Ashby, opportunistic defense lead the way to victory

Saturday, October 31

Scranton, PA

1:00 PM

Millersville University

1-8 , 0-6

Lackawanna

0-9 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Millersville	14	3	14	0	31
Lackawanna	7	10	3	8	28

Photo by: Kaya Wagner 2026

10/31/2026 4:40:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Ethan Hulsey, Director of Athletic Communications

SCRANTON, Pa. - Mekhi Ashby rumbled for a career high 167 yards on 34 carries, and some timely takeaways by the Millersville defense helped the Marauders to a 31-28 road win over Lackawanna Saturday.

Sometimes its that elusive first win that is the toughest to secure, and Millersville fought through some self-inflicted adversity to pull off the three-point win. The Marauders statistically controlled the game, out-gaining Lackawanna 341 to 263, but totaled 105 penalty yards, gave up a kick return for a touchdown and a fumble and interception but led to short field scores for Lackawanna. Millersville, however, held Lackawanna to two touchdowns on five red zone trips, twice picking off passes deep in their own territory.

"It's handling adversity," said Millersville head coach Drew Folmar. "Adversity happens in every game and happens in life. They have done a good job week in and week out, and it hasn't always reflected on the scoreboard. But they've done a good job of moving on to the next play and the next snap. They were disappointed in themselves with some of the mistakes, but they did a great job of continuing to lineup and play. It would be easy with the way things have gone--when the momentum got stolen--to give up, but they kept fighting."

Millersville fell behind 20-17 early in the third quarter but responded with an eight-play, 58-yard drive that featured a crucial fourth down conversion. Millersville faced third-and-11 from the Lackawanna 34 and picked up seven when Tommy Hunsicker connected with Nakhi Bullock. Without hesitation, Millersville went for it on fourth and Hunsicker found Caileb Howse at the sticks, and Howse turned to the sideline and ran away from the defense for a go-ahead score.

"We had it third-and-long, and we decided that we were going for it on fourth down regardless," said Folmar. "That play was a day one install play we called on third down, and we called the same play on fourth down. On third down, Tommy got the ball to the No. 1 read in his progression. On fourth down, he went to No. 3. That's what good quarterbacks do. Caileb made a nice catch and nice move."

FB: Howse to the house on fourth down! https://t.co/1sasKFSRNo
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) October 31, 2026

Lackawanna threatened to retake the lead on the following drive, but on third-and-7 from the Millersville 32, Max Hostetter grabbed a pass that had been batted in the air for his third interception of the season. Millersville extended its lead to 31-20 on the next drive when Howse hauled in his second TD catch of the game. Millersville could not pull away, though. Lackawanna scored and converted the two-point conversion with 14:12 remaining to pull within three. Then, after a Millersville punt, Lackawanna drove to the doorstep before Kai Stiansen made the play of the season.

On third-and-goal from the 6, Lackawanna's David Naniewicz scrambled left and floated a pass to the middle of the end zone. Stiansen, dropping into coverage from his linebacker spot, picked off the pass.

"We were in our base goal line stuff," said Folmar. "We knew if we stopped them there, we could hold them to a field goal attempt. We reminded our guys to knock it down and make a play on the ball. We got good pressure on the quarterback. When you get them off their spot, it creates bad decisions. On the sideline, it felt like they would find a way. The players always believed they find a win."

From there, it was up to Ashby and the offensive line to play keepaway. Ashby, who totaled the most carries by a Marauder since Cardale Jacks set the school record with 44 in 2008 picked up two first downs, including a couple of sledgehammer runs for 16 and 14 yards. Millersville took the clock down to 3:39 before punting to the Lackawanna 15. The defense rose to the occasion once more, and on fourth-and-5, Naniewicz dropped to pass but pulled the ball down and raced toward the first down marker. Bryce Beutler, who finished with a season-high 14 tackles, dropped the quarterback a yard shy, securing the win for the Marauders.

FB: The defense stands tall! Win for the Marauders! https://t.co/6z2y2F8Cd7
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) October 31, 2026

"I'm proud of them," said Folmar. "I told them that they handled adversity. We put some of it on ourselves, but we found a way to get it done. The older guys are laying the foundation for the future, and the younger guys are embracing the good and the bad and learning through it. Obviously we have the East champs (East Stroudsburg) coming to town next Saturday, and it's one more opportunity to play together at home. We want to enjoy it and embrace these last couple weeks together as a team."

Ashby carried the ball 10 times in the final quarter. It was the second time this season he has logged more than 30 carries, and his two touchdowns were also a career high.

FB: Big day for Mekhi Ashby! Over 100 yards and two touchdowns. https://t.co/jVDCNtc0el
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) October 31, 2026

"Every running back wants to be in that spot," said Folmar. "We told him, 'You keep fitting the run, we'll keep feeding you the rock.' He did a really good job of fitting runs and making tough yards and falling forward. We tell them to make the yards that are there then break a tackle. He did a really good job today. The guys up front, offensive line and tight ends did an unbelievable job. You don't run the ball without the wide receivers blocking on the outside. It was a great individual effort by Mekhi but he'll also tell you that it was a unit effort."

Millersville finished with 236 rushing yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, while Lackawanna managed just 2.5 yards per carry. Millersville went 6 for 11 on third down and 1 for 1 on fourth down.