EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - Millersville could ill-afford to play from behind against East Stroudsburg and the PSAC's No. 1 rushing offense and defense, but the Warriors gashed the Marauders on the ground and connected on big plays through the air early, scoring 21 points in their first four drives, and Millersville could not recover in Saturday's 38-17 loss.
 
For the second week in a row, Millersville struggled to effectively run the ball and committed costly turnovers in a loss. The Marauders managed just 72 rushing yards on 29 carries against a stout Warrior front, and now, Millersville has lost all three games in which it was outgained on the ground. East Stroudsburg, meanwhile, raced to a lead by out-rushing the Marauders 96 to minus-1 in the opening quarter, and totaling more rushing yards in the first half (159) than Millersville had allowed in an entire game this season. East Stroudsburg ran for 263 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry against a Millersville defense that came into the game ranked third in the PSAC against the run.
 
East Stroudsburg quarterback Sean McTaggert set the tone on the first offensive play of the game, breaking multiple tackles on a keeper, running 30 yards to spark a game-opening touchdown drive. McTaggert also threw a 27-yard touchdown pass on the game's second drive and connected on a 50-yard pass to Justin Cooks, setting up ESU's third score. McTaggert completed 12-of-18 passes but chunk plays resulted in 260 yards. He also found D.J. Thomson for a 61-yard completion.
 
By shutting down the Marauders' running game, East Stroudsburg forced the game into the right arm of Millersville quarterback Robert Footman Jr., and Footman found little success in the passing game. He finished 14-of-29 for 170 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Of his 66 yards at the half, 46 had come on his one touchdown pass to Hakim Melvin. Freshman Ryan Zeltt made his collegiate debut in the fourth quarter, completed his first three passes, and went 5-for-6 in leading a 65-yard TD drive. Zeltt's first career touchdown passes was a 14-yard connection with Mekhi Alexander.
 

Hakim Melvin over the top! The Marauders are back in it. pic.twitter.com/SlkSoMGPX3

— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) October 7, 2023

 
But execution in East Stroudsburg territory prevented the Marauders from rallying. Trailing 21-7, Millersville missed two golden opportunities to score late in the first half. A 44-yard Mekhi Alexander punt return started a drive at the ESU 33, but Millersville lost 11 yards on three snaps and punted. After a Zach Banta punt pinned ESU deep and the defense forced a three-and-out, the next drive started on the ESU 44. It ended after two plays when Footman's pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage, glanced off Jaquan Howard's hands and into the arms of Raymond Simmons IV, who had already fallen to the turf.
 
That familiar refrain carried into the second half as three-straight drives reached East Stroudsburg territory but only three points were scored. On the opening drive of the third quarter, an East Stroudsburg running into the punter penalty turned a punt into a fourth-and-four conversion as Footman scrambled on the second chance opportunity. The drive stalled on the cusp of the ESU red zone, and Millersville settled for a 39-yard Trent McDowell field goal. Millersville followed an ESU field goal with a drive that penetrated ESU territory once again, but another deflected Footman pass was snatched out of the air by Jahmere Crumpton at the ESU 37.
 
East Stroudsburg delivered the backbreaking score three plays later when Tahir Mills raced right through the middle of the Millersville defense for a 73-yard TD run and 31-10 ESU lead. Millersville then came up short on a fourth-and-nine, turning it over at the East Stroudsburg 24.
 
GAME NOTES

• After committing just two turnovers in the first four games of the season, Millersville has committed eight in the last two weeks, including three against East Stroudsburg. East Stroudsburg played turnover-free football, stopping Millersville's streak of games with a turnover forced at eight.
• Millersville's defense led the PSAC in sacks entering the week and recorded four more. Garrett Cox recorded two, and Omar Ba and KeShaun Jones each had one.
• Jalen Carter made a career-high five receptions.
• Millersville could not take advantage of East Stroudsburg committing 13 penalties for 143 yards.

UP NEXT

• Now back to 3-3 on the season and 1-2 in the PSAC East, Millersville returns home to take on 5-1 Shepherd on Homecoming Saturday.