The Foe The Huskies enter the contest with a 3-2 record, falling for the first time in conference play with a 42-10 loss to No. 8 Kutztown last week. Bloomsburg has already matched its win total from a season ago (3-8). Both teams have faced two mutual opponents in Edinboro and Kutztown, with both rivals earning wins over the Fighting Scots while falling to the Golden Bears.
The Series The Warriors have an opportunity to even the all-time series against the Huskies. Bloomsburg currently leads the series 43-42-2, but ESU enters the game with victories in the previous three meetings. The Warriors seek their first four-game winning streak against BU since stringing together 11 consecutive wins from 1973-1983.
Last Time They Met At Eiler-Martin Stadium last season, the Warriors built a 21-7 lead and held on to defeat the Huskies, 21-16. ESU controlled the clock with 36 minutes of possession and rushed for 202 yards on 47 attempts. Sean McTaggart (63 yards), Tahir Mills (63 yards) and Tyriq Lewis combined for 170 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Homecoming Spoiler ESU will look to knock off Bloomsburg for the second time in three seasons on its homecoming, prevailing 27-21 the last time the two met at Danny Hale Field in 2022. The Warrior defense secured the win with a late goal-line stand.
Revisiting Millersville:
The Warriors posted a PSAC season-high 57 points against the Marauders last Saturday, dominating all three phases. Justin Cook, who was named PSAC East Special Teams Player of the Week, posted 220 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, including 111 yards receiving and two touchdown catches of 33 and 42 yards. He capped the scoring with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, becoming the first Warrior in program history to return three kickoffs for touchdowns in his career. The ESU defense forced three interceptions and held the Marauders to just 71 passing yards. Ty Quintois went 3-for-3 on field goals and 6-for-7 on extra points.
Cooking with Gas Justin Cook continues to prove himself as one of the best kickoff returners in program history, with his 99-yard return against the Marauders. He previously returned a 95-yard touchdown against Slippery Rock in last season’s NCAA playoffs and set the record for the longest return in program history with a 100-yard return against Bloomsburg as a freshman in 2022. He now holds the two longest kickoff return touchdowns in ESU history (100 yards and 99 yards, tied with Rece Bender) and has 1,435 career kickoff return yards, ranking fourth all-time. He trails all-time leader Chris Gerhard (2,008 yards, 1983-86) by 573 yards, less than halfway through his junior season.
ESU Career Kickoff Return Yards Leaders
| Rank | Yards | Name | Years |
| 1 | 2008 | Chris Gerhard | 1983-86 |
| 2 | 1873 | Mike Mancuso | 1994-97 |
| 3 | 1438 | Matt Kacanda | 1998-99 |
| 4 | 1435 | Justin Cook | 2022-pres. |
| 5 | 1406 | Joe McLaughlin | 1985-88 |
| 7 | 1280 | Drew Stem | 2005-08 |
| 8 | 1132 | Dennis McWhite | 1992-95 |
| 9 | 1072 | Rece Bender | 2018-21 |
| 10 | 1034 | Evan Prall | 2003-06 |
Mr. Efficiency
Sean McTaggart has continued to shine in his first season as the full-time starting quarterback, completing more than 60% of his passes and posting a 5-to-1 touchdown (10) to interception (2) ratio. McTaggart leads an offense that tops the PSAC in scoring (33.4 points per game), ranks seventh nationally in red zone offense (.944), and ranks seventh nationally in fewest turnovers lost (3). He is second in the PSAC and 16th in NCAA Division II in passing efficiency (161.8), third in the league in passing touchdowns (10) and yards per completion (14.7), and second in points responsible for (78). He also leads the PSAC and ranks 17th in yards per attempt (8.9).
TL2K Tyriq Lewis is just 98 yards away from becoming the ninth member of ESU’s 2,000-yard rushing club, entering the contest with 1,902 career rushing yards. He ranks 11th all-time in rushing at ESU and has a chance to move up significantly with six regular season games remaining.
ESU All-Time Rushing Leaders
| Rank | Name | Yards | Seasons |
| 1 | Robert Healy | 3993 | 2013-16 |
| 2 | Rick Sterner | 2579 | 1988-92 |
| 3 | Andre Castiglioni | 2510 | 1999-01 |
| 4 | Derek Lucas | 2398 | 2002-05 |
| 5 | Toby Barkman | 2363 | 1960-63 |
| 6 | Kendrick Williams | 2177 | 2009-12 |
| 7 | Pete Radocha | 2047 | 1974-76 |
| 8 | Harold Strunk | 2030 | 1974-77 |
| 9 | Jaymar Anderson | 1942 | 2016-18 |
| 10 | Greg Vaughn | 1914 | 2000-03 |
| 11 | Tyriq Lewis | 1902 | 2021-pres. |
Cobra Ty
Sophomore kicker Ty Quintois has stepped into the role of full-time kicker, filling in for former All-American Devin Bartholomew without missing a beat. Quintois leads ESU and the PSAC in scoring, having made 7 of 8 field goals and 20 of 21 extra-point attempts. He ranks 13th in the country in field goal percentage and leads the PSAC in field goals per game. He has scored 35 points in NCAA Division II football this season, averaging 8.2 points per game.
An ESU Win Would
- Even the all-time series with Bloomsburg (currently 43-42-2)
- Be the 30th win under head coach Jimmy Terwilliger (currently 29-23)
- Mark ESU’s fourth consecutive win over Bloomsburg
- Give ESU its second straight season starting with five wins in six games
- Secure ESU’s second consecutive winning season and 69th overall since 1926
Up Next
ESU returns to Eiler-Martin Stadium for Homecoming against West Chester on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 6:05 p.m.
