Box Score

Millersville, Pa. - For the first three games of the season, Bill Shirk and the Millersville passing game carved up its opponents. But in Saturday's PSAC Eastern Division opener at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium, Bloomsburg used a vicious pass rush and played keep away on offense to end Millersville's bid at three-straight wins by a 44-7 score.

The Huskies (3-1, 1-0 PSAC East) won their third-straight by scoring more than 41 points. Franklyn Quiteh, who entered the game ranked second in the nation in rushing, nearly achieved his average (149.67) in the first quarter with 147 yards. By the time he exited the game early in the fourth, he had piled up 223 of Bloomsburg's 364 yards on rushing.

By contrast, Shirk entered the game as the league's leading passer, but he was hassled all afternoon by Bloomsburg's front four. Shirk completed 13-of-25 passes for a season-low 126 yards. Several times he was forced to throw the ball away to avoid sacks, and the pressure also affected his accuracy, causing him to throw two interceptions. He had thrown just one in the first three games.

Jamal Smith, who set a school record with 252 yards receiving just one week earlier and was first in Division II in all-purpose yards, was limited to 32 yards on three catches.

Bloomsburg established its game plan on its first play from scrimmage. Quiteh raced through a gaping hole and sprinted 67 yards before John Wynder made a touchdown saving tackle at the Millersville 1-yard line. The Marauder defense, however, stuffed two Quiteh rushes. Pat Carey's pass on third down fell incomplete, and Millersville avoided an early deficit by blocking Bloomsburg's field goal attempt.

The Huskies would get on the board on its next drive, though. Starting from the 50-yard line, Bloomsburg needed just five plays to find the end zone. Quiteh capped the short drive with a 25-yard jaunt.

Bloomsburg ran 23 plays to Millersville's 10 in the first quarter, and Quiteh had the Huskies knocking on the door when the second quarter opened. On the first play of the period, Carey found Ben Weaber from four yards out to build a 13-0 lead.

Carey added another touchdown pass before Millersville pieced together its first and only scoring drive of the game. With 4:31 left in the half, Mike Jones scored from the 1-yard line, crossing the goal line for the first time in his Millersville career. His run capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive that included three Matt Egenrieder receptions.

Millersville, though, could not contain Quiteh. The redshirt freshman gained 39 more yards on the final scoring drive of the first half. His two-yard run at the 1:56 mark put Bloomsburg up 27-7.

The Huskies continued to pour it on in the third, scoring 10 more with a Pat Carey rushing touchdown and a field goal. Mike Wagner added Bloomsburg's final touchdown with 7:19 left in the game.

Bloomsburg out-gained the Marauders 492-235 on offense and ran 74 plays to Millersville's 53. Shirk was sacked three times, and after a 37-yard rush in the first quarter, Jones finished with 49 yards on nine carries. Egenrieder led the team in receiving with 64 yards on five catches.

The win was Bloomsburg's 11th in a row over the Marauders. It was the first time this season that Millersville was held to fewer than 28 points.

Millersville closes out its five-game home stand on Saturday, Oct. 2 against Cheyney. Game time is 4 p.m.