GAME NOTES
Parking: Due to the construction of the new University Center adjacent to Eiler-Martin Stadium, parking will look a bit different on game days. Fans will still enter Centre Street at the Brown Street intersection next to Wolber Tennis Courts. After paying for parking near the intersection entrance, fans can park on Mitterling Field, at Minsi Hall, The Mattioli Recreation Center, Koehler Fieldhouse lots, and at Rosenkrans Hall lot. Warrior fans are encouraged to tailgate in the Minsi Hall lot. ESU staff will be on hand to direct traffic and answer questions.
Tickets: All fans will purchase tickets and enter the stadium via the visiting team gate. Prices range from $10 for general admission, $15 for chairback seating, or $5 for seniors 65 and older and children under the age of 12. ESU faculty, staff and students can gain admission for free by showing their ESU ID.
Warrior Leaders: Captains for the 2023 season include tight end Dawson Stuart, All-America defensive end Deshawn McCarthy, safety Jahmere Crumpton and center Raymond Christas. Both Stuart and Crumpton missed significant time a season ago due to injury.
Who’s Back: ESU returns a pair of former All-Americans in defensive end Deshawn McCarthy and kicker Devin Bartholomew, who both have received their share of preseason recognition. Bartholomew was selected to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List and the D2football.com Elite 100 Watch List. McCarthy was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List, the Shrine Bowl 1000, Lindy’s Sports Preseason All-Division II Team and the D2Football.com Watch List. A total of 15 starters return to the 2023 squad from a season ago.
QB: One of the biggest offseason questions for the program was starting quarterback, with Jake Cirillo graduating after ranking seventh all-time in passing yards and fifth in all-purpose yards at ESU. The Warriors list Aaron Tobias as taking the first snap, with newcomer and Stony Brook transfer Charlie McKee as his backup. Sean McTaggart rounds out the talented group, with Jake Fotta and Harrison Susi joining one of the most decorated programs in regards to quarterback legacy in all of NCAA Division II.
Tobias has played limited action, but shined against Millersville last season after injuries to Cirillo and Matt DeLaurentis. Tobias completed 9-14 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns – including a 97-yd connection to Beau Heyser - to jolt a comeback but ultimately came up just short of a win against the Marauders. A two-time PIAA AA All-State selection at Penns Valley, Tobias broke the Pennsylvania State record for touchdowns thrown in a season with 54 during his senior season.
McKee spent 2022 on Long Island, near his hometown of Oceanside for Stony Brook, throwing for 806 yards and six touchdowns for the Seawolves. McKee was named the 2021 Gatorade Player of the Year for New York, compiling 8,930 passing yards and 94 touchdowns during his illustrious high school career.
McTaggart shined at Lampeter-Strasburg, as he was named the PIAA AAAA Player of the Year after throwing for 1,865 yards and 27 touchdowns to just four interceptions as a senior, helping L-S to a pair of district championships. He’s mobile, rushing for 400 yards and eight touchdowns with his legs.
OL: Four starting offensive linemen in captain Raymond Christas (C), Kyler Wuestner (LG), Elias Marte (RG) and Guy Gilyard (RT). Starting left tackle Tim Kinney also returns, after suffering a season-ending injury in week two last season. Zach Miller adds depth at the tackle position after playing signicant snaps as a freshman a season ago. The Warriors will miss utility lineman and 2021 All-PSAC East Second Team selection Anthony Captini, who graduated in May.
TB/WR: In the backfield, Tyriq Lewis and Tahir Mills anchor the tailback room, with fullbacks Rourke Colligan and Adrian Lambert looking to pave the way. Tight End is now a deep position in 2023, with Dawson Stuart returning from a preseason injury with both Jonathan Post and Beau Heyser back. Dynamic playmakers John Siggins and Justin Cook look to build upon successful seasons at wide receiver. Former all-conference backs Gunner Anglovich and Devante Robinson both depart after graduation and exhausting eligibility.
DL/LB: With McCarthy leading the defensive line returners, Daryn Blackwell, Jered Fenstermaker, Ryan Hieber, Aidan Hayward, Makai Booker, among others look to provide pressure and plug holes. The linebacker depth is also impressive, with tackling machine Sergei Felizor looking to post another 100-tackle campaign after registering 107 a year ago. Paul Carreras and Khalil Scott both return from injury after missing significant action. Duquesne transfer Jahan Worth departs following his graduate student season, after ranking second on the team with 82 tackles last season.
DB/S: Gone is two-time All-PSAC safety Tyler Watson, but the secondary also returns two players lost to injury, in captain Jahmere Crumpton and Shavar Hussett. Noah Hambrick looks to put together another solid season after leading the Warriors in pass breakups. Adewale Obayanju and Malachi Bowman both return as starting defensive backs.
Upgrades: Eiler-Martin Stadium lights have been upgraded with Musco's SportsCluster® System Total Light Control™ TLC-LED fixtures for regional broadcast quality lighting with the ability to showcase Show-Light Special Effects® to help create an unforgettable stadium experience. "The upgrades to Eiler-Martin Stadium and Whitenight Field will benefit not just our student-athletes and campus community but also members of the public who use the fields for activities ranging from Special Olympics to athletics camps to a high school track and field invitational," said ESU President Kenneth Long. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, our outdoor facilities found a renewed purpose as they became places for our community to safely gather for large university events and even celebrate Commencement. These enhancements will give us more opportunities for gatherings and allow athletes of all ages and abilities the chance to play like a Warrior." Both Daktronics videoboards at Eiler-Martin Stadium and Whitenight Field feature 10-millimeter pixel spacing to deliver crisp clear imagery. The displays are capable of content zoning, to show one large or multiple divided zones to showcase video, stats, graphics, sponsorships or special messages. The upgraded video board at Eiler-Martin Stadium is measured at 25 feet by 18 feet, while the brand-new video board at Whitenight Field is 10 feet by 6 feet to showcase ESU's reigning national champion field hockey team and the Warriors' lacrosse team that has qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of the past seven seasons, including a national championship appearance in 2022.
The Coach: Jimmy Terwilliger, the 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy winner, readies for his fourth season at the helm of his alma mater. He has led the Warriors to a 16-19 record through three seasons and two games as interim head coach to close the 2018 season. He has coached 18 All-PSAC selections and three AFCA All-Americans.
Schedule: The Warriors will battle the same 11 opponents as last season, with home fields flipping. ESU is set to host Pace, Seton Hill (Family Weekend), Millersville (Homecoming), Bloomsburg (Youth Day), Shippensburg (Shirt Off My Back) and California (Pa.). The Warriors will trek to IUP, Lock Haven, Kutztown, West Chester and Shepherd.
PSAC Preseason Polls: ESU was tabbed fourth in the PSAC East Preseason Poll, behind NCAA Semifinalist Shepherd, Kutztown, and West Chester. The Warriors were selected ahead of Millersville, Shippensburg, Bloomsburg and Lock Haven.
The Series: 2023 marks the fifth meeting between programs and the third consecutive year that both teams have opened the season against each other. ESU has won three of the four previous meetings, with Pace’s fast-start leading the Setters to a 31-16 victory a season ago. From Eiler-Martin Stadium to Pace Stadium, the distance is just under 100 miles (99.3) when taking I-80.
Up Next: After hosting the Setters, the Warriors travel to IUP, the defending PSAC Champion and the preseason favorite to represent the PSAC West in the State Game on Sat., Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.
