D-Line vs. Northwood
Bryce Dolak

Football Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon Opens PSAC Crossover Action with 24-7 Loss at East Stroudsburg

THE GAME FACTS
Final Score: East Stroudsburg 24, Gannon 7
Records: Gannon (0-2, 0-0 PSAC West) I East Stroudsburg (3-0, 0-0 PSAC West)
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Location: Erie, Pa. I Gregory-Douds Field at Eiler-Martin Stadium
 
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Gannon dropped to 0-2 on the season with a 24-7 loss at East Stroudsburg on Saturday night. The Warriors improved to 3-0 after finishing at 9-3 and claiming a spot in the NCAA Division II Playoffs last year.

The ESU game was the first of three PSAC crossover games the Golden Knights will play in 2024. Next week Gannon hosts Kutztown, the preseason favorite in the Eastern Division and the defending PSAC champion. The Golden Bears finished at 12-3 a year ago, reaching the NCAA Division II semifinals.

Saturday's game found the Golden Knights putting together an impressive drive to start the game and take an early 7-0 lead. But the rest of the night they were unable to complete drives despite driving into ESU territory six more times.

The Gannon defense held the Warriors at bay until the second quarter when they scored ten points to take a 10-7 halftime lead. The Warriors ground game eventually wore the Golden Knights down and they added two more touchdowns in the third quarter.

East Stroudsburg used the ground game to accumulate over 37 minutes in time of possession and 198 yards on the ground. After the opening drive Gannon struggled to run the ball against a stout ESU defense that was limiting opponents to just 51.0 ypg. on the ground. The Gannon offensive line held the Warriors to just one sack after recording six the first two games.  
  
Gannon plays its second of three PSAC crossover games with Kutztown visiting McConnell Family Stadium on Saturday, September 21. The Golden Bears are off to a 2-0 following Saturday's 26-0 triumph over Edinboro. They are the defending PSAC champions and finished at 12-3 a year ago, reaching the NCAA Division II semifinals.
 
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Box Score: Click Here

HOW IT HAPPENED
Gannon took its first lead of the season following the opening kickoff. The Golden Knights drove 65 yards in 10 plays and ate up over six minutes on the clock. David Morgan Jr. (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) keyed the drive, carrying five times for 40 yards, including a 23-yard burst to the ESU 8. Two more carries and Morgan was in the end zone on a four-yard touchdown run, his first of the season. Bryson Costa's (Windber, Pa./Windber Area) extra point made it 7-0 with 8:49 left in the first quarter.

Gannon's second possession began with a 53-yard pass from Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) to Michael Watkins III (Pompano Beach, Fla./American Heritage School), giving the Golden Knights a first down at the ESU 25. Gannon would reach the 18 but turned the ball over on downs.

East Stroudsburg tied the game at 7-7 midway through the second quarter following a nine-play, 59-yard drive. I occurred after Gannon again was unable to convert on fourth down inside ESU territory. The scoring play was a four-yard pass from Sean McTaggart to fullback Matt Frame with 6:44 left in the half.

The Warriors claimed a 10-7 lead on their next possession. They drove 51 yards in 12 plays, converting once on third down and once on fourth down. The Gannon defense stopped ESU on three plays inside the red zone before Ty Quintois came in and kicked a 30-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining.

East Stroudsburg scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to take control. They opened the half with an 85-yard march that took almost seven minutes on the clock. They converted three times on third down, the last resulting in a tackle-breaking 27-yard td run by Tahir Mills with 8:13 remaining in the quarter.   

Following a three-and-out for the Golden Knights East Stroudsburg followed with another long scoring drive, this one covering 79 yards and taking up 5 minutes, 39 seconds. Tyriq Lewis scored on a two-yard run with 1:01 left in the third quarter.

Gannon drove into ESU territory on both of its fourth quarter possessions but was unable to put any points on the board. The first ended at the ESU 35 on a fumble, the lone turnover in the game.

The next possession saw Gannon drive 75 yards on 13 plays, with Gannon converting twice on third down. The drive reached the ESU 6 before it stalled. Costa's first career field goal attempt from 23 yards out was no good.
     
BY THE NUMBERS
Gannon ended the night with 281 yards, most of that coming through the air. That Golden Knights had 206 yards passing and 75 yards rushing. A balanced East Stroudsburg attacked gained 198 yards rushing and 188 passing for 386 total yards.

East Stroudsburg was able to control the game with its ground game and ended with 37 minutes, 9 seconds in time of possession while holding Gannon to 22:51. Gannon was 3-of-9 on 3rd down conversions and 0-of-2 on 4th down while ESU was 8-of-14 and 1-of-2, respectively.

After struggling with penalties in the season opener against Northwood the Golden Knights made a huge improvement in week number two. The Golden Knights were whistled for just two penalties for 12 yards.

David Morgan Jr. (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) paced the ground game with 52 yards on nine carries. He accounted for Gannon's touchdown on a four-yard run. Braxton Todd (Martinsburg, W. Va./Martinsburg) made his 2024 debut after missing the Northwood game. Todd finished with 29 yards on seven carries.

Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) had his second straight 200-yard passing effort. The redshirt freshman completed 17-of-27 passes for 206 yards. Donell 'Tank" Mason was once again his favorite target with five receptions for 39 yards. Michael Watkins III (Pompano Beach, Fla./American Heritage School) added three catches for 72 yards with Napoleon Harris (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor Academy) (46 yards) and Armani Bailey (Lincoln, Pa./Woodland Hills) (29 yards) also hauling in three passes.

Trey Baