EAST STROUDSBURG – Despite a slow start, the East Stroudsburg University football team found its rhythm, scoring 24 unanswered points to defeat Gannon, 24-7, in the home opener on Saturday evening at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

The Warriors (3-0) recorded their third consecutive win and notched their seventh straight home victory after a perfect 6-0 stretch in 2023. The Golden Knights (0-2) dropped their second straight game following a 28-14 loss to Northwood in Week 1.

The Warriors' defense has now held opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing in each of the first three games this season, limiting the Golden Knights to 75 yards on 22 attempts.

Offensive Notables

• Quarterback Sean McTaggart completed 18 of 25 passes for 188 yards, throwing a touchdown to fullback Matt Frame for the game's first score.
• The one-two punch in the backfield of Tyriq Lewis and Tahir Mills delivered again, with Lewis rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown, while Mills totaled 70 yards and a score on the ground. The Warriors netted 198 rushing yards, with Lewis and Mills combining for 192 yards on 33 attempts.
• The balanced Warriors receiving corps featured nine different players with a reception, led by John Siggins, who had 66 yards on five catches. Dawson Stuart added 33 yards, while Frame caught a four-yard touchdown.

Defensive Notables

• Everette Dingle (eight tackles), Raymond Simmons IV (seven tackles), Khalil Scott (six tackles), Matthew Davis (six tackles) and Noah Hambrick (five tackles) led the Warriors defensively.
• Terrell Reynolds recorded a sack and continues to lead the team with 3.5 sacks on the season.
• Lucas Skelley made an impressive stop on fourth down and recovered a Gannon fumble.

Special Teams Notables

• Ty Quintois converted his lone field goal attempt from 29 yards and successfully made all three of his extra-point attempts.
• Adam Noll punted three times for an average of 31 yards.

3-0 ?@ESU_Football takes down Gannon 24-7, after posting 24 unanswered points.

Tahir Mills and Tyriq Lewis rush for a pair of scores, while Matt Frame finds the end zone with a reception!#WhereWarriorsBelong pic.twitter.com/rO0kFVBhqR

— ESU Warriors (@ESUWarriors) September 15, 2024

• After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, Gannon put together its best drive of the day. The Golden Knights moved 65 yards on 10 plays, with running back David Morgan scoring the first touchdown from four yards out.
• The two squads exchanged punts in the sixth meeting of the series. ESU forced a turnover on downs but could not convert the ensuing drive into points. After forcing another stop on fourth down, ESU tied the game with a nine-play, 59-yard drive. McTaggart found Frame for the first ESU touchdown.
• After the Warriors' defense forced a three-and-out, ESU added three points with less than a minute remaining as Quintois booted a 29-yard field goal.
• Looking to add points before halftime, Reynolds sacked Gannon quarterback Jordan Whitaker on the final play of the first half, giving ESU a 10-7 lead.
• The Warriors received the second-half kick and methodically drove down the field with a nine-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that took 6:41 off the clock. Mills found the end zone on an impressive 22-yard rush.
• After another three-and-out, ESU padded its lead with a two-yard touchdown from Lewis. The Warriors dominated the third quarter, holding the ball for 12:24 of the 15-minute period and totaling 73 rushing yards and 88 passing yards, compared to just 25 total yards from Gannon.
• Gannon missed a fourth-quarter field goal attempt, as ESU burned 5:18 of the final 5:38 to secure its third win in three weeks.

Up Next

• ESU will enjoy its first bye week since 2007 next Saturday. The Warriors will prepare for a matchup with defending PSAC champion and NCAA semifinalist Kutztown on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff at Eiler-Martin Stadium is set for 6:05 p.m. for Family Weekend.