Missed opportunities haunt Marauders in loss to Glenville State

Saturday, September 13

Millersville, PA

12:00 PM

Millersville University

0-2 , 0-0

Glenville State

1-2 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Glenville St.

Millersville

Missed opportunities haunt Marauders in loss to Glenville State

9/13/2025 3:32:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Millersville nearly set a school record for total offense, but missed opportunities in Glenville State territory made the difference in a 44-28 loss to the Pioneers Saturday at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium.

The teams combined for 1,191 yards of offense, with Millersville totaling 587--the most on record and the most confirmed yards since the school record was set in 1963. But the Marauders missed three field goals, failed to convert on three fourth downs in Glenville State territory, threw two interceptions in the end zone--one of which was returned 100 yards for a touchdown--and failed to capitalize on two Glenville State turnovers in positive territory.

"We left 27 points on the field," said Millersville head coach J.C. Morgan. "Almost 600 yards of offense, four touchdowns, but those failures say it all...They don't score this game off of yards, they score it off points, and we have to figure out a way to close out those drives."

Ryan Zeltt completed 31 of 53 passes for 393 yards and three scores but was picked off twice. Isaac Sines set a career high with 133 yards and eight catches, and Colin Hastings also topped the century mark (101 yards) for the first time in his career. Millersville also rushed for 186 yards, with Isaiah Emmanuel's 70 (and 48-yard TD run) leading the way. But while Millersville moved the ball, Glenville State did too. The Pioneers racked up 604 yards, getting 328 passing yards from Anthony Garrett and 103 rushing yards from Jeremiah King. Glenville State went just 4 of 15 on third downs but twice converted key fourth downs and went 5 for 6 in red zone scoring opportunities while Millersville went 1 of 5.

"There are some things we have to fix (on defense)," said Morgan. "But we also created two turnovers in their territory and came up empty. Even when the defense made plays, we didn't answer back with points and came up empty. It's complimentary football. You can't give away points at this level and win games. What was disappointing with the defensive drives is that we had them backed up (because of penalties), and we let them convert...We have to close out drives better. We didn't do that today. All around, all three units did not complete the task."

Millersville built a 21-7 lead with a trio of explosive plays. Jermaine Tillery's 57-yard TD--the first of his Millersville career--evened the score at the end of the first quarter, and Millersville followed with Emmanuel's 48-yard sprint, and a 40-yard TD catch from Sines two minutes later. But the remainder of the game belonged to Glenville State. The Pioneers scored 28 unanswered points, and after taking a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Parker McLendon ended Millersville's hopes of a comeback. The Marauders drove to the Glenville State 10 with just over four minutes to play, but McLeondon jumped in front of a slant route, caught it a step inside the end zone and sprinted the rest of the way for six.

That play typified the day for the Marauders, who appeared on the verge of blowing out the Pioneers early, and also on the verge of winning the game late. On back-to-back second quarter possessions, Millersville drove to the Glenville State 18 and 32 but could not convert field goals. One was blocked and the other sailed wide. On the first play of the third quarter, Kahlen Watt pressured Garrett into an ill-advised and errant throw, and Nick Romano made a diving interception on the 37. But four plays later, Millersville gave the ball right back as Zeltt's sneak came up short on fourth-and-one. On the very next drive, Millersville drove 72 yards in 11 plays to the Glenville State 2, but a run up the middle on fourth down was stuffed.

Millersville still trailed just 28-21, and Kai Stiansen recorded his first career interception on the next Glenville State possession, setting up the offense at the Glenville State 25. Millersville gained just two yards before a 40-yard attempt from Trent McDowell missed to the left. That was Millersville's last best chance as Anthony completed a 77-yard catch-and-run to Arnav Thornhill on the next snap.

"We've got a good football team," said Morgan. "People ain't going to hear that. But I'm in the room with them. I'm in practice with them. There is still good ball left with this group. We did a lot of good things today, but you have to play great situational ball, close out drives and play complementary football."

GAME NOTES

Saturday marked Glenville State's first win over Millersville as the Marauders had won the first four meetings. It was the first meeting between the teams since 2005.
Zeltt's 393 passing yards were the most by a Marauder since Collin Shank's 420 in 2019.
Sine's 133 receiving yards were the most by a Marauder since Sept. 21, 2021.
With two interceptions and Christopher Pierce's forced fumble and Carson Trone's fumble recovery, Millersville forced three turnovers for the first time since Oct. 21, 2023.

UP NEXT