#RelentlesS Marrow Drive: ESU hosted the fourth annual #RelentlesS Marrow Drive in memory of Ryan Smith and Alyssa Oxenford on Fri,. Sept. 13. With ESU’s athletic teams volunteering to staff the event, ESU student-athletes helped distribute basic cheek swabs in partnership with Be The Match and the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation. Those who could not attend can still register for a swab kit to be mailed to their home by texting “ESUSaves” to 61474. The fourth-annual drive is named in memory of two fallen Warriors. Ryan Smith, a former men's basketball student-athlete at ESU, battled acute myeloid leukemia (AML) for 19 months until his passing on March 22, 2021. Alyssa Oxenford, a three-year starter for the ESU lacrosse team from 2012-14, was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2014, and passed away 15 months later on August 22, 2015. Both Ryan Smith and Alyssa Oxenford will be honored and remembered prior to the ESU football team's home opener against Gannon.
Revisiting Pace: ESU improved to 2-0 with 41-6 road win against Pace last Thursday at Northwell Stadium. The Warriors dominated after the Setters scored the first touchdown of the game via an interception returned for a touchdown, scoring 41 unanswered points. Quarterback Sean McTaggart completed 15-23 passes for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also rushing for 19 yards and a pair of scores to lead the way. ESU rushing attack combined for 245 yards and three touchdowns. Tahir Mills totaled exactly 100 yards, with Tyriq Lewis adding 89 yards on just 10 carries and also reached the endzone.
The Foe: Gannon is coming off of a 28-14 loss to Northwood in their season-opener last Thursday. Trailing 21-0 after three quarters, QB Jayden Whitaker found Donnell Tank Mason for a 61-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 14. After allowing a touchdown, the Golden Knights added a touchdown with 3:37 remaining for the final score of 28-14. Gannon rushed for just 36 yards on 25 attempts, while Whitaker finished with 18-32 passing for 289 yards, with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. Whitaker currently leads the league in passing after week one.
Stout Defense: As it did all of last season, ESU’s defense has been suffocating through the first two games of the season. The Warriors rank 16th in rushing defense, 20th in scoring defense, 16th in sacks and 18th in turnovers forced. The Warriors have held Edinboro and Pace to below 100 yards rushing, including just 23 yards on 21 attempts last week against the Setters. The 23 yards of rushing output is ESU’s lowest since 2013 against Seton Hill. In both games, ESU has allowed less than five yards per play. The Warrior rushing defense ranks second to only IUP in the PSAC. With All-America Deshawn McCarthy graduating, ESU’s pass rush has not lost a step, with the team totaling six sacks through two weeks. Four Warriors have recorded quarterback takedowns behind the line of scrimmage, with Terrell Reynolds leading the way with 2.5 sacks against the Setters.
The Series: ESU and Gannon will meet for the sixth time on Saturday, with the Warriors holding a 3-2 edge in the all-time series. In the latest meeting in 2021 at Eiler-Martin Stadium, Gannon earned a 13-10 win in the season finale. ESU held a 10-3 advantage at halftime, but Gannon tied the contest with a touchdown in the third quarter and took the lead with a 27-yard field goal with 8:24 remaining. ESU had a go-ahead field goal blocked and ran out the clock to pick up the win.
Lewis and Mills LLC: Known historically for its quarterback play, ESU has developed as a rushing power in recent years, with Lewis and Mills pacing the rushing attack again this season. ESU’s 225.5 rushing yards per game ranks fourth in the PSAC and leads all league foes who have played multiple games this season. Lewis and Mills rank sixth and seventh in rushing yards per attempt in league this season, and with Mills ranking sixth in average yards per game (98.0) and Lewis at 10th (83.0). Shepherd and ESU are the only two teams to have two backs in the top-10 of the league in the category.
Complete Balance: A total of 13 Warriors have caught a pass this season on 29 total completions. No receiver has more than six receptions (Randy Fizer) and no receiver has more than 62 yards receiving (Evan Roche). Four different Warriors have caught touchdown passes from McTaggart, including Roche, John Siggins, DJ Thomson and Fizer.
Up Next: ESU will have a bye week for the first time in 15 seasons, with the last week off during the season coming on Sept. 22, 2007. After a restful week, ESU will host Kutztown on Sat., Sept. 28 at 6:05 p.m. for Family Weekend.
