EAST STROUDSBURG – Following its first loss of the season to No. 8 Kutztown, the East Stroudsburg University football team looks to bounce back on the road against Millersville. Kickoff between the Warriors (3-1, 0-1 PSAC East) and the Marauders (0-4) on Saturday at noon at Biemesderfer Stadium. 

How To Follow: The contest will be broadcasted on the PSAC Sports Digital Network. Chuck Seese and Bob Brittain will have the call on the Bigfoot Country 96.7-97.3 FM and on Bigfootpoconos.com. 

The Foe
Millersville enters the game winless after a narrow 24-23 loss at Lock Haven. The Marauders scored on their first four possessions to build a 20-7 first-half lead, but the Bald Eagles outscored Millersville 17-3 the rest of the way, including the go-ahead touchdown with 4:18 remaining. Millersville has the sixth-best rushing offense in the conference, averaging 148.5 yards per game, and ranks seventh overall. Defensively, the Marauders excel on third down, holding opponents to a 32.7 percent conversion rate, good for third in the PSAC.

The Series
This will be the 76th meeting between Millersville and East Stroudsburg. ESU leads the all-time series 45-28-2. The Warriors have won 11 of the past 15 matchups, including a 38-17 victory over Millersville in 2023 on Homecoming Weekend. In that game, ESU outgained the Marauders 523-291, allowing just 72 rushing yards. Sean McTaggart completed 12 of 18 passes for 260 yards, while John Siggins recorded two touchdowns. Justin Cook and DJ Thomson each had 50-plus-yard receptions, and the tandem of Tahir Mills and Tyriq Lewis combined for 164 rushing yards, helping ESU rack up 263 total rushing yards.

Revisiting Kutztown
ESU held a 14-0 lead but ultimately fell to No. 8 Kutztown 27-21. Quarterback Harrison Susi rushed for his first career touchdown, while McTaggart connected with Randy Fizer for a 92-yard touchdown and with Tyrese Brandon for a 30-yard score. Fizer’s 92-yard touchdown ranks as the eighth-longest in program history and is the 11th passing touchdown of 90 yards or more for ESU.

RUN ESU
Led by the duo of Lewis and Mills, ESU's rushing offense ranks first in the PSAC and 15th in NCAA Division II, averaging 201.5 yards per game. Lewis is third in the PSAC with 329 rushing yards, while Mills ranks sixth with 305 yards. Both backs are averaging more than six yards per carry.

Efficient Passing
McTaggart has been highly efficient, ranking third in the PSAC and 24th in NCAA Division II in passing efficiency. He also leads the conference in yards per attempt (8.71), which ranks 19th nationally.

TL2K
Lewis is nearing 2,000 career rushing yards, entering the game with 1,838. He ranks 11th on ESU’s all-time rushing list and needs 76 yards to crack the top 10. Additionally, his 1,336 career kickoff return yards rank fifth in program history. He needs 673 more yards to surpass Chris Gerhard (2,008 yards, 1983-86) as the all-time leader in kickoff return yardage.

Up Next

The Warriors head to Bloomsburg on Sat., Oct. 12 for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff against the Huskies.