EAST STROUDSBURG – Facing one of the top defenses in the conference, the East Stroudsburg University football team ran for 344 yards – the most since 2005 – and three touchdowns, while the Warrior defense held Seton Hill to 256 total yards in a dominant 55-21 victory over the Griffins on a Sunny Family Weekend Saturday at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

The Warriors (3-0) open the conference slate with a 3-0 record next week, while the Griffins (1-2) open the PSAC West schedule against nationally-ranked Slippery Rock on Sept. 23.

Notables

• In his second start, Charlie McKee impressed once again, completing 11-17 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns. McKee showed off his speed with a 69-yd rushing touchdown, which is the longest by a quarterback at ESU since at least 1969. He finished with 82 rushing yards in the first half before exiting the contest. 
• Sean McTaggart completed four of his five attempts in the second half for 20 yards and a touchdown. He threw the Warriors' lone interception of the season with his lone incompletion. He rushed for 67 yards, including a 43-yd sprint.
• Tyriq Lewis rushed for 129 yards and eclipsed 1,000 career rushing yards in the contest and a touchdown, scampering for 58 yards for the Warriors' first touchdown of the contest. The Downingtown native is averaging 8.2 yards per carry with 336 yards on just 41 attempts. He's averaging 112 yards per contest through three weeks and now has 1,021 career rushing yards.
• John Siggins led ESU with six receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown. Evan Roche registered a 31-yd touchdown, while Lewis also caught a seven-yd touchdown.
• CJ Lavarin, Xavier Gary and TJ Harris all brought down their first interceptions of the campaign. Harris returned his interception 35 yards for a touchdown.
• ESU's rushing attack accounted for 344 yards on 44 carries (7.8 ypc). The output ranks seventh in program history since 1962. It's the most rushing yards in a single game since the Warriors ran wild for 368 yards in an NCAA playoff game against Southern Connecticut State during the illustrious 2005 campaign.   
• Eight Warriors tallied at least one rushing attempt, with five rushers totaling at least 20 yards. 
• After an initial 3-and-out, ESU's offense caught fire and registered 42 points in the first half. The 42 points in a single half are the most since the Warriors matched the 42-point output in the first half against Lock Haven in 2019. Since 1969, ESU has totaled at least 42 points in a single half on eight occasions.
• ESU begins the season, 3-0, for the first time since 2019.    
• The Warriors are now 5-0 all-time against Seton Hill.

How It Happened

• After an ESU punt and Seton Hill fumble, Lewis broke free for the 57-yd rushing touchdown on the second play of the drive, lifting the Warriors to a 7-0 lead.
• The Griffins then evened the score with a six-play, 75-yd drive, that JaiQuawn McGriff punched in from a yard out.
• ESU responded to the Griffin touchdown. McKee found Siggins for a 33-yd connection to put the Warriors on the Seton Hill 32-yd line. After a one-yd rush from Tahir Mills, McKee fired a strike to Evan Roche for his first collegiate receiving touchdown from 31-yards out.
• After ESU forced a punt, the Warriors continued its dominant performance. Siggins reeled in a 39-yd reception, as Dawson Stuart registered his first receiving touchdown since Sept. 25, 2021, with Stuart missing the 2022 season due to injury. ESU led 21-7 after the first quarter.
• Seton Hill's Hayden Teska linked with Mark Bails Jr. for a 57-yd touchdown on its first drive of the second quarter. The shootout continued, with McKee finding Randy Fizer for a six-yd gain. On the next play, McKee rushed for 69 yards – the longest rush by an ESU quarterback since at least 1969 – and reached paydirt. The Warriors led 27-14 early in the second quarter.
• After a three-and-out by the Warrior defense, a short punt and nice return by Fizer, a 19-yd rush from Mills and a 13-yd touchdown pass to John Siggins resulted in six additional points.  
• SHU could only gain seven rushing yards on three carries, with the Warrior defense holding another Griffin drive to only three plays. ESU moved possession to midfield but was forced to punt.
• On the ensuing Griffin drive, CJ Lavarin nabbed a Teska pass for the interception. Holding possession with 1:52 remaining until halftime, ESU gained a first down when attempting a 45-yd field goal attempt, with the Griffins being assessed a personal foul.
• McKee scampered the final 10 yards with his legs for his second rushing touchdown. The first half ended with ESU holding a 42-14 edge.
• The Warriors defense forced yet another 3-and-out to open the second half. Sean McTaggart took over quarterback duties in the second half. Like McKee earlier, McTaggart found an opening and rushed for 43 yards. McTaggart shoveled a touchdown pass to Lewis, who reached the end zone to extend the Warrior edge to 49-14.
• On its next offensive play, Teska threw his third interception, as Harris returned it 35 yards into the end zone to make it a 55-14 contest.
• The Griffins recorded its third touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors cruised to the 55-21 victory.

Up Next

•  The Warriors begin a two-game road stretch, first taking on Lock Haven next Saturday. Game time in Central Pennsylvania is set for 1:00 p.m. against the Bald Eagles.