Football | 10/19/2017 1:45:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG (5-2, 3-1 PSAC East) at EAST STROUDSBURG (2-5, 1-3 PSAC East)
Saturday, October 21, 2017 (4:06 PM)
Eiler-Martin Stadium - East Stroudsburg, Pa.

GAME NOTES
Bloomsburg Game Notes
East Stroudsburg Game Notes
PSAC Week 8 Notes

GAME COVERAGE
Live Radio: WBUQ (91.1 FM)
Live Radio Stream: Click Here
Live Video Stream: ESPN 3 Click Here
Live TV Coverage: Check Availability
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @GoBUHuskies

RELATED LINKS
Bloomsburg - Schedule | Roster | Statistics
East Stroudsburg - Schedule | Roster | Statistics

SERIES HISTORY
East Stroudsburg leads the all-time series, 44-42-2
Streak: Bloomsburg 1W

Last Meeting: October 22, 2016 at Bloomsburg (Bloomsburg 35, East Stroudsburg 14)
First Meeting: 1907 at Bloomsburg (East Stroudsburg 5, Bloomsburg 4)
Largest Bloomsburg Win: 1913 (41-0)
Largest East Stroudsburg Win: November 7, 1964 at East Stroudsburg (69-0)

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
- The game with East Stroudsburg is the 89th in the series between the two schools, dating back to the first meeting 110 years ago in 1907. Bloomsburg has a 42-44-2 record in the series, with a mark of 22-22-1 at home, 20-20-1 on the road, and 0-2 at a neutral site. The Huskies have a record of 20-4 with the Warriors since 1994, including 10-1 at East Stroudsburg.

- After squaring off against the top scoring team in the PSAC last week (West Chester), the Huskies will battle East Stroudsburg, which has scored the fewest points in the conference this season. The Warriors have scored just 96 points all season (13.7 per game) and 33 of those came during a win at Cheyney on September 30.

- The game could come down to who does the most damage when getting inside the redzone. Bloomsburg has scored on 25 of its 27 red zone trips this season (93%) and, on 20 of those occasions, the Huskies have reached the endzone (74%). Bloomsburg is second in the PSAC and 14th in the country in red zone offense. Meanwhile, East Stroudsburg has been in the red zone 19 times and have come away with points only 12 times (63%). In fact, the Warriors have only scored six touchdowns in their 19 red zone trips (32%). East Stroudsburg is 14th in the PSAC in red zone offense.

- Bloomsburg enters the 2017 season having posted a winning record for 18 consecutive years dating back to a 5-6 mark in 1998. The Huskies have recorded a winning record in 22 of the last 23 seasons.

- The Huskies have scored at least one point in 169 consecutive games and have recorded at least one touchdown in 124 straight contests. On the road, the Huskies have scored at least one point in 112 straight and have reached double figures in 61 consecutive games.

LAST WEEK
Redshirt senior quarterback Chris Palubinsky (Ringtown, Pa./Shenandoah Valley) scored on a one-yard keeper with 1:39 left in regulation and seniors Eric Schwartz (York, Pa./Central York) and Darnell Baldwin (Philadelphia, Pa./Lankenau) came up with interceptions on the final two drives of the game as Bloomsburg stunned West Chester, 20-19, in front of nearly 3,700 fans at John A. Farrell Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Bloomsburg outgained West Chester, 376-356, but, more importantly, allowed only 19 points to a Golden Rams' team that came in averaging 42.3 points per game - tops in the PSAC and ninth in the country. Redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) led the Huskies with a career-high 121 yards rushing on 21 carries - his third 100-yard effort of the season. Redshirt sophomore Alex Gooden (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara), meanwhile, added 87 yards and a score on only ten carries. Defensively, redshirt junior Nate Monroe (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) led the way with seven tackles and a blocked extra point late in the second quarter which proved to be the difference.

