Last Time Out: The Warriors built a 21-7 lead that expanded to 31-10, as ESU put on a show for its 4-0-1 Homecoming Saturday on campus. ESU outgained Millersville, 523-291, allowing just 72 yards on the ground. Sean McTaggart completed 12-18 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 21 yards per completion and 14.4 yards per attempt. The ground game for the Warriors was explosive again with 263 yards on the ground this week after being held in check last week at Kutztown. The Warriors had five different rushers account for 30-plus yards, with Tahir Mills (6 att., 87 yards, 2 TD) and Tyriq Lewis (12 att., 76 yards, 1 TD) combining for 164 rushing yards on just 18 attempts for an average of 9.1 yards per carry. Both tailbacks sprung loose, with Mills scoring a career-long 73-yd touchdown and Lewis scampered on a 45-yd rush. Defensively, Sergei Felizor was a tackling machine registering a new career-high with 16 tackles.
The Series: It will be the 87th meeting between the long-time PSAC foes, with West Chester leading the all-time series, 64-22. ESU seeks its first win in nine opportunities over the Golden Rams (2012), and its first at Farrell Stadium since a 21-20 victory in 2009. A win in 2023 would be the Warriors’ second win at Farrell Stadium since 2000.
Last Matchup with WCU: At Eiler-Martin Stadium a season ago, West Chester spoiled ESU’s Homecoming with a 24-21 win. WCU QB Cooper Jordan tossed a game-winning touchdown to Thatcher Miller with just 16 seconds left. WCU led 10-7 entering the fourth quarter, before ESU retook the lead at 14-10 following an 8-yd Tyriq Lewis rush. After following 21-17, Tahir Mills punched in a 3-yd touchdown to retake a 21-17 lead with 3:31 left. Unfortunately for ESU, a 13-play, 58-yd drive from WCU ended in seven points, as the Golden Rams escaped Eiler-Martin Stadium with a win.
A look at West Chester: The Golden Rams (4-2) have picked up wins in back-to-back contests against Bloomsburg (24-21) and Shippensburg (38-28) after their second loss of the season against Millersville on Sept. 23. WCU QB Cooper Jordan has completed 57.26% of his attempts for 1160 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also leads the Golden Rams in rushing, averaging 3.7 yards per carry with two touchdowns on the ground. WR Raheim Bowens and D’Shaun Seals have been Jordan’s favorite targets, with Bowens leading the team with 401 yards and three touchdowns, while Seals adds 23 catches for 382 yards and a touchdown. Connor Noble leads WCU defensively with 69 tackles and four sacks. Sterlen Barr Jr. has registered two interceptions in the secondary.
The Lancaster Launcher: Since taking over starting quarterback duties with injuries to Aaron Tobias and Charlie McKee, Sean McTaggart has produced, tossing 10 touchdowns to just three interceptions. The Lampeter-Strasburg High School graduate has completed 62.8 percent of his passes, and has found his touch on the long ball, completing a 61 He completed an ESU season-long 61-yd pass to DJ Thomson, a 50 and 41-yd completion to Justin Cook, and a 26 and 27-yd touchdown passes to John Siggins. McTaggart, Tobias and McKee have combined to complete 97-140 passes (69.3%) 1,372 yards with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions. Among NCAA DII teams, the three gunslingers rank third nationally in team passing efficiency, fourth in completion percentage, 24th in fewest interceptions and 41st in passing yards per completion Among individual NCAA DII quarterbacks, McTaggart ranks seventh in passing efficiency, 11th in passing yards per attempt and 14th in passing yards per completion.
‘Riq-ing Havoc: After being held to 24 rushing yards against Kutztown and 37 yards against Lock Haven, Tyriq Lewis produced again for the Warriors against Millersville. Lewis scampered for 76 yards on 12 carries, as the Downingtown, Pa. native has now at least 75 yards rushing in four of six contests this season. He ranks ninth nationally and leads the PSAC in the category. He ranks third in the conference in both total rushing yards and rushing yards per game and ranks fourth in the conference in points scored with 44 points. Last time he played at Farrell Stadium, less than nine miles from his hometown, he posted 57 rushing yards to lead the Warriors in the category in 2021. He posted a touchdown last year against WCU.
You Get a Turnover: Through six games, ESU has recorded eight interceptions, with eight different Warriors recording a pick. Additionally, Five Warriors account for its six forced fumbles and six separate Warriors have recovered a fumble.
Protect the Rock: ESU’s three interceptions thrown and just one fumble lost has been a key to the Warriors’ success in 2023. In addition to causing 14 turnovers this season, the Warriors have given up possession just four times. ESU ranks fourth nationally in turnover margin, 10th in turnovers lost and 15th in turnovers gained, which is a recipe for success.
Power Serge: Linebacker Sergei Felizor tallied a career-high 16 tackles against Millersville and now has an even 50 tackles through six weeks. The Hightstown, N.J. native has done it all in six games, now with 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and three pass breakups. He looks to become the first Warrior since Matt Freed (2009-11, 3x) to record multiple 100-plus tackles in back-to-back seasons.
McCarthy the Menace: Deshawn McCarthy continues to rank among the top Division II pass rushers in the country. His 28.5 carer sack total ranks second in NCAA DII, trailing just Nolan Reeve of Colorado School of Mines. The Philadelphia native trails Bob Heuman by a half sack for fourth all-time at ESU in the category. McCarthy needs an even five sacks to surpass Des Hussey (1988-91) and Bill Camp’s (1981-84) ESU career sack leader of 33. He paces ESU in tackles for loss (6) and sacks (3.5) this season.
Dirty Laundry: ESU will look to limit penalties after 143 penalty yards against Millersville last week. Among 161 teams, the Warriors rank 152nd in fewest penalties, averaging 84.2 penalty yards per contest.
A look ahead: After its road matchup at WCU, Warriors return for back-to-back home contests at Eiler-Martin Stadium, facing Bloomsburg on Oct. 21 and Shippensburg on Oct. 28. Both contests are slated to kickoff at 1:05 p.m.
