BOX SCORE
WATCH NOW! - Post-game interview with Franklyn Quiteh

BLOOMSBURG—Bloomsburg University's Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna/Pocono Mountain West) racked up 246 yards on 39 carries to lead the Huskies (4-1, 2-0 PSAC East) to a 26-13 victory over East Stroudsburg University (1-4, 0-2 PSAC East) in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division matchup Saturday at Redman Stadium.

The ESU Warriors, led by senior quarterback Matt Marshall, elected to begin the game with the ball and came out looking strong. Marshall got off to a quick start, completing a 58-yard pass to tailback Joe Klebon on his first throwing attempt. Kicker Taylor Groff concluded the drive with a 41-yard field goal, putting East Stroudsburg on the board first, 3-0.

Quarterback Pat Carey (Loyalsock, Loyalsock Twp.) struggled on the day, throwing a pick to ESU's Herschel Thornton with his first attempt. The Husky defense responded to the challenge, forcing the Warriors back four yards on a three-and-out drive, returning the ball back to Bloomsburg.

Sticking to what worked best, running back Franklyn Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pocono Mountain West) was given the ball on 10 straight plays. In what was the day's only sign of troubles for the redshirt freshman, Quiteh was stuffed inches from a touchdown and lost the ball to ESU's Kevin Schafer on the one-yard line.

Once again, the Huskies' defense dominated, keeping the Warriors pinned against their own goal line for three plays. Despite advantageous field position Bloomsburg was unable to capitalize, as kicker Daniel Fisher (Liverpool, Central Dauphin) failed to connect on a 42-yard field goal try to end the first period.

On Bloomsburg's first possession of the second quarter, Fisher redeemed himself by booting a 26-yard try to equalize the score at 3-3.

The teams' respective defenses managed to keep Marshall's arm and Quiteh's legs in check until late in the half. With less than two minutes to play, Quiteh broke loose for a 42-yard run, his longest of the day. Two plays later, Carey connected with BU sophomore Kyle Fisher (Denver, Cocalico) for a 32-yard touchdown pass, putting Bloomsburg on top, 10-3.

On the first play of the ensuing possession, ESU's Marshall threw an interception to BU junior Vince Browning (Harrisburg, Central Dauphin). Looking to capitalize on the turnover, Carey went to the air but completed to his second Warrior of the day, as ESU's David Castillo came down with the pick. Instead of running out the clock, East Stroudsburg tried unsuccessfully to throw it deep, and the Huskies led by a touchdown at halftime.

The Huskies went to the air again after the break, but one play into the half, Carey was picked for a third time, falling victim to the hands of Zechariah Runkle, who returned the throw 26 yards, putting the Warriors on the BU 22-yard line. The Bloomsburg defense was impenetrable again, and ESU settled for a 33-yard field goal to narrow the BU lead to 10-6.

Bloomsburg responded with a 10-play, 68-yard drive highlighted by a 21-yard boot by D. Fisher, making it a 13-6 game.

East Stroudsburg's woes continued as receiver Eric Deery fumbled on ESU's 15-yard line, allowing Bloomsburg captain Alex Landis (Pine Grove, Pine Grove) to recover for the Huskies. Despite being unable to progress for a first down, BU extended its lead with a 30-yard field goal from D. Fisher, pulling away 16-6.

The Warriors were held to yet another three-and-out on their next possession; the Huskies' defense would accomplish the feat five times total in the game. A pair of pass-interference calls and another 42-yard breakout by Quiteh put Bloomsburg close enough for Carey to complete a three-yard touchdown toss to senior Cory Stiger (Williamsport, Loyalsock Twp.), breaking open the game at 23-6.

The Warriors' mistakes continued in the fourth quarter, when a BU punt was muffed allowing sophomore Dan Haverstock (York, West York) to recover for the Huskies. Dan Fisher soon connected on his fourth field goal of the game from 41 yards, giving the Maroon and Gold 16 unanswered points.

East Stroudsburg partially redressed its previous mistakes by assembling its longest drive of the day, going 60 yards over eight plays to score off a Marshall pass to senior Jeff Giglio with nine seconds to play. The Warriors' on-side kick failed, and time expired with Bloomsburg doubling-up its opponent, 26-13.

Quiteh's season-high 246 yards comprised more than three quarters of BU's total offense. With 918 yards over five games, his average of 183.6 yards/game is expected to keep the reigning national rushing leader atop the Division II rankings. Carey completed only six of 21 attempts, throwing three picks but managing to connect for two touchdowns. ESU's Marshall was successful on 20 of 35 attempts, racking up 209 yards while tossing one touchdown and one interception.

The Bloomsburg defense held the Warriors offense to 219 yards with only ten net yards coming on the ground. BU's Marcus Zimmerman (Lititz, Manheim Central) had a team-high seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. ESU's Matt Freed posted an impressive game-high of 17 tackles, with 1.5 for loss and one sack.

In what will be his 200th game at the helm of the Bloomsburg program, Head Coach Danny Hale takes his team to face Cheyney next weekend. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 9. East Stroudsburg will return home to face Kutztown on the same day at 2 p.m.