Warriors capitalize on turnovers and short fields in win over Marauders

Saturday, October 5

Millersville, PA

12:00 PM

Millersville University

0-5 , 0-1

East Stroudsburg

4-1 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

East Stroudsburg

Millersville

Warriors capitalize on turnovers and short fields in win over Marauders

10/5/2024 2:57:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - After a first-series punt, East Stroudsburg scored points on nine consecutive drives, capitalizing on special teams returns and three Millersville interceptions in Saturday's 57-17 win over Millersville.

None of East Stroudsburg's (4-1, 1-1) first eight scores needed more than six plays. The longest drive last 2:22, and only one of those drives covered more than 57 yards. The Warriors' started five of those drives inside Millersville territory, and the only time they started deeper than their own 43-yard line was on the opening kickoff and the final two series. The Warriors picked off Ryan Zeltt three times, although two of those passes were deflected off the hands of Millersville receivers. The three turnovers contributed to 13 points.

ESU also dominated special teams. Millersville's first two punts resulted in East Stroudsburg starting drives at the Millersville 33 and Millersville 30. The Warriors had two kick returns averaging 66.5 yards, one of which was a 99-yard TD return by Justin Cook.

"When we aren't shooting ourselves in the foot we can be pretty good," said Millersville head coach J.C. Morgan. "We are making it very easy for our opponents and that was on display today."

In addition to his return touchdown, Cook scored East Stroudsburg's first two touchdowns, catching a 33-yard pass from Sean McTaggert on the first play of ESU's second offensive possession. After Millersville evened the score at 7-7, Cook capped a five-play, 54-yard drive with a 42-yard TD reception. Cook finished with 111 receiving yards and 210 all-purpose yards. He accounted for more than half of McTaggert's 13 completions and 220 yards. McTaggert connected on three passes of 40 or more yards, averaging 16.9 yards per completion while Zeltt's longest completion was just 11 yards, and he averaged 5.9 yards per connection.

Millersville totaled 208 yards on the ground, but 112 of those yards came on two carries. Jaiden Abrams, who totaled 80 yards on nine totes, broke off career-long 57-yarder that led to Millersville's first touchdown. Jaheim Morris added a 55-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Morris led the team with 86 yards on 13 carries.

After Abrams' two-yard run knotted the score with with 3:13 remaining in the first quarter, East Stroudsburg 17 unanswered while Millersville threw an interception and punted. The Marauders, however, made it a two-score game when Trent McDowell made a 44-yard field goal, capping an 18-play, 54-yard drive. Only 42 seconds remained in the half, and Millersville was set to receive the second-half kickoff, but ESU found a way to push their lead back to 17 points before halftime. With 15 seconds remaining on a third-and-six from midfield, Evan Roche slipped uncovered and turned a short pass into a 43-yard gain to the Millersville 7. He stepped out of bounds with two seconds left, setting up a 23-yard field goal and 27-10 halftime lead for ESU.

Any hopes that Millersville had of a second-half rally were dashed quickly as Millersville had two turnovers and two three-and-outs on their first four second-half possessions.

"The crazy part is that last week we did a tremendous job of fighting adversity and answering back," said Morgan. "We talked about how all units can pick each other up and play good team football. We felt good getting it down to a two-score game, and for the second week in a row we gave up points at the end of the second quarter. We are taking turns across the board. It's a team game, and today was truly a team loss."

Defensively, Gus Ross and Judah Rock led Millersville with eight tackles apiece. Rock's first career sack ended East Stroudsburg's first drive of the game. Freshman Kahlen Watt had a career-high two tackles for loss.

UP NEXT
Millersville is back at Biemesderfer Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, hosting Shippensburg.