GAME NOTES
Last Time Out: In front of a sizeable crowd and the debut of new LED lights and Daktronics Videoboard, the East Stroudsburg University football team put on a show and dominated every phase of the game, posting the most points in a season opener since 2005 in a 62-9 triumph over Pace on Thursday night at Eiler-Martin Stadium.
The Series: Saturday’s matchup with the Crimson Hawks will be the 20th meeting between the two programs. Leading the series, 13-6, IUP has earned wins in each of the past seven matchups, with ESU last getting the better of IUP during the 1997 season.
Know the Foe: The Crimson Hawks opened the season at home against No. 12 Ashland, picking up a 24-17. A rematch of last year's NCAA Super Region 1 semfinal, IUP tied the contest at 17-17 with four minutes left, before taking the lead for good with a 46-yd connection from Karst Hunter to PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week Quinn Zinobile with 1:20 remaining. An interceptoin with 34 seconds sealed the ranked win for the Crimson Hawks. Hunter, a transfer from Colorado Mesa, impressed in his debut, comlpeting 13-22 passes for 261 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was named the RMAC Freshman of the Year on offense for Colorado Mesa.
A Rematch of a Classic: The Warriors and Crimson Hawks battled in a memorable game during ESU’s 2022 home opener. IUP jumped to a 20-0 lead in the second quarter, the but the resilient Warriors registered 28 unanswered points to grab a lead in the second half. IUP grabbed a 35-28 lead with less than six minutes to go, but a 41-yd reception from Gunner Anglovich and Ezequiel Lopez’s third touchdown of the night tied the contest at 35-35 with 4:08 left. Tyler Watson intercepted the ensuing possession with 1:28 to go, but a 3-and-out and a short punt allows IUP to record a 32-yd field goal as time expired to earn the win.
Tobias Shines in First Start: After winning the preseason three-way battle at quarterback, Aaron Tobias showed why he was chosen after completing over 80 percent of his passes for four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He completed passes to 11 different Warriors, with John Siggins, DJ Thomson, Tyrese Brandon and Justin Cook all scoring touchdowns via the air. He faces a big test in the defending PSAC Champion defense. ESU’s four passing touchdowns are the most since Jake Cirillo tossed five against IUP last season. Tobias also showed mobility with 62 rushing yards.
Feed Tyriq: In the first contest of the season, Tyriq Lewis and the offensive line feasted, posting a career-high 121 yards and two touchdowns. The Downingtown, Pa. native showed his burst of speed with a 30-yd touchdown to open the fourth quarter, along with a career-long rush of 46 yards.
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.
Bartholo-Boot: Devin Bartholomew, the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List selection, made ESU’s 100th and 101st consecutive PAT, before missing his first PAT in his career. The Parkland product is now 64/65 all-time, and is 7/8 with his new battery of long snapper AJ Delgado and holder Bryce Bashore. The PAT streak lasted from the 2018 season finale, and 35 consecutive games between misses.
A nnw role: Along with being tasked as the placekicker and on kickoffs, Bartholomew has now inherited punting duties. He looked comfortable in his first two career punts, both pinning the Setters inside their own 20-yd line, including a 46-yarder
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.
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 17-19 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.
Up Next: The Warriors return home on Sat., Sept. 16 for Family Weekend against Seton Hill. The matchup with the Griffins is slated to begin at 1:05 p.m. at Eiler-Martin Stadium.ion and the preseason favorite to represent the PSAC West in the State Game on Sat., Sept. 9 at 4:00 p.m.
