'Ville football season opens under Thursday night lights
9/2/2025 1:34:00 PM | Football
Countdown to Gameday
Millersville Football
0
Days 0
Hours 0
Mins0
SecsCOVERAGE LINKS
- Live Video (Download the PSAC Network App on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku)
- Live Stats
- Tickets
- Tailgating Policy
- Download Gameday App (Apple) | (Android)
ABOUT THE GAME
- The 2025 season kicks off for the Millersville Marauders Thursday night at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium as they host Frostburg State. While the Marauders take to the field for the first time, Frostburg State is playing on a short week after toppling Millersville's PSAC East rival Shepherd by a convincing 41-27 final on Aug. 30.
- Thursday's game is the second-ever matchup between Millersville and Frostburg State and the Bobcats' first visit to Biemesderfer Stadium. Frostburg State made the move from Division III to Division II in 2019 and has since produced five consecutive winning seasons. The Bobcats started 2024 6-0 before dropping five in a row to end the season. Millersville had its fair share of close calls in 2024. Despite finishing 1-10, the Marauders were tied or held the lead in seven of 11 games. (including the week two loss to Frostburg State). Five losses were decided by 14 points or fewer. Frostburg State was picked fourth out of nine teams in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll. Millersville was voted eighth in the PSAC East's poll.
- It is the 10th time in the last 11 seasons that Millersville has opened its season on Thursday night. Millersville is 5-4 overall and 3-2 at home in those Thursday night games and 41-35 all-time in night games, going 0-2 in 2024. Millersville is 53-65-9 all-time in season openers. Frostburg State has started 2-0 in each of the previous four seasons. Millersville has played a Mountain East team just four times in the last 20 years, posting a 2-2 record.
It's officially FOOTBALL SEASON??
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) August 11, 2025
?? from this morning's first workout!https://t.co/PIReB4tJ4s pic.twitter.com/LzzkxnITSY
'VILLE STORYLINES
- Millersville won the 2024 season finale on a walk-off field goal by Trent McDowell and returns numerous key players who made impact plays in that win. Back to lead the offense is junior quarterback Ryan Zeltt, who performed like one of the top players in the PSAC over the final five weeks of the season. He produced two 300-yard games, averaged 227.4 yards per game, connected on nearly 66% of his passes and tossed nine touchdown passes in that stretch. Despite playing sparingly at the beginning of the season, Zeltt finished fourth in the PSAC in completion percentage.
- Zeltt's top returning target is Isaac Sines, who led the team with 44 catches and four receiving touchdowns. Sines averaged six catches per game over the final six weeks.
- Millersville must replace two All-PSAC East running backs in Jaiden Abrams and Jaheim Morris, but week one starter Isaiah Emmanuel has a track record of production at the Division II level. In 20 career games, he's rushed for 1,398 yards on 328 carries at Post. Last season, Emmanuel scored 10 rushing touchdowns.
- Safety Mike Donato was Millersville's top defensive playmaker in 2024, recording three of the team's four interceptions. Bryce Beutler, a redshirt sophomore linebacker, led the team in tackles, recording nine or more stops four times.
- McDowell is looking to be the third kicker in program history to record 45 or more points in three consecutive seasons. He closed 2024 by converting eight of nine field attempts, and he set the school record with a 52-yarder in 2023. He is a solid 19 of 26 in his career. Last season, he ranked second in the PSAC in field goal conversion percentage and second in most field goals made.
- The Marauders voted Max Hostetter, Nick Romano, Isaac Sines, Kam Taylor and Christopher Pierce as captains. Four of the five are first-time captains. Taylor is a returning captain. It is the first time on record (since 1970) that Millersville has had two wide receivers serve as captains.
- Taylor is widely respected by his peers. He was voted the recipient of the No. 1 jersey number, an honor that goes to a player who exemplifies Millersville football through work ethic, leadership and performance on and off the field. The coaching staff selected Beutler as the recipient of the No. 0 jersey.
- Millersville holds a scouting advantage this week, having already seen Frostburg State on tape while the Marauders are somewhat of a mystery to Frostburg State. With the hiring of three new coordinators, Millersville will look much different in all three phases of the game compared to the 2024 season. Brian Ferguson, previously the head coach at Concord, takes over as the offensive coordinator. Ralph Clark moves up to defensive coordinator after coaching the defensive backs in 2024. Gerard Wilcher enters as the special teams coordinator after serving as the head coach at Morehouse. It is the first time since J.C. Morgan became the head coach in 2018 that Millersville has different coordinators. Offensive line coach Brad Shaeffer and defensive assistant Jevon Thompson are the only members of the staff reprising their 2024 roles.
BOBCAT STORYLINES
- Big plays sparked Frostburg State to the week zero victory over Shepherd. Myles Fulton tossed 40- and 45-yard touchdown passes and finished the game with four TDs and no interceptions. Frostburg State also scored on defense, getting a 65-yard interception return from Carter Mazalewski. Including field goals, seven of the game's scores were from 40 yards or longer. Shepherd added a 71-yard touchdown run and a 75-yard blocked field goal return. Frostburg State rushed for 175 yards and was efficient in the passing game, connecting on 16 of 23 passes for 209 yards. Millersville will need to have its pass protection shored up as Frostburg State recorded three sacks against Shepherd and ranked second in the Mountain East with 29 last season.
- Fulton is in his second season as the starting quarterback. Last season, he threw for the ninth-most passing yards and the fifth-most touchdown passes in program history. He recorded 23 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. Tra'Shaun Timmons caught four passes against Shepherd, and he totaled four catches for 59 yards against the Marauders in 2024. Millersville also remembers running back Doyle Owen, who rushed for 95 yards and two scores against them in 2024. Owens averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored a touchdown against Shepherd.
- Linebacker Carter Mazalewski landed the MEC Defensive Athlete of the Week award on Monday. Against Shepherd, he led the team with eight tackles, recorded two sacks and returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown.
SERIES HISTORY
- Thursday marks the second consecutive season with a matchup between Millersville and Frostburg State. The Bobcats won the first meeting 23-6, but the game was far closer than the final score indicates. It was 6-6 at the half and Frostburg State led 12-6 at the start of the fourth quarter. Owen Doyle's one-yard TD run and two-point conversion with 10:37 to play boosted the lead to 20-6. After scoring its only touchdown at the end of the first quarter, Millersville closed the game with an interception, four punts and a turnover on downs. Millersville ran just 22 offensive snaps in the second half while Frostburg State totaled 35 on five series. Frostburg State held the ball for more than 36 minutes. Nick Romano led Millersville with 10 tackles and a pass defended.
Gallery: 2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
1 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
2 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
3 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
4 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
5 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
6 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
7 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
8 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
9 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
10 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
11 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
12 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
13 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
14 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
15 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
16 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
17 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
18 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
19 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
20 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
21 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
22 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
23 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
24 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
25 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
26 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
27 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
28 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
29 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
30 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
31 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
32 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
33 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
34 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
35 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
36 of 36
2025 Football Preseason Camp Day 1
Upcoming Schedule
Millersville Football: Head Coach Drew Folmar
Monday, January 19
Highlights: Millersville Football vs. Edinboro (November 15, 2025)
Saturday, November 15
Highlights: Millersville Football vs. Shepherd (October 4, 2025)
Saturday, October 04
Highlights: Millersville Football vs. West Chester (September 27, 2025)
Saturday, September 27
