Warriors Soar Over Fighting Scots

By Kelley Anne Stuetz

SC Contributing Writer

 

Saturday turned out a rewarding day for ESU football, resulting in a 56-12 win for the Warriors over the Edinboro Fighting Scots, ESU’s first win of the season.

Students and faculty filled the stands at Eiler-Martin Stadium  Extended families in attendance of Family Weekend at the ESU contributed in part to the crowd.

T-shirt sales, Kid Zone activities and tailgating fun happened all weekend on ESU’s campus. While a variety of fun events happened during Family Weekend, the biggest event was the football game between ESU and Edinboro.

Sports Fever Network broadcasted the Warrior’s big win nationwide on ESPN3.  Even under the national spotlight of coverage by ESPN3 and Blue Ridge, the Warriors kept their poise.

ESU redshirt senior Gerald Van De Cruz inaugurated the scoring barrage, scoring the first touchdown for the Warriors with 8:04 left in the first quarter.

With a score of 35-0 ESU at halftime, Warriors had no doubts about the game’s outcome.

ESU junior safety Jimmy Verzicco was named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week.

Verzicco proved instrumental in helping ESU’s defense hold Edinboro’s offense to only 283 total yards and 154 passing yards.

The Cherry Hill, N.J. native helped the Warriors to victory with 8 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Overall, ESU’s defense stepped up and played a tremendous game.

Not only was this a huge win for the Warriors, but Coach Denny Douds received the 251st win of his head coaching career.

The game also marks his 500th game with ESU since beginning his coaching career in 1966. Douds has now improved his overall head coaching record to 251-178-3.

Redshirt senior quarterback and two-time Harlon Hill candidate Matt Soltes continued to lead the Warriors going 21-for-31 for 438 yards and five touchdowns last Saturday.

Soltes recieved help from redshirt senior wide receiver and top target Jon Schnaars, who had nine catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns. These players, as well as the running back tandem of Robert Healy and Gerald Van De Cruz, made a key contribution to the Warriors’ 56-12 win.

The Warriors hit the road to Lock Haven for a noon start on Saturday.

Email Kelley at:

kstuetz@live.esu.edu