Bloomsburg Athletics

FAIRMONT, W.Va. - The Bloomsburg football team forced three turnovers, recorded six sacks and rushed for 219 yards as the Huskies opened the 2026 season with a commanding 35-13 victory over Fairmont State on Thursday night at Duvall-Rosier Field.

Bloomsburg (1-0) held the Falcons (0-2) to 175 yards of offense, including just 63 on the ground. The Huskies scored 35 of the game's next 38 points after Fairmont State took an early 3-0 lead, pulling away with 21 unanswered points in the second half. Bloomsburg finished with a 328-175 advantage in total offense and did not commit a turnover.

Sophomore Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) picked up right where he left off from his Freshman of the Year season last year and led the Huskies with a career-best 135 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. Cowan Ruhland (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove Area) added 55 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) ran for 34 yards and a score. Etheridge completed 4 of 5 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown, and Wolfe finished with three receptions for a career-high 95 yards and a score.

After the Falcons converted a short field into a 40-yard field goal, Bloomsburg answered with a four-play, 61-yard touchdown drive. Etheridge connected with Wolfe for 48 yards to the Fairmont State 2-yard line before Etheridge scored on a 1-yard run, giving the Huskies a 7-3 lead with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter.

The defense quickly created another scoring opportunity. Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) intercepted Nino Marzullo on the opening play of the second quarter and returned the ball to the Fairmont State 49. Wolfe ran for 19 yards on the next snap before catching a 30-yard touchdown pass from Etheridge, extending Bloomsburg's advantage to 14-3 just 49 seconds after the turnover.

Fairmont State cut the margin to 14-6 with a 33-yard field goal with 6:19 to play in the half, but the Huskies' defense did not allow another score until the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. Bloomsburg limited the Falcons to 78 yards of offense over the second and third quarters while repeatedly pressuring both Fairmont State quarterbacks.

Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) helped break the game open midway through the third quarter when he sacked Deven Sisler and forced a fumble that Dominic Fetterolf recovered at the Fairmont State 38. Two plays later, Cowan Ruhland (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove Area) raced 35 yards for his longest touchdown run as a Husky to push the lead to 21-6.

The Huskies struck again following a Fairmont State punt. A pair of penalties against the Falcons moved Bloomsburg to the 30-yard line, and Clancy capped the five-play drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. Clancy added a 28-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter, one play after the defense stopped Fairmont State on fourth down, to give Bloomsburg a 35-6 advantage.

Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) and Tyler Frey (York, Pa./Central York) paced the defense with eight tackles apiece. Booker recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Donohue added 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Turner and Dylan Clair (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College HS) each intercepted a pass as Bloomsburg finished plus-three in turnover margin.

The victory gave the Huskies their second win over Fairmont State in the past three meetings and moved them to 1-0 overall to start the season.

Bloomsburg returns home Saturday, Sept. 12, to host Edinboro at 2:00 p.m. at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
135 – Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) rushed for a career-high 135 yards on 20 carries, surpassing his previous best of 113 yards against Lock Haven last season. Clancy also scored a career-high two touchdowns and averaged 6.8 yards per carry.

112 – Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) produced a career-high 112 yards from scrimmage. Wolfe set a career high with 95 receiving yards on three catches and added 17 rushing yards. His 30-yard touchdown reception gave Bloomsburg a 14-3 lead.

140 – Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) led the Huskies with 140 all-purpose yards, including 69 yards on four punt returns and 69 yards on two kickoff returns. His punt-return yardage and number of punt returns were both career highs.

6 – The Bloomsburg defense recorded six sacks for a loss of 35 yards. The Huskies also totaled 10 tackles for loss and held Fairmont State to 63 rushing yards on 38 attempts, an average of 1.7 yards per carry.

2.5 – Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) established career highs with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Booker tied for the team lead with eight tackles, including five solo stops.

2.5 – Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) also posted a career-high 2.5 sacks and a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. He added a forced fumble during the Huskies' disruptive defensive performance.

3 – Bloomsburg forced three turnovers. Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) and Dylan Clair (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College HS) each recorded an interception, while Dominic Fetterolf recovered a fumble. The Huskies converted Turner's interception into a touchdown two plays later.

219 – The Huskies rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns. Clancy led the attack, while Cowan Ruhland (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove Area) added 55 yards and a 35-yard touchdown and Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) finished with 34 yards and a score. 

175 – Bloomsburg limited Fairmont State to 175 yards of total offense and 2.8 yards per play. The Fighting Falcons managed just 112 passing yards and did not throw a touchdown.

22 – The Huskies scored 22 unanswered points after Fairmont State took a 3-0 lead, building a 28-6 advantage before the end of the third quarter.

5-for-5 – Peter Kashynski (Falls Church, Va./Justice) converted all five of his extra-point attempts in his Bloomsburg debut.