BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Behind a stout defense that allowed just 146 yards on 47 plays and an offense that compiled 279 yards rushing, the East Stroudsburg University football team recorded its first shutout since 2012 with a dominant 31-0 win over Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon at Redman Stadium.
The Warriors improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC East. The Huskies (3-3, 1-2) dropped their second consecutive game.
ESU outgained Bloomsburg 446-146 and held the Huskies to 3-of-10 on third-down conversions and 1-of-4 on fourth down in another strong defensive effort. Along with securing its first shutout since 2012, the Warriors allowed just 146 yards—their fewest since giving up 137 yards to Seton Hill in 2013.
Offensive Notables
Quarterback Sean McTaggart posted another efficient performance, completing 15 of 22 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. The Lancaster native added 62 rushing yards on seven carries.
Tyriq Lewis led the rushing attack with 72 yards on 11 attempts, scoring his fifth touchdown of the season and the 18th of his career. Tahir Mills contributed 54 yards on 14 carries, also adding a rushing touchdown. A total of eight Warriors ran the ball, compiling 279 yards on 46 attempts, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. The 279 rushing yards set a season high and marked the team's best total since compiling 344 yards against Seton Hill last season.
McTaggart completed passes to eight different receivers. Tyreese Brandon led with 49 yards on four receptions, including a 40-yard catch. Evan Roche caught an 18-yard touchdown pass on a screen play, while Beau Heyser hauled in a nine-yard touchdown grab.
The Warriors sustained drives by converting 8 of 13 third-down attempts and both of their fourth-down tries.
Defensive Notables
A week after allowing just 71 passing yards, ESU's defense topped that performance by limiting Bloomsburg to 67 passing yards and 79 rushing yards.
Everette Dingle recorded two first-half interceptions, giving him three over the last two games. He also made five tackles, including one for loss.
Noah Hambrick led the team with six tackles, including one for loss, and added a pass breakup. Matthew Davis, Jake Williamson, and Ashton Blose each contributed five tackles. Raymond Simmons IV recorded four tackles, including his first sack of the season.
The shutout was ESU's first since a 31-0 win over Lock Haven in the 2012 season opener at Eiler-Martin Stadium. It was the program's 29th shutout since 1974, the first season under former head coach Denny Douds.
Special Teams Notables
Ty Quintois made 1 of 2 field goals, converting a 40-yarder in the second quarter. His second attempt was blocked, ending a streak of seven consecutive successful field goals. Quintois is now 8 of 10 on field goals and 24 of 25 on extra-point attempts. He also recorded two touchbacks on kickoffs.
Punter Adam Noll delivered a 38-yard punt on his lone attempt, pinning the Huskies at their 10-yard line.
Moving Up the Ranks
With 72 rushing yards, Lewis increased his career total to 1,974 yards, moving from 11th to ninth on ESU's all-time rushing list. The Downingtown native will look to join the 2,000-yard rushing club next week against his hometown team, West Chester.
Justin Cook's 38-yard kickoff return to start the game raised his career total to 1,473 return yards, placing him third in program history. The Harrisburg native needs 536 yards to surpass Chris Gerhard as the school's all-time leader.
30 Wins for Terwilliger
Head coach Jimmy Terwilliger earned his 30th career victory, improving to 30-23 over five-plus seasons. Fourteen of those wins have come in the last 18 games, dating back to the start of the 2023 season.
Husky Heartbreak
ESU has now won four straight meetings against Bloomsburg, including consecutive victories on Bloomsburg's homecoming. The Warriors evened the all-time series at 43-43-1. Prior to 2019, Bloomsburg had won 13 of the previous 14 matchups, dating back to 2006.
How It Happened
After punting on its opening drive, Bloomsburg assembled its best offensive series of the day, driving 76 yards on 15 plays and controlling the ball for 9:23 in the first quarter. Blose made key stops on third-and-1 and fourth-and-2 inside the red zone to force a turnover on downs.
ESU opened the scoring in the second quarter with Quintois' 40-yard field goal, capping a 17-play, 63-yard drive.
On the first play of the next Bloomsburg possession, Dingle intercepted KJ Riley and returned it 36 yards to the nine-yard line. McTaggart then connected with Heyser for a touchdown on the ensuing play.
The Huskies drove deep into Warrior territory again, but Dingle recorded another interception to stop the threat.
Starting from their own seven-yard line with 5:28 remaining in the first half, the Warriors marched 93 yards downfield, capped by Roche's 18-yard touchdown reception. Bloomsburg kneeled to end the half, trailing 17-0.
ESU's defense forced a three-and-out on Bloomsburg's first possession of the second half. The Warriors followed with a long drive, but a blocked field goal thwarted their scoring opportunity. ESU held the ball for more than eight minutes on the 14-play, 63-yard drive.
After forcing another Bloomsburg punt, ESU continued to control the game. Facing third-and-16, McTaggart scrambled for 15 yards, then converted a fourth-and-1 with a quarterback sneak. He later completed a 40-yard pass to Brandon, setting up Mills' five-yard touchdown run to close the third quarter.
A pair of ESU penalties advanced Bloomsburg into Warrior territory, but the defense forced three incompletions and Simmons' sack.
McTaggart and Lewis combined for 65 rushing yards on the next drive, extending the lead to 31-0 with 6:58 remaining.
A 72-yard kickoff return gave Bloomsburg a chance to spoil the shutout, but the Warriors held firm, allowing just three yards on four plays to regain possession.
With 4:03 remaining, Harrison Susi and Jake Fotta picked up three first downs on the ground to run out the clock and secure the win.
Up Next
The Warriors return home after two road games to host West Chester for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 19. Kickoff at Eiler-Martin Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