Kutztown scored three third-quarter touchdowns to pull away from a 13-6 lead en route to a 41-9 win over East Stroudsburg on Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium. ESU trailed just 3-0 late in the first half before Kutztown scored 10 points in the final minute before intermission for a 13-0 halftime lead. Redshirt junior free safety Billy Inge III scored a 35-yard touchdown on a forced fumble and recovery on the first offensive play of the second half to get the Warriors within 13-6, but Kutztown scored touchdowns on its final four possessions to close the game. Redshirt junior tailback Jaymar Anderson had 21 carries for 81 yards and senior wide receiver Tim Wilson had five catches for 82 yards to lead the Warriors.

MONROE EARNS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Redshirt junior linebacker Nate Monroe (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts during Saturday's 20-19 victory at West Chester. It marks the first time in his collegiate career that he has been honored with a weekly accolade from the conference and he became the fourth different Huskies' player to earn a weekly honor this season. Monroe blocked an extra point attempt late in the second quarter which proved to be the difference as the Huskies earned a one-point victory on the road at West Chester to knock the Golden Rams from the ranks of the unbeaten in divisional play on Saturday. Monroe was also involved in a tackle of West Chester quarterback Paul Dooley short of the goal line on a two-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter. That play kept the Golden Rams' lead at five points and enabled the Huskies to pick up the go-ahead score with 1:39 left in regulation. Monroe also led the Huskies with seven total tackles and had a half a tackle for a loss during the win.

WHAT A FINISH
After the Golden Rams took a 19-14 lead with 7:39 left on a 20-yard touchdown run by Jarel Elder, the Huskies came up with, arguably, the drive of the game to reclaim the lead. After a 26-yard kickoff return from freshman Chris Monaco (Pocono Pines, Pa./Pocono Mountain West), Bloomsburg went 65 yards on 12 plays in a possession that took six minutes off the clock, culminating with Palubinsky's one-yard touchdown plunge with 1:39 left in regulation. During the drive, the Huskies converted a pair of fourth downs - the first on a one-yard keeper by Palubinsky on fourth-and-one from the West Chester 40 and the latter coming on a pass interference call against the Golden Rams on a fourth-and-nine from the 26. Three plays later, Palubinsky was in the endzone to give the Huskies a 20-19 advantage. Bloomsburg went for two but Palubinsky's pass was jarred loose out of the hands of sophomore Ethan Price (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) and fell incomplete. On the ensuing possession, West Chester quarterback Paul Dooley was intercepted by Schwartz on the second play from scrimmage to give the Huskies the ball back with 1:27 left. Bloomsburg, however, went three-and-out to give the Golden Rams one final opportunity with 16 seconds remaining. Dooley hit Marcus Sydnor down the left sideline for a 38-yard gain to the West Chester 46, setting up one final heave towards the endzone with five seconds left. But, an excellent pass rush by the Huskies forced Dooley's throw a little short of the goal line and Baldwin picked off the pass at the 12-yard line to seal the victory.

SECONDARY TO NONE
Bloomsburg's defense picked off West Chester quarterback Paul Dooley three times during Saturday's win - the team had entered the contest with only three interceptions through the first six games of the season. Freshman Jordan Villafane (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) and senior Darnell Baldwin (Philadelphia, Pa./Lankenau) each collected their first career interceptions while senior Eric Schwartz (York, Pa./Central York) nabbed his second pick of the year. The Huskies limited Dooley to just 8-of-21 passing for 106 yards - the Golden Rams had averaged just over 260 passing yards per game prior to Saturday.

