SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Facing the top offense in the PSAC and one of the best in the nation, the East Stroudsburg University football team saw its first NCAA Division II Playoff appearance since 2009 come to an end by a score 45 to 14 against No. 15 Slippery Rock. on Saturday afternoon at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
The Warriors (9-3) see their impressive season come to an end in the NCAA Division II First Round, while the Rock (11-1) advances to the second round and will face Tiffin on Sat., Nov. 25 at in Tiffin, Ohio.
Notables
- After fumbling on its first possession which resulted in seven points for the Warriors, The Rock recorded points on four consecutive drives to close the first half and three of its four possessions in the second half to bounce back after a 31-7 PSAC Championship game loss to Kutztown.
- ESU was held in check through the air, with quarterbacks Charlie McKee (8-15, 86 yard) and Aaron Tobias (3-8, 19 yards) combining to complete 11-23 passes for 105 yards.
- On the ground, Tyriq Lewis punched in ESU's touchdown on its opening drive, finishing with 51 rushing yards. He averaged 4.6 yards on 11 carries. McKee totaled 33 yards on the ground, while Tahir Mills added 27 yards rushing.
- Deante Crawford led ESU with 36 yards on a screenplay in his lone reception. DJ Thomson totaled four receptions for 24 yards.
- Justin Cook provided instant offense with a Warrior NCAA Program record 95-yard kickoff return touchdown in the first half. He finished the day with 192 kickoff return yards, breaking Evan Prall's record of 133 yards in 2005 against Grand Valley State in the NCAA Semifinal contest.
- Defensively, Sergei Felizor registered a forced fumble, Daryn Blackwell and Raymond Simmons IV tallied a fumble recovery. Deshawn McCarthy recorded two quarterback hurries.
- Everette Dingle paced ESU with nine tackles. Felizor added eight tackles, while Khalil Scott added eight and Jahmere Crumpton tallied seven.
- Devin Bartholomew totaled five punts for an average of 42.8 yards. Ty Quintois made both of ESU's PAT attempts.
- SRU QB Brayden Long completed 21-30 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. Slippery Rock used a balanced rushing attack of Chris D'Or (15 att., 90 yards, 1 TD), Khalid Dorsey (14 att., 85 yards, 1 TD), Isaiah Edwards (64 yards, 2 TD) and Kylon Wilson (46 yards, 1 TD) accounted for 287 yards and five touchdowns. Kyle Sheets caught the lone touchdown pass, with a 20-yard reception.
- SRU led in total offense (521-220) and held possession for 36:04 of the 60 minutes, converting 11-of-16 3rd down conversions and 4-4 on fourth down conversions.
Notes
- The historic 2023 season for ESU ends with a five-win improvement, with Jimmy Terwilliger guiding the Warriors to a 1-1 record in 2018, a 6-5 record in 2019, a 5-6 record in 2021 and a 4-7 record in 2022, before the breakout 9-3 season for the Warriors. Entering his fifth full season in 2024, head coach Jimmy Terwilliger holds a 25-22 career record.
- ESU earned its fifth NCAA Playoff appearance in 2023, last hearing its name called during the NCAA Selection Show in 2009. The Warriors fell to 4-5 all-time in the NCAA DII Playoffs. The Warriors last earned a win in the NCAA DII Playoffs with three victories during the 2005 season, advancing to the NCAA Semifinals.
- ESU honored 13 seniors on Senior Day last week in Devin Bartholomew, Daryn Blackwell, Paul Carreras, Rourke Colligan, Jahmere Crumpton, Nick Davazno, Sergei Felizor, Shavar Hussett, Adrian Lambert, Elias Marte, Deshawn McCarthy, Jonathan Post and Aaron Tobias playing in their final contest.
- The Warriors are expected to return plenty of talent to the 2024 squad in quarterbacks: Charlie McKee, Sean McTaggart; running backs Tyriq Lewis, Tahir Mills; its top five wide receivers in John Siggins, Justin Cook, DJ Thomson, Randy Fizer and Evan Roche; tight ends Dawson Stuart and Beau Heyser and four of its offensive linemen in Tim Kinney, Kyler Wuestner, Raymond Christas and Guy Gilyard.
- Defensively, the Warriors are expected to return defensive linemen in Makai Booker and Dasean Dixon; linebackers Matthew Davis, Khalil Scott and Raymond Simmons IV, along with defensive backs TJ Harris, Everette Dingle, Malachi Bowman, Noah Hambrick and Adewale Obayanju.
- ESU's three losses on the season all came against NCAA Playoff foes in Kutztown, Shepherd, and Slippery Rock. The Warriors' nine wins are the most since 2008 and marks the ninth time the Warriors registered at least nine wins in a season in program history (2023: 9-3, 2008: 9-2, 2004: 10-2, 1982: 9-2, 1978: 10-1, 1976: 9-0-1, 1965: 10-0).
How It Happened
- After a 3-and-out on its first possession, the Warrior defense stood tall. Felizor forced a fumble with Blackwell jumping on top of the ball to flip possession.
- ESU took advantage of the fumble with a nine-play, 65-yard drive. Tyriq Lewis provided a 27-yard touchdown carry, and a 12-yard carry, before finding the end zone on a one-yard rush up the middle for his ninth rushing touchdown of the season.
- The Rock countered with a touchdown on its next drive, with an 80-yard drive on 10 plays. Chris D'Or found the end zone on a two-yard rush.
- SRU's defense forced its second 3-and-out next, as the Warriors appeared to force a punt, but a fake punt run from Kylon Wilson found the end zone from 46 yards out, as SRU grabbed a 14-7 lead.
- After exchanging punts, The Rock was able to put its third touchdown on the scoreboard with a 20-yard connection from Brayden Long to Kyle Sheets, with Sheets using his 6-4 frame to outstretch the Warrior defender.
- ESU had instant offense, answering with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown from Justin Cook, which is tied for the sixth-longest in program history. Cook holds the program record with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Bloomsburg in 2022.
- SRU answered on its next offensive possession, with a 28-yard field goal from Mason Yohn, to extend The Rock lead to 10 points at 24-14.
- As the first half neared the end, the Warriors looked to cut the deficit to a single possession. ESU picked up first downs with an 11-yard completion to Lewis and a defensive pass interference, but the ESU was forced to punt. Bartholomew pinned the Rock inside its own 3-yard line. The Rock kneeled possession with just a few seconds left, as SRU grabbed a 24-14 halftime lead.
- The Rock opened the second half with possession, and went down the field on eight plays, going 65 yards after the second-half kick went out-of-bounds. Isaiah Edwards found paydirt from three yards out, extending SRU's lead to 31-14.
- Edwards was able to pick up another rushing touchdown after the Rock defense forced a punt.
- The Warriors could not answer on its next drive, forced to punt after getting one first down on the drive. SRU extended its lead to 38-14 following a 14-play, 64-yard drive that took 6:13 off the third-quarter clock.
- ESU's offense put together a quality drive, advancing 64 yards on 11 plays. ESU turned the ball over on downs after an incompletion in the end zone.
- SRU lost a fumble on its end of the field, with Raymond Simmons IV jumping on the ball. Similar to the previous drive, the Warriors could not connect on a touchdown pass in the end zone, turning the ball over on downs.
- With the game in hand, SRU added a 42-yard touchdown from Chris D'Or with 3:46 remaining to make it a 45-14 contest.
