Game Preview - East Stroudsburg

The Golden Rams (4-2, 2-1) host the East Stroudsburg Warriors (5-1, 2-1) on Saturday at noon.

Series History:
West Chester leads the overall series 64-22 and Golden Ram head coach Bill Zwaan is 17-3 against the Warriors, including the last nine meetings. In 2004, the Golden Rams blocked a PAT in overtime, then scored a touchdown and won the game on Dan Wilbourne’s converted PAT to hand then #7 East Stroudsburg their first loss of the season in front of a homecoming crowd of almost 6,000. The two schools met again that season on a frigid and blustery November afternoon in the NCAA regional finals. With a crowd of over 7,200 on hand, current West Chester running backs coach Osagie Osunde ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns as the Golden Rams handed East Stroudsburg their second and final loss of the season.

The following year, West Chester tipped the #6 ranked Warriors, 18-17, in muddy Farrell Stadium. 2005 was the last season that Farrell Stadium had natural grass. In 2009, East Stroudsburg ruined West Chester’s homecoming 21-20. The Golden Rams failed to convert a PAT early in the game and a 35-yard field goal late in the game. It's the only time that East Stroudsburg has won at West Chester in the past dozen years and the last time that the Warriors have reached the playoffs.

Former Warrior quarterback Jimmy Terwilliger (21-20) is in his fifth full season as head coach at his alma mater.

Last 10 Meetings:

Year	H/A	W/L	Score	Year	H/A	W/L	Score
2012	Away	Loss	35-28	2017	Home	Win	31-26
2013	Home	Win	34-20	2018	Away	Win	52-24
2014	Away	Win	35-24	2019	Home	Win	28-21
2015	Home	Win	41-27	2021	Home	Win	42-28
2016	Away	Win	41-14	2022	Away	Win	24-21

Last Meeting:

10/15/2022 West Chester 24 - East Stroudsburg 21

Tight end Thatcher Miller caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Jordan with 15 seconds left to give West Chester a 24-21 win and spoil East Stroudsburg's homecoming.

The Golden Ram defense was dominating as they held the Warriors to just 12 first downs and 47 yards passing. East Stroudsburg's first touchdown came on a short field after a blocked punt gave the Warriors the ball on the WCU 14. Kaleb Brown had six tackles and Obi Anyatonwu had two pass breakups.

Ethan Kohler (11 of 23, 119 yards) and Jordan (7 of 16, 62 yards, 2 TD's) split time at quarterback, although Jordan also ran for 133 yards and a score. D'Shaun Seals (4 catches, 46 yards, 1 TD) and Rahiem Bowens (3 catches, 22 yards) were the leading receivers.

Scouting the Opponent:

East Stroudsburg is led by All-American defensive end Deshawn McCarthy (18 TKL, 3.5 sacks). Defensive tackles Daryn Blackwell (15 TKL, 2.0 sacks) and Dasean Dixon (29 TKL, 5.0 TFL) also get into opponents' backfield. Linebackers Sergei Felizor (50 TKL, 5.5 TFL) and Noah Hambrick (33 TKL, 5 PBU) are the team's top tacklers. Eight different players have an interception, including TJ Harris (24 TKL) who had a pick-six against Seton Hill.

Similar to Shippensburg, East Stroudsburg took a few weeks to work through their quarterbacks but seem to have settled on one. Aaron Tobias (22 of 27, 230 yards, 4 TD's) started the season opener, moved on to Stoney Brook transfer Charlie McKee (26 of 35, 349 yards, 4 TD's), and Sean McTaggart (49 of 78, 748 yards, 10 TD's, 3 ints) is now the guy. McTaggart (48 carries, 130 yards) also poses more of a rushing threat than the other two. The running game is led by Tyriq Lewis (72 carries, 473 yards, 6 TD's) and Tahir Mills (27 carries, 173 yards without a loss, 2 TD's).

If a player dons the red and white, there'a good chance they'll catch a touchdown as ten different players have caught TD passes for the Warriors. Top targets are 6'3 John Siggins (21 catches, 337 yards. 5 TD's), Justin Cook (14 catches, 225 yards, 1 TD) and 6'5" New Hampshire transfer tight end Jonathan Post (3 catches, 39 yards, 2 TD's).

All-PSAC East kicker Devin Bartholomew does all the kicking for the Warriors. He's dropped 8 of 20 punts inside the opponents' 20 and has boomed 7 touchbacks on 35 kickoffs. Bartholomew has only made one field goal from 37 yards, since East Stroudsburg usually scores touchdowns (22 of 25 on PAT's).

Analysis:

East Stroudsburg got a 13-12 win at then #12 IUP, although the Crimson Hawks have since fallen to 3-3, and they also have a 38-17 win over Millersville which is something the Golden Rams can't say. Despite winning the past two weeks, West Chester struggled to beat two teams that were among the worst in the conference in offense. This week, the Golden Rams will be facing one of the best. The Warriors average 38 points and 412 yards of offense, which are first and third in the PSAC respectively, with Slippery Rock holding the top spot in both of those categories. And they lead the PSAC in rushing offense with 191 yards per game, whereas West Chester yields 202 yards per contest. And although East Stroudsburg is historically strong offensively, this season they also have one of the top defenses in the conference: allowing just 19 points and 287 yards, including the top rushing defense in the PSAC at 76 yards per game.

It's going to be a tall order for the Golden Rams to stop the balanced Warrior offense. East Stroudsburg does allow a lot of sacks, but can West Chester get to the quarterback with just their lineman? Offensively, Jordan had a day against them last season, and with how many interceptions East Stroudsburg has, he may be well advised to run against them again this year. If they let him.

Massey Ratings is expecting East Stroudsburg to win 30-27 and Versus Sports simulates a much more convincing 44-26 Warrior victory.

Game Coverage:

Live Stats   Audio   Video  

West Chester Athletic Site - West Chester Renews Old Rivalry With East Stroudsburg Saturday Afternoon at Farrell

Coach Zwaan Podcast - Inside the Huddle Week 6

PSAC Site - PSAC Week 7 Football Notes

East Stroudsburg Athletic Site - PREVIEW: ESU Football at West Chester

D2football - PSAC Columnist - PSAC Week Seven Preview