SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. – The East Stroudsburg University football team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end with a 44-17 loss to Shepherd on Saturday afternoon at Ram Stadium.
With the loss, the Warriors drop to 8-2, 5-2 PSAC East and turn its head to California (Pa.) next week for Senior Day in an important contest with NCAA Playoff implications. The Rams (8-2, 5-2 PSAC East) bounce back after a loss to Bloomsburg last week.
Notables
- ESU's offense was held in check, with the Warriors limited to a season-low 207 yards of offense on 54 plays. Charlie McKee started the contest and completed 2-8 passes for 13 yards before exiting with an injury. Aaron Tobias entered the contest and completed 10-18 passes for 126 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
- Tyriq Lewis and Randy Fizer each brought down a touchdown reception in the contest.
- The Warriors, who entered the week leading the PSAC in rushing offense and defense, were limited to 2.4 yards per carry on 28 attempts for 68 yards. Tyriq Lewis led the squad with 40 yards on 10 carries.
- Defensively, Sergei Felizor was a tackling machine once again, totaling 15 tackles, including 14 solo stops. He forced a fumble, blocked an extra point and totaled one tackle for loss. On the season, Felizor now has 88 tackles, which is tied for third in the PSAC.
- Khalil Scott supplemented with eight tackles and forced two fumbles in the outing.
- Jahmere Crumpton brought down his fourth interception on the season and his third over the past two weeks after totaling two picks against Shippensburg last week.
- Shavar Hussett also caused a turnover, posting his second interception in three weeks.
- Devin Bartholomew made his lone field-goal attempt on the day from 30-yards out. He averaged 48.7 yards per punt on six punts, including a career-high 59-yard punt. Two of his punts went for 50-plus yards and pinned the Rams twice inside its own 20-yard line. He also recorded a touchback on kickoffs.
- The Warriors were unable to get comfortable on 3rd down opportunities, converting 1-11 attempts.
- Shepherd was able to maintain possession for 36 minutes of action, totaling 75 plays for 511 yards. Seth Morgan completed 25-39 passes for 245 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. ESU was able to limit big pass plays, not allowing completion. for over 30 yards on the day.
- Running backs Malakai Brown (148 yards) and Jordan Barnett (105 yards) became the first two players to rush for over 100 yards against the Warriors this season.
How It Happened
- In the first quarter, the two teams combined for just 101 yards on 33 plays (3.0 yards per play), as the two squads combined for five punts, a turnover-on-downs and a missed field goal by Shepherd.
- ESU did not score first for the first time this season, with Shepherd finding the endzone on a completion from Seth Morgan to Brian Jester for five yards in the first drive of the second quarter. SU found the endzone after 12 plays for 72 yards.
- After a rare Warrior fumble, Shepherd running back Malakai Brown scampered into the endzone from 17 yards out to extend SU's lead to 14-0.
- ESU answered on its next drive, with Aaron Tobias taking over quarterback duties. Tobias found tailback Tyriq Lewis on a screen, as a play-fake forced the Rams' defense to over-pursue the run. ESU drove possession 84 yards on nine plays, taking 3:20 off the clock, and cutting the deficit to 14-7.
- Shepherd responded with a touchdown drive late in the first half, as Morgan found Barry Hill in the end zone for six points on a 14-yard completion to cap a five-play, 60-yard drive.
- ESU was forced to punt on its final drive of the first half, as Shepherd could not add any points on its final drive of the quarter. Shepherd led 21-7 at halftime.
- After receiving the second-half kickoff, James Bozek booted a 22-yard field goal, as ESU defense bent but didn't break, with SU going 79 yards on 12 plays. Shepherd took a 24-7 lead.
- After two short rushes and an incompletion, ESU was forced to punt on its next drive. Needing a spark from its defense, Khalil Scott forced a fumble that Nick Davanzo jumped on, as ESU took over possession on its own 42-yard line.
- Tobias capitalized on the opportunity, firing three consecutive completions, including a 29-yard connection to Justin Cook and a 31-yard touchdown pass to Randy Fizer. The Warriors went 62 yards on just three plays, slicing the Ram lead to just 10 points at 24-14
- The Warriors looked to have captured momentum, with Shavar Hussett nabbing a Seth Morgan pass on SU's next play.
- Unfortunately for ESU, Tobias had a pass deflect off an ESU receiver's hands on his next pass attempt, with Naee Alexander returning the interception 76 yards for the touchdown, extending the SU lead to 31-14.
- Trailing by 17 points and three possessions in the fourth quarter, Tobias and the Warriors could not convert a 4th-and-5 opportunity, turning the ball over on downs.
- ESU got another lift from its defense, with Jahmere Crumpton totaling his third interception over the past two weeks. Crumpton returned the interception 53 yards to set up the ESU offense on the Shepherd 12-yard line. Devin Bartholomew brought the game back to two possessions at 31-17 following a 30-yard field goal.
- Shepherd put the game on ice with an 8-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly four minutes off the clock, as Seth Morgan found Jeremiah Taylor from 21 yards out for his third touchdown of the contest.
- Trying to make a play, Tobias threw up a prayer that was intercepted by Chris McDowell at the Shepherd four-yard line. With the game in hand, Shepherd killed some clock on a seven-play 96-yard drive, as Jordan Barnett found the end zone on a six-yard touchdown. Felizor blocked the extra point to wrap up the scoring for the final score of 44-17.
Up Next
- ESU battles California (Pa.) next week for Senior Day at Eiler-Martin Stadium. Both the Warriors and Vulcans look to improve its chances towards an NCAA Playoff appearance in the regular-season finale at Eiler-Martin Stadium.
