Football | 9/3/2026 12:01:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Bloomsburg football team opens the 2026 season Thursday night when the Huskies travel to Fairmont, W.Va., to face Fairmont State at Duvall-Rosier Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

The matchup marks the fourth consecutive season the Huskies and Falcons have met early in the schedule. Bloomsburg enters the season with an experienced defensive unit and several proven offensive playmakers as the Huskies begin their seventh season under head coach Frank Sheptock.

Fairmont State enters Thursday's game 0-1 after opening its season with a 43-20 loss at Division I Dayton on Saturday. The Falcons will be playing their home opener against the Huskies.
 

BLOOMSBURG AT FAIRMONT STATE

Thursday, Sept. 3 | 6 p.m.
Duvall-Rosier Field | Fairmont, W.Va.
Video: MountainEast.tv
Live Stats: Fairmont State Athletics
Radio: 106.5 Bigfoot Country

THE MATCHUP

Bloomsburg begins 2026 with 21 returning starters, including 10 on defense and seven of its top eight tacklers from last season. The returning defensive unit accounted for 366 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 2025.

The Huskies will feature a different look offensively following the graduation of quarterback KJ Riley and receivers Jerry Griffen-Batchler (Norristown, Pa./Germantown Academy) and Gabe Brower (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley). The trio combined for more than 4,600 yards of total offense and 59 touchdowns last season. Bloomsburg returns several proven pieces, however, led by running backs Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) and Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) and receiver Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area).

Clancy enters his sophomore season after being named the 2025 PSAC East Freshman of the Year and earning Second Team All-PSAC East honors. He rushed for a team-high 633 yards and four touchdowns during his freshman campaign.

Zimmerman produced 929 all-purpose yards last season, including 598 kickoff return yards, while Wolfe returns as the Huskies' leading receiver after catching 42 passes for 427 yards and three touchdowns.

SCOUTING FAIRMONT STATE

Fairmont State enters Thursday's home opener at 0-1 after falling to Dayton, 43-20, on Saturday at Welcome Stadium.

Dayton led 7-0 after the first quarter before scoring 31 points in the second to take a 38-0 advantage into halftime. Fairmont State responded with 20 second-half points, including 13 in the fourth quarter.

The Falcons finished with 344 total yards against Dayton, including 180 rushing yards and 164 passing yards. Fairmont State recorded 17 first downs but was hurt by four turnovers. The Falcons converted just 2-of-14 third-down opportunities.

Quarterback Nino Marzullo started the game and completed seven passes for 53 yards but was intercepted four times. Deven Sisler provided a spark off the bench, completing 6-of-9 passes for 111 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Running back Joshua Jones led the Falcons offensively with 108 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. Jones broke through for a 26-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.
Ralo Wesley led Fairmont State with 44 receiving yards, while Chico Thomas Jr. caught two passes for 35 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown from Sisler. Gage Michael added a 10-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, Jeffery Polk led Fairmont State with 14 tackles and a half tackle for loss. Gavin Smith recorded five tackles and intercepted Dayton quarterback Luke Pennington in the third quarter.
The Falcons were selected third in the Mountain East Conference preseason coaches' poll after finishing 6-5 in 2025.

LAST TIME AGAINST FAIRMONT STATE

Bloomsburg and Fairmont State played one of the Huskies' most dramatic games of the 2025 season in last year's opener.

The Falcons earned a 41-40 overtime victory at Duvall-Rosier Field. Bloomsburg went on to finish the season 3-8 overall, while Fairmont State finished 6-5.

The teams have split the last two meetings, with Bloomsburg earning a 35-7 victory at home in 2024 before Fairmont State responded with the overtime win last season.

CLANCY'S ENCORE

Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) enters 2026 as one of Bloomsburg's top returning offensive weapons.

Clancy rushed 145 times for 633 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman. His season included a career-high 113 rushing yards on 23 carries against Lock Haven and a career-long 34-yard run at Millersville.
His freshman performance earned him PSAC East Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-PSAC East recognition.

BUILDING A NEW OFFENSE

Bloomsburg will have a new primary quarterback in 2026 following the graduation of Riley.

Riley finished his senior season with 2,568 passing yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 461 yards and seven scores. Griffen-Batchler and Brower combined for 108 receptions, 1,651 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns.
The Huskies do not enter the season without proven production, however. Clancy anchors the backfield, Zimmerman gives Bloomsburg versatility at running back, slot and return specialist, and Wolfe becomes the leading returning option in the receiving corps.