ANOTHER QUITEH LEADS THEM
Redshirt sophomore Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) rushed for a career-high 121 yards during Saturday's 20-19 win at West Chester. It was his third 100-yard game of the season - he picked up his first collegiate 100-yard rushing effort as he carried the ball 29 times for 118 yards in the victory at Clarion on September 9 and then added his second career 100-yard game with 108 yards and two scores against Cheyney. Through seven games this season, Quiteh leads the Huskies with 620 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 137 carries. He ranks sixth in the PSAC in rushing yards per game (88.6) and he has led the Huskies in rushing in six of the first seven games. Quiteh is the younger brother of Bloomsburg's - and the PSAC's - all-time leading rusher, Franklyn Quiteh who compiled 7,523 rushing yards from 2010-13. Franklyn won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the nation's top player in Division II during his senior season of 2013 after rushing for 2,195 yards and 29 scores. He was a three-time Harlon Hill finalist.

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES
Bloomsburg struggled to get anything going offensively during its 23-7 loss to Kutztown two Saturdays ago. The Huskies totaled just 166 yards of offense and seven first downs in the 16-point loss - the fewest yards by a Bloomsburg team in a game since recording only 136 yards of offense in a 21-0 loss to Shippensburg on September 13, 2003. Thanks to a forced fumble, and recovery, by senior Scott Beltz (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl) which led to Chris Palubinsky (Ringtown, Pa./Shenandoah Valley)'s one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, the Huskies did keep their consecutive point-scoring streak intact. Bloomsburg was only on Kutztown's half of the field three times all afternoon and one of those came on Beltz's fumble recovery at the one-yard line.

GOING STREAKING
Bloomsburg's victory over Cheyney earlier this season marked the 28th consecutive win over the Wolves in the all-time series. Bloomsburg has not lost to Cheyney since a 31-28 setback, in Bloomsburg, on October 14, 1989. The winning streak represents a school-record against a single opponent. Meanwhile, with the win the following week at Millersville, the Huskies have now won 18 consecutive contests against the Marauders dating back to a 31-21 loss at home during the 1999 campaign.

GROUND GAME
The Huskies rushed for a season-high 277 yards in the win over Cheyney and then added 269 yards on the ground in the win over Millersville before struggling last Saturday against Kutztown. Bloomsburg totaled only 332 total yards on the ground during the first three contests of the season (110.7 per game) but has combined to rush for 842 yards (210.5 per game) in the last four contests. With 200-plus rushing yards in three of the last four games, Bloomsburg has now totaled at least 200 rushing yards in a game 33 times in 54 career games under head coach Paul Darragh. Bloomsburg is 30-3 in those contests.

THROUGH THE AIR
Bloomsburg is averaging only 178.6 passing yards per game - 13th fewest in the conference. Only Clarion (178.3), East Stroudsburg (174.1) and Lock Haven (148.6) average fewer than the Huskies. However, the duo of redshirt sophomore Michael Allen (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) and redshirt sophomore Jay Popson (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) have emerged as one of the top receiving tandoms in the conference. Allen leads in both receptions (32) and yards (403) while Popson has hauled in 23 passes for 382 yards. The duo have combined for 55 of the team's 96 receptions (57.3%) and 785 of the team's 1,250 receiving yards (62.8%). Popson caught seven passes for 121 yards in the season opener against Stonehill - the first time a Bloomsburg receiver eclipsed 100 yards receiving yards in a game since Connor Gades hauled in 102 yards against Lock Haven on November 7, 2015. Meanwhile, Allen caught seven passes for a career-high 91 yards against Kutztown. As a team, the Huskies only had 10 catches for 104 yards against the Golden Bears.

WORKING AHEAD
The Huskies have been tremendous when scoring first and while working with a lead under head coach Paul Darragh. This season, the Huskies are 4-0 when scoring first to improve to 26-2 since Darragh took over in 2013. Meanwhile, during the Darragh era, the Huskies are 25-1 when leading after one quarter, 31-1 when leading at halftime, and 33-2 when leading after three quarters.

GETTING OFF THE FIELD
The Huskies enter Saturday's contest having allowed only 34 first downs on 98 opponent third-down opportunities (34.7%) through the first six games of the season. That figure is second in the PSAC. However, the Huskies have allowed opponents to convert 7-of-12 chances on fourth downs (58.3%). That figure is 15th in the conference and 141st in the country.
 
