUP, followed by a 5-yard disconcerting signals would give IUP a shot at a 32-yd game-winning field goal as time expired. Nick Andrasi was able to put the attempt through the uprights to lift IUP to the 38-35 victory.

ESU Notables

• Jake Cirillo surpassed the 300-yd threshold (23-38, 315 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT) for the second time in his career and the first time since tossing 418 yards against Ohio Dominican on Oct. 27, 2018. He also led the Warriors with 69 rushing yards. His five touchdowns match his career-high, which was originally set at Lock Haven during the 2019 campaign.
• Ezequiel Lopez caught three-of-five touchdowns from Cirillo in a career game, finishing with eight receptions for 92 yards. He becomes the first Warrior since Javier Buffalo to catch three touchdowns in a single game, when Buffalo snagged three touchdowns on Sept., 28, 2018.
• John Siggins added 47 yards receiving, including a 35-reception from Cirillo. Tyrese Brandon's first career catch resulted in a 41-yard touchdown for the Northampton High School product.
• While being limited to 12 yards rushing on the ground, Gunner Anglovich led all ESU receivers with 105 yards on five receptions, including a 41-yard reception and a touchdown.
• Devante Robinson totaled 51 yards of rushing on five carries, including a 22-yd scamper.
• Defensively, Tyler Watson and Jahmere Crumpton tallied interceptions to help the Warrior comeback. Watson added four tackles and a pass breakup as a captain.
• Shavar Hussett and Sergei Felizor each totaled 10 tackles to lead the defense.
• Noah Hambrick has a solid day at defensive back, totaling seven tackles, a tackle-for-loss ,and two pass breakups.
• Keanan Baines registered the lone sack of the day, registering two TFLs.
• Devin Bartholomew booted all five of his PATs through the uprights, extending the Warrior PAT streak to 77 consecutives made. Personally, Bartholomew has registered 35 consecutive point-after-attempts since the beginning of 2021.

IUP Notables

• IUP's Mak Sexton and Duane Brown had an impressive connection throughout the game. Sexton (26-36, 360 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) found his favorite target Brown, a 2021 All-PSAC West wide receiver for 12 receptions, 207 yards and a touchdown.
• Other receivers snagging touchdowns via the air were Derek Lockhart and Hilton Ridley.
• The Crimson Hawks were limited to 3.7 yards per carry, and were led in the backfield by Adam Houser with 57 yards rushing.
• Drew Dinunzio-Biss led IUP with 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Charles Ingram added seven tackles.

How It Happened

• After a pair of punts for each team to start the contest, IUP found paydirt after starting with the ball on ESU's 27-yd line following a solid punt return and an ESU penalty. A nine-yard rushing touchdown from Adam Houser lifted IUP to a 6-0 lead following a missed PAT.
• After a failed ESU fourth down conversion, the Crimson Hawks were able add its second touchdown following a six-play, 54 yard drive. A 31-yd completion from Mak Sexton to Duane Brown would setup Parker Gregg to punch in a touchdown from a yard out. Darius Bruce was able to tally the lone takeaway with an interception.
• ESU could not counter, and was forced to punt to wrap up the first quarter. The next drive for the Crimson Hawks was a 10-play, 94-yd drive. It was a 27-yd touchdown from Sexton to Derek Lockhart, as IUP snagged a 20-point advantage with 8:54 to go until halftime.
• ESU buckled down and never gave up, responding immediately with a quick six-play, 68-yard drive that lasted 2:10 of clock. Cirilo was able to find Siggins for the 35-yd strike, and then followed with a 25-yd touchdown to Lopez to put the Warriors on the scoreboard.

•  The Warrior defense posted a much-needed stop, with Adewale Obayanju and Crumpton making an impressive tackle on 4th and 8 to force the turnover-on-downs.
• With 5:15 left in the half, the ESU offense continued to click, as a pass interference, a 22-yd rush from Robinson helped Cirillo find Lopez for his second touchdown of the evening from 17-yards out.

• The Warrior defense closed the first-half strong, forcing a punt. ESU would run out the clock, entering Zimbar Gymnasium trailing 20-14, following 14 consecutive ESU points.
• The Warriors received the second-half kick and keep momentum going. On 3rd and 6, Cirillo found Anglovich for a 35-yard touchdown to give ESU its first lead following the 20-point deficit at 21-20.

• Following a Crimson Hawk punt, Cirillo delivered a 43-yd strike to Tyrese Brandon on 3rd and 7, for Brandon's first collegiate catch and touchdown to extend the ESU advantage to 28-20.

• IUP ended the 28-0 Warrior run with a quick five-play 68-yd drive. A 25-yd touchdown strike from Sexton to Ridley and a two-point conversion from Ridley tied the contest at 28-28.
• Both squads traded punts back-and-forth to begin the fourth quarter. Back-to-back interceptions ensued, with Crumpton followed by IUP's Bruce causing turnovers. It was IUP that broke the tie, with a 20-yd touchdown from Sexton to Brown, which lifted IUP to a 35-28 advantage.

• With 5:54 to go, ESU quickly drove down the field, burning just 54 seconds of clock on a four-play 73 yard drive. Setting up the pivotal game-tying touchdown was a 14-yd rush from Robinson, a 41-yard Anglovich reception and then the 12-yd strike to Lopez  for his third touchdown of the evening.

• With 4:08 to play, Watson ended the Crimson Hawk drive with his eighth career interception, as the Warriors held possession near midfield with just 1:28 remaining. The Warriors would be forced to punt following a three-and-out.

• The Crimson Hawks gained possession at ESU's 45-yd line following a 26-yd punt. IUP got as close as the ESU three-yd line, as far as the 20-yd line following a Crimson Hawk penalty. Ultimately the game-winning 32-yd field goal attempt was made as time expired, with IUP escaping Eiler-Martin Stadium with a 38-35 win.

Up Next

• ESU heads to Western PA to face Seton Hill on Saturday, Sept 17. The opening kickoff in Greensburg is set for Noon.