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Millersville

Vs. IUP

Marauders host Warriors for PSAC East clash

10/2/2024 8:27:00 AM

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

COVERAGE LINKS

  • Series: 28-45-1
  • Series Streak: ESU, 1
  • First Meeting: L, 7-13 (1948)
  • Last Meeting: L, 17-38 (2023)
  • Largest Margin of Victory: 34 (1997)
  • Largest Margin of Defeat: 59 (2013)
  • Record at Home: 11-15-1 (since 1968)
  • Most Millersville Points: 54 (1999)
  • Most ESU Points: 66 (2013)

ABOUT THE GAME

  • Millersville and East Stroudsburg are both seeking PSAC East win No. 1 after suffering narrow road losses last week. Both teams built early leads before surrendering rallies. Millersville and ESU have split their last six meetings, and Millersville has won two in a row at home over the Warriors. 
  • Millersville led 20-7 at Lock Haven and East Stroudsburg jumped out to a 14-0 lead on Kutztown before giving up 27 unanswered points. Millersville scored on each of its first four possessions at Lock Haven but managed only a field goal after halftime. Kutztown score on two of its first three drives and then had a fumble, interception and turnover on downs in its next five possessions. 

WHAT TO WATCH

  • After scoring two touchdowns on their first 34 offensive possessions of the season, Millersville may have found a spark with quarterback Ryan Zeltt, who led Millersville on two TD drives in the second half against IUP and piloted four consecutive scoring drives to start last week's game against Lock Haven. Zeltt made his first start of the season last week, and in six quarters of play, he's completed 26-of-39 passes for 282 yards with three TD passes and two interceptions. Millersville totaled a season-high 403 yards of offense against Lock Haven, and Zeltt quarterbacked the Marauders to 202 yards on four drives against IUP. 
  • Millersville has converted 50% of its third downs over the last two weeks after going 8-for-30 in the first two games. Millersville has also dominated time of possession in the last two weeks, possessing the ball for nearly 24 more minutes than their two opponents. Millersville has also tallied 44 first downs compared to their opponents' 33. Penalties and turnovers have been the primary issues. Millersville has had more penalties than its opponent in three of four games and are the most penalized team in the PSAC in total penalties (39) and yards (89.8 per game). East Stroudsburg, meanwhile, is the least penalized team in the conference having committed just 19 total for an average of 41.5 yards per game. Last week was the first time that Millersville won the turnover battle in a game, but they turned those two interceptions into just three points, while Millersville's one turnover led directly to a Lock Haven touchdown. Millersville's last four turnovers have all resulted in opponent touchdown drives. 
  • Millersville has also untracked its running game the last two weeks, totaling 163 yards against IUP and 249 against Lock Haven. Jaiden Abrams has been the breakout performer, recording 60 yards on 12 carries against IUP before rumbling for a career-high 172 yards on 24 carries at Lock Haven. Abrams totaled career highs in both carries and yards in the game. Jose Lopez has also been a productive weapon for the Marauders' offense. Last week, he rushed for a career-high 80 yards on 14 carries and caught three passes for 39 yards. His 25-yard TD reception gives him two touchdowns on the season. He's totaled 256 all-purpose yards over the last two games.  
  • It will be tough for the Marauders to get pressure on ESU quarterback Sean McTaggert. ESU has surrendered just three sacks all season, and Millersville ranks 14th in the 15-team PSAC in sacks with three in four in games. 
  • Nick Romano recorded his second interception of the season last week at Lock Haven, making him one of eight players in the PSAC with two or more interceptions. He's also just one shy of the PSAC lead. Gus Ross made his first interception of the season last week. He's now recorded an interception in each of his first three seasons. Injuries limited Ross to four games in 2022 and five games in 2023, so a start on Saturday will match his career-high for games played. He's already recorded a career-high 26 tackles, ranking him 16th in the PSAC and first on the team in total stops. 
  • East Stroudsburg is one of the most statistically balanced teams in the PSAC, ranking fourth in scoring offense (27.5) and fifth in scoring defense (13.0). ESU, Kutztown and IUP are the only teams in the PSAC rank in the top five in both categories. ESU is also the only team in the conference that ranks in the top five in both total offense (391.0) and total defense (260.5). East Stroudsburg relies on an ultra-productive rushing attack that leads the PSAC with 201.5 yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry. Tyriq Lewis is third in the PSAC and Tahir Mills is fifth in rushing average. ESU has rushed for at least 157 yards in each game. The 216 yards passing last week was a season-high. McTaggert also completed a 92-yard pass to Randy Fizer against Kutztown. 
  • McTaggert ranks 10th in the PSAC in completion percentage and yards, but he's fourth in passing efficiency with seven touchdowns compared to two interceptions. 
  • On the defensive side of the ball, East Stroudsburg is led by Raymond Simmons IV, who has 30 total tackles. Terrell Reynolds is the team's top pass rusher with 3 1/2 sacks. n.

SERIES HISTORY

  • The series between Millersville and East Stroudsburg dates back to 1948, and ESU won 19 of the first 23 meetings, but since Millersville's 21-0 win in 1972, the series has been much more even with Millersville going 24-26-1 against the Warriors. The teams have evenly split the last six meetings with Millersville scoring wins in 2017, 2018 and 2022. The key for Millersville in all three wins was to keep the game low scoring. Millersville held ESU to 24 total points in those three wins. Millersville has also had a 100-yard rusher in each of its last four wins over East Stroudsburg. Millersville has won its last two home games against ESU. The most recent win was a 20-14 triumph in 2022, a game in which Jaheim Morris ran for 156 yards. Last season, the Warriors turned the tables in a 38-17 win, rushing for 263 yards and 5.7 yards per carry to Millersville's 72 yards and 2.5 per carry. The quarterbacks slated to start Saturday also played in last season's game. ESU's McTaggart went 12-of-18 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Zeltt came off the bench and completed 7-of-10 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. ESU hurt Millersville with explosive plays last season as well, recording rushes of 45 and 73 yards and passes for 50 and 61 yards. 
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