EAST STROUDSBURG – Following its first postseason berth since 2009 last season, the East Stroudsburg University football team looks to open the 2024 season with a road win, trekking to Edinboro to battle the Fighting Scots. The opening kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Sox Harrison Stadium.

How to Follow: The game will be broadcast on the PSAC Sports Digital Network. Fans can tune in via esuwarriors.com or the PSAC Sports Digital Network app. Chuck Seese and Bob Brittain will call the action live from Sox Harrison Stadium on Bigfoot Country Poconos 96.7 – 97.3 FM and bigfootpoconos.com. Live stats will be available on gofightingscots.com. Follow @ESUWarriors on X and Instagram for live updates from Edinboro.

The Series: ESU and Edinboro face off on the gridiron for the first time since 2019 and the first time at Sox Harrison Stadium since 2018. The Warriors lead the all-time series 14-7, including a 34-14 victory in the most recent meeting at Eiler-Martin Stadium. ESU has won four of the last five contests, but the Fighting Scots secured a 49-24 victory in their latest home game against ESU in 2018.

Last Time Against Edinboro: In their last matchup on September 21, 2019, then redshirt sophomore Jake Cirillo completed 22 of 27 passes for 223 yards, while Devante Robinson contributed 103 yards from scrimmage with two rushing touchdowns in a 34-14 win at Eiler-Martin Stadium. The defense, led by free safety Tyler Watson, safety Andrew Brown, and defensive end Joseph Odebode, recorded three interceptions and limited Edinboro to 309 yards on 57 plays. After leading 14-8 at halftime, ESU extended their lead to 28-7 in the second half. Despite Edinboro narrowing the gap to 28-14 with 5:34 left in the third quarter, Jordan Walters secured the victory with two field goals in the final frame.

High Expectations: The Warriors were selected third in the PSAC East preseason poll, their highest predicted finish since 2015, when they were tied for third. The last time ESU was ranked higher was in 2014, when they were picked second. Additionally, the Warriors received votes in the preseason AFCA DII Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl. Edinboro was tabbed sixth in the PSAC West Preseason Poll.

Who’s Back: The Warriors return 14 of their 22 starters from last season's NCAA playoff team, including All-PSAC East First Team left tackle Tim Kinney and second-team selections Tyriq Lewis (TB), Raymond Christas (C), John Siggins (WR), and Justin Cook (RS).

QB1: Redshirt junior Sean McTaggart takes the reins as starting quarterback after a three-way passing attack last season. McTaggart threw for 13 touchdowns with only four interceptions, accumulating 1,110 passing yards and a 61.4% completion rate. The Warriors were 4-1 with McTaggart as the starter, with the lone loss coming by seven points to eventual NCAA Semifinalist Kutztown.

One-Two Punch: The Warriors maintain a strong ground game with Tyriq Lewis and Tahir Mills anchoring the third-best rushing attack in the conference last season. The duo combined for 1,306 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in 2023, with Lewis leading with 824 yards and nine touchdowns.

Complete Balance: ESU returns its top six pass catchers in terms of receiving yards, including All-PSAC East selection senior John Siggins, who led the squad with 442 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The Warriors had at least six players record a reception in all 12 games last season, including ten different players catching passes in games against Pace and Kutztown.

Post Post: All-PSAC East Second Team tight end Jonathan Post graduated, but the team still has experience with two-time graduate student captain Dawson Stuart and junior Beau Heyser returning. The duo combined for 19 receptions and four touchdowns in 2023.

Experience Up Front: ESU's offensive line brings a wealth of experience in 2024, with four of five multiple-season starters returning: Tim Kinney (LT), Raymond Christas (C), Kyler Wuestner (LG), and Guy Gilyard (RT), who together have 120 career starts. Kinney and Christas earned All-PSAC East honors last season. Redshirt sophomore Pat Reynolds will replace Elias Marte at right guard, while redshirt freshmen Andrew Fatusin, Lucas Andrezewski (RT), and redshirt junior Chase Walters (C) provide depth. The Warriors added further depth to the offensive line through the transfer portal with redshirt junior Mike Gecik (UAlbany) and redshirt freshman Hunter Seubert (Rutgers).

