Bloomsburg, Pa. -  On the second play from scrimmage, Bloomsburg's Nate Monroe intercepted a Millersville pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. That set the tone for the rest of Saturday's PSAC East game as Bloomsburg pulled away, 38-14.

Millersville's four turnovers were ultimately the difference. The Huskies raced to a 28-7 first-half lead thanks in part to their defense intercepting two passes--both of which were turned into points--forcing a fumble and recording six sacks. The turnovers resulted in 17 points. The Huskies finished the game with eight sacks.

"We have to take care of the football. That's for sure," said Millersville head coach J.C. Morgan. "The one thing we can take into the next couple of weeks is that when we dig our heels in we can play some good football. There were moments in that game where we could have folded but I am proud of how our young men kept fighting and battling to the end. We have to get the program to the point where we aren't settling for that but that we are getting into position to win ball games."

Millersville held Bloomsburg to 10 points in the second half, but for the entirety of the game, Bloomsburg (5-4, 3-3 PSAC East) put clamps on the Millersville (2-7, 2-4 PSAC East) offense. The Huskies limited Millersville to 209 yards. Justis Jacobs gave the Marauders a lift after entering the game in the second quarter but the Marauders were trailing 21-0 at that point. Jacobs went 12 of 29 for for 175 yards and led both scoring drives.

The weather set up perfectly for run-heavy Bloomsburg. A steady rain coming down on Redman Stadium made passing and catching difficult, but the Huskies entered the game leading the PSAC in rushing attempts, and totaled 46 carries for 231 yards against the Marauders, including 117 in the first half.

Bloomsburg quarterback Erik Benjamin completed just 8 of 18 passes for 107 yards with an interception, but his passing was key in Bloomsburg's end-of-the-second-quarter drive that answered Millersville's lone score of the first half.

In the final minutes of the second quarter, Jacobs piloted Millersville downfield, using a 37-yard pass to Evan Morrill and a nine-yard completion to Johnnie Martin. Phil Overton then ran around right end for a score with under two minutes to play in the half. That made the score 21-7, but Benjamin and the Huskies answered and effectively put the Marauders away by going 42 yards in six plays. Benjamin connected with Michael Allen for 23 yards to the Millersville 6, and then hit Jay Popson on a fade to the back right corner with just 28 seconds left before the half.

"I really thought the turning point was the kickoff return and quick score before halftime," said Morgan. "We would have been feeling a lot better at 21-7 as opposed to 28-7."

The second half started promisingly for the Marauders as Brendan Sherman made a diving interception--his second in as many weeks. But the Millersville offense failed to convert, turning the ball over on downs. One possession later, Xavier Jenkins gave the Marauders some life, recovering a muffed Bloomsburg punt at the Bloomsburg 45. Jacobs and Tyrone Gibson connected for 29 yards on a screen pass, and Jacobs scrambled for 10 to the 1-yard-line. On third-and-goal, Gibson took it into the end zone right behind center Brett Harris.

"We had some opportunities," said Morgan. "If we connect on a couple of plays it is a different ball game."

With just over 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Millersville took over on its own 1 following a punt. Jacobs connected on three passes to reach the Millersville 40, but a deep pass intended for Joey Farley was off the mark and was intercepted by Tyshaun Pollard. That proved to be the backbreaker for the Marauders. Bloomsburg took four minutes off the clock and increased its lead to three scores on a 26-yard field goal.

Sherman's pick was the team's 14th of the season--the most by a Millersville defense in more than 15 years. Millersville has intercepted a pass in six consecutive games, totaling 13 in that stretch. Tommy Halloway led Millersville with a season-high nine tackles. Joey Farley led the Marauders with five catches for 64 yards.

"We are going to work hard as a staff to put our players in position to win," said Morgan. "We will stress playing fundamentally sound football the next two weeks. I am confident that if we come ready to play and don't make mistakes we will have a chance to be in those ball games. I am excited for the next two weeks. It is two more opportunities to go out and play football together."

UP NEXT
Millersville returns home to face Kutztown for Senior Day and its final home game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 3. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

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