GARY EARNS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Redshirt junior Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts during the Huskies' 48-19 victory over Cheyney. Gary, the PSAC leader in sacks a season ago, was up to his old tricks on Saturday as he finished the day with five total tackles, four tackles for a loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry. Gary's three sacks tied a career high and his four tackles for a loss established a new career best. His second sack of the game also proved to be his second forced fumble of the season and led to a 51-yard fumble return for a touchdown by freshman Aaron Trumino (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley).

SACK ATTACK
Bloomsburg recorded a season-high six sacks against Cheyney and has now recorded 16 sacks over the last five games after collecting only two through the first two weeks. Bloomsburg is tied for third with 18 sacks and trails only Shippensburg (23) and West Chester (19) on the season. Individually, redshirt sophomore Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) leads the Huskies with four sacks - tied for fifth in the PSAC - while redshirt junior Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) and senior Scott Beltz (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl) have 3.5 apiece - tied for 11th in the conference.

SCHWARTZ EARNS FIRST WEEKLY AWARD
Senior Eric Schwartz (York, Pa./Central York) was named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Huskies' 27-10 win over Gannon. Schwartz, arguably, had the best game of his collegiate career as he led the Huskies with nine total tackles (seven solo), a sack, and an interception during the Huskies' 17-point win. He was also an integral part in limiting Gannon's offense to only 10 points (34 below Gannon's season average) and 321 yards of total offense (176.5 below Gannon's season average). The nine tackles established a new career-high for Schwartz and the sack was the first of his collegiate career (37 career games). His interception came late in the fourth quarter - at the Bloomsburg 37-yard line - and led to an Abbott field goal with under a minute remaining to put the game out of reach. It was Schwartz' first interception since November 8, 2014 during a victory at Lock Haven.

ABBOTT EARNS WEEKLY HONOR
Redshirt junior placekicker Ryan Abbott (Hagerstown, Md./Saint James School) was named the PSAC East Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the Huskies' 29-20 victory at Clarion. Abbott was a perfect 3-of-3 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points as he helped the Huskies to their first win of the 2017 campaign. It marked a new career-high in field goals made in a game for Abbott – his previous high was two set on two different occasions last season (at Cheyney on September 24 and at IUP on November 12). He connected on a 30-yard field goal late in the first half which, at the time, gave the Huskies a 17-13 lead over the Golden Eagles. His 35-yarder on the Huskies' first drive of the second half tied the game at 20-20 and then his 33-yard boot late in the third quarter gave Bloomsburg the lead for good at 23-20.

FOR OPENERS
The season-opening loss to Stonehill marked just the second time in the last 18 home openers, dating back to the 2000 season, that the Huskies found themselves on the wrong end on the scoreboard. The Skyhawks also earned a victory at Redman Stadium back in 2015. Meanwhile, the 44 points allowed by the Huskies were the most allowed by a Bloomsburg team in a season-opener since a 47-37 setback against New Haven to open the 1999 campaign. It also marked the most given up in a game since a 58-20 loss at Shippensburg in the 2012 NCAA playoffs on November 17, 2012.

CAPTAINS NAMED
Bloomsburg will go with a trio of captains this season - redshirt seniors Aaron Allison (Philadelphia, Pa./Frankford), Scott Beltz (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl), and Eric Schwartz (York, Pa./Central York). Allison, a tight end from Philadelphia, has appeared in 36 games entering the 2017 season and has career 37 catches for 443 yards and five scores. Beltz, a defensive lineman from Pen Argyl, enters the season with 86 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in 32 career contests. Schwartz, a safety from York, enters the season having played in 32 career games and has 60 total tackles and an interception to his credit.