IN THE NEWS

No More McCarthy: ESU will need to replace former All-America selection Deshawn McCarthy at defense end, but return experienced contributors Aidan Hayward and Makai Booker to the position. Ashton Blose and Terrell Reynolds each saw action as true freshmen in 2023 and look to make an impact this season. Reynolds as named to the PA 6A Football Writers All-State Team as a junior and senior at Harrisburg Hisch School and earned a Big 33 Football Classic roster spot. Blose earned All-New Jersey First Team honors and was named a top-100 player in the state at Delsea Regional.

New Look at DT: Four-year starter Daryn Blackwell graduated and All-PSAC East First Team selection Dasean Dixon transferred to UAlbany as starting defensive tackles last season. Graduate student Lucas Skelley, redshirt sophomore Jake Williamson, redshirt freshman Jamori Stepheny and graduate student Jered Fenstermaker look to sure up the position.

Depth at Linebacker: Sergei Felizor graduates after back-to-back 100-plus tackle seasons, but plenty of contributors return at linebacker, including redshirt seniors Khalil Scott, Raymond Simmons IV, Symear Williams and graduate student Matthew Davis. Those four Warriors combined for 145 tackles, five forced fumbles and four interceptions in a combined 15 starts last season. Redshirt freshman Mason Smith looks to make an impact after appearing in a pair of games in 2023.

Leadership in the Secondary: All-PSAC East First Team defensive back Jahmere Crumpton, along with Shavar Hussett depart from the secondary, but redshirt senior and 2024 captain Adewale Obayanju returns from injury after missing the final 10 games due to injury. Fellow captain Noah Hambrick returns after nine pass breakups in 2023, returning to the nickel after filling in at cornerback. Malachi Bowman and Everette Dingle each started at least eight games a season ago. Look for Answer Saie and Xavier Gary to add depth in the secondary. 

Special teams, Special Plays, Special Players: ESU graduates former All-America kicker Devin Bartholomew, who took over punting duties in 2023. Ty Quintois enters his sophomore season in 2024 after making 25-of-26 PATs as a true freshman. Redshirt freshman Adam Noll is expected to take over punting duties. AJ Delgado returns as the long snapper after his first season at ESU in 2023. All-conference second team return specialist junior Justin Cook is back after ranking second nationally in combined kickoff return yards (843). He brought back a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown against Slippery Rock in the NCAA Playoffs. 

Golden Anniversary: ESU offensive coordinator Mike Terwilliger enters his 50th consecutive season and 51st year as a Warrior. Since joining Denny Douds’ first roster as a freshman quarterback in 1974, Terwilliger has held roles of quarterback (1974-77), quarterback’s coach (1978-2000) and offensive coordinator (2001-present) each of the past 50 seasons. As a quarterback, Terwilliger led ESU to a 30-4-1 record in 35 games as a starter, including back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1975 and 1976. A two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection, he garnered Little All-America honorable mention in 1975. Terwilliger has held a role in 518 of the 886 ESU football contests (58.5%) since the program began in 1926.

Back-to-Back: The Warriors look to punch its ticket to the NCAA Playoffs for the second consecutive season and sixth time overall, seeking back-to-back trips for the first time since 2004-05, when then quarterback Jimmy Terwilliger led ESU to a combined 21-5 record. Terwilliger was honored as the top player in NCAA Division II in the 2005 season as the Harlon Hill Trophy recipient, leading the Warriors in the NCAA Semifinals for the first time in program history. 

Record Watch: As the 2024 season begins, tailback Tyriq Lewis ranks 19th all-time in career rushing yards with 1,509 yards in his career. He’ll look to join the eight-member 2,000-yd rushing club this season. Justin Cook enters his junior season on pace as one the top kick returners in program history. After posting the second most return yards in a single season in 2023, Cook ranks sixth all-time in career kick return yards (1,211), trailing Chris Gerhard’s record of 2,008 yards by 797.  

Up Next: After battling the Fighting Scots, ESU heads to Pace against its lone non-PSAC opponent on Thurs., Sept. 5. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.