The current quarterback room includes Cowan Ruhland (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove Area), Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion), Donovan Gingrich (Sinking Springs, Pa./Conrad Weiser), Thomas Sprague (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) and Wyatt Brosious (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg).

IN THE TRENCHES

The offensive line will be an important foundation for Bloomsburg's new-look offense.

The Huskies allowed just 10 sacks during the 2025 season while producing 4,231 yards of total offense. Bloomsburg rushed for 1,663 yards and 18 touchdowns and averaged 384.6 yards of total offense per game.

The returning group includes experienced linemen Jake Bobbin (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain), Jake Simoson (Harveys Lake, Pa./Lake Lehman), Colin Higgins (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) and Justin Bateman (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby). Bateman gained valuable experience immediately during his freshman season and enters 2026 as one of several returning pieces along the front.

The experience up front should be especially valuable while Bloomsburg breaks in a new starting quarterback and replaces two of its most productive receivers from last season.

WOLFE LEADS THE RECEIVING CORPS

Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) enters the season as Bloomsburg's leading returning receiver.

Wolfe caught 42 passes for 427 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. He also contributed as a runner, carrying 22 times for 92 yards and a touchdown.

His ability to line up at multiple spots gives the Huskies an experienced skill-position option as the receiving corps takes on expanded roles following the departures of Griffen-Batchler and Brower.

VETERAN DEFENSE SETS THE TONE

Experience on defense is one of Bloomsburg's primary strengths entering the season.

The Huskies return 10 defensive starters, including leading tackler Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen). Thompson finished last season with 72 tackles and gives defensive coordinator Deon Henry Sr. an experienced leader in the middle of the defense.

Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) returns after developing into one of Bloomsburg's most disruptive defenders. Booker recorded 61 tackles, a team-high 12 tackles for loss and three sacks last season.
Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) also provides experience in the front seven after finishing with 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) recorded 36 tackles and two sacks despite appearing in only four games.

EXPERIENCE IN THE SECONDARY

Bloomsburg returns veteran production throughout the secondary.

Idriz Ahmetovic (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) finished 2025 with 65 tackles and an interception, Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) recorded 53 tackles and five pass breakups and Tyler Frey (York, Pa./Central York) added 49 tackles and an interception.
The trio combined for 167 tackles last season and gives Henry an experienced back end behind the Huskies' veteran front seven.

BY THE NUMBERS

4,231 – Total yards of offense by Bloomsburg in 2025.
1,663 – Rushing yards by the Huskies last season.
2,568 – Passing yards in 2025.
44 – Total touchdowns scored by Bloomsburg.
52% – Third-down conversion rate.
73% – Fourth-down conversion rate.
89% – Red-zone scoring percentage.
10 – Sacks allowed by Bloomsburg's offensive line.
21 – Returning starters for the Huskies entering 2026.
10 – Returning defensive starters.

FAIRMONT STATE BY THE NUMBERS – WEEK 1

43-20 – Dayton's final margin over Fairmont State.
344 – Total yards by the Falcons.
180 – Rushing yards.
164 – Passing yards.
108 – Rushing yards by Joshua Jones on 11 carries.
111 – Passing yards by reserve quarterback Deven Sisler.
4 – Fairmont State turnovers.
14 – Tackles by Jeffery Polk.
2-for-14 – Fairmont State's third-down conversion mark.

SHEPTOCK ENTERS YEAR SEVEN

Frank Sheptock begins his seventh season leading his alma mater.
The former Bloomsburg standout linebacker enters the season with a veteran roster led by one of the most experienced defensive groups of his tenure.
The Huskies also feature several familiar faces on the coaching staff. Henry returned to Bloomsburg during the offseason as defensive coordinator, while Riley moved directly from quarterback to the coaching staff as the Huskies' quarterbacks coach. Former slot receiver Peyton Persing also joined the staff as the slots coach.

LOOKING AHEAD

Following Thursday's opener, Bloomsburg returns to Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium for its home opener against Edinboro on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.

The Huskies open PSAC East play Sept. 26 at home against Shippensburg. Bloomsburg's home schedule also includes East Stroudsburg on Oct. 10, Millersville on Oct. 24 and West Chester on Oct. 31.