SERVICEMEN
Schwartz spent four years in the service, serving as a lance corporal before promotion to corporal. During his time in the Marines, Schwartz was deployed for nine months in Kunjak, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, where he worked as an infantry machine gunner. Deployed in 2009, he spent his days in a combat position on top of a truck, responsible for tactical employment of a heavy machine gun to provide direct fire in support of his unit. He also served a tour of duty in the Mediterranean Sea with an expeditionary unit. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Alex Findura (Bloomsburg, Pa./Woodland (Ga.)) also served in the United States Marine Corps Infantry for four years. Findura's training and experience led him to become a member of an elite team called the Body Bearers, stationed in Washington D.C.  As a part of the Body Bearers, Findura was tasked with aiding in the funerals of fallen soldiers.

PRESEASON POLL
The Huskies were picked to finish fourth in the PSAC preseason coaches poll released in early August. Bloomsburg finished in a tie for third last year with a 6-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in divisional play. The six victories snapped a streak of 17 straight seasons of seven or more victories but extended the program's streak to 18 straight years of having a winning season. The Huskies have had a winning record in 22 of the last 23 seasons.

JONASSEN TO ENTER BU HALL OF FAME
Former Husky great Eric Jonassen will be inducted into the Bloomsburg University Hall of Fame on October 27 as part of the Hall of Fame Class of 2017. Jonassen is the father of starting center, Seth Jonassen (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley). Eric Jonassen was a dominant offensive lineman for two seasons on the Huskies' football team and earned a number of postseason accolades during his time at Bloomsburg. He was a two-time First Team All-PSAC selection and collected numerous All-American honors including being named Second Team AP All-American in 1990, First Team AP All-American in 1991, and First Team AFCA All-American in 1991. He was also tabbed a First Team Football Gazette All-American twice. After his collegiate career, Jonassen was drafted in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played three seasons in San Diego, participating in Super Bowl XXIX, and then played two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 1997 season. Other members of this year's class are Michele Baylor Kane (women's lacrosse), Kathy Frick (field hockey, women's lacrosse coach), Chuck Laudermilch (women's soccer coach), Ralph Moerschbacher (men's swimming), and Michelle Wolyniec (women's cross country/track and field). The ceremony will take place on Friday, October 27 and then the six individuals will be honored at halftime of Bloomsburg's home game against Lock Haven on Saturday, October 28.

SCOUTING EAST STROUDSBURG
East Stroudsburg enters Saturday's contest sixth in the PSAC East with a 2-5 record (1-3 in conference).  The Warriors have dropped their last two games to Millersville 12-0 and Kutztown 41-9.  East Stroudsburg was a projected fifth place finisher in the East this preseason after posting a 4-7 record a season ago.

The Warriors have been struggling on the offensive side of the ball as they are ranked last in the PSAC in points scored at 96.  A standout, however, in the offense has been running back Jaymar Anderson.  Anderson has carried the ball 138 times for a total of 681 yards, good enough for a 4.9 average placing him fifth in the PSAC.  East Stroudsburg is led in receiving by Tim Wilson who has reeled in 34 receptions for 539 yards and two touchdowns. Marquis Fells has been a sparkplug in the return game for East Stroudsburg posting 343 yards on 14 returns with a long of 43 yards (fifth in PSAC).

Linebacker Dakota Everett, who has recorded 37 tackles this season placing him fifth in the PSAC, leads East Stroudsburg's defense. The Warriors have struggled getting into the backfield ranking 12th in the PSAC with nine sacks. While their defense has been allowing an average of 26.4 points per game, the Warriors have combined for eight interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries. The defense's eight interceptions has them sitting at eighth in the PSAC.

UP NEXT
Bloomsburg will return home to host Lock Haven University next Saturday, October 28, beginning at 2:00 p.m. The Huskies lead the all-time series, 47-39-3, against the Bald Eagles but will be looking to avenge last season's 26-18 loss in Lock Haven. The game will serve as the annual Think Pink game and will also be Hall of Fame Weekend.