Jake Cirillo’s Three Touchdown Performance Propels ESU Warriors To Monumental Win

Photo Credit/ Ronald Hanaki Redshirt Sophomore Jake Cirillo dives at the goal line for one of his three touchdowns on the day in the Warriors 50-7 win over Millersville.

Ronald Hanaki 

Staff Writer

ESU Football destroyed the Millersville University Marauders 50-7 at home over Family Weekend on Oct. 5. With the victory, the Warriors are 5-1 for the first time since 2008, after the victory against the Mauraders and a loss at No. 21 ranked Kutztown. 

The Warriors were led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Jake Cirillo. He completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 222 yards and three touchdowns. A perfect National Football League (NFL) passer rating is 158.3, and Cirillo’s quarterback rating of 143.5 was almost perfect. 

ESU began its offensive onslaught with a field goal at the end of the first quarter. 

Cirillo then threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Rece Bender on ESU’s next possession, and the rout was on. 

They continued scoring touchdowns, and the Warriors were up 31-0 late in the second quarter. 

It was fourth-and-goal at the half-yard line for the home team with two seconds left before halftime. 

Instead of simply kicking the field goal, they opted to go for the touchdown on fourth down. The offensive line cleared enough space for redshirt junior tailback Devante Robinson to cross the goal line. 

Now up 38-0, the game was effectively over. 

In total, the Warriors scored seven straight touchdowns before the Marauders would answer with a score of their own.  

ESU’s big lead enabled head coach Jimmy Terwilliger to play his backups. Redshirt junior Ben Moser and redshirt freshman Matt DeLaurentis both got some playing time at quarterback. 

The Warrior defense conceded a late touchdown but made up for it by sacking Millersville’s quarterback in the end zone for a safety.

The final score was 50-7 ESU. 

Needless to say, Terwilliger was pleased with his team’s performance. 

“Our guys play with great tenacity, and when you do that, great things happen,” Terwilliger said. 

He elaborated on the decision to go for the touchdown on fourth down with two seconds left before halftime. 

“It was a good situation to do it. We are up 31. You got a chance to put a seven-point swing and then get the ball back after halftime. I had good confidence in our play, so let’s take a shot at it. Put a dagger in it, and I think our kids executed it well,” Terwilliger said. 

The student-athletes credited their preparation leading up to the game as the reason for the team’s success this season. 

“Our preparation during the week put us in a position to be successful. It was a great team win,” redshirt senior Levi Murphy said. 

“We just worked hard, competed and did it right. We come out in practice every day with that mindset,” Cirillo said. 

Senior wide receiver Javier Buffalo believes that the team is a more cohesive unit. 

“The biggest difference is that we are together. It’s a collective unit,” Buffalo said. 

The Warriors (5-1, 3-1) return to the gridiron this Saturday against Bloomsburg (1-5, 0-3) for Homecoming. 

Email Ronald at 

rhanaki@live.esu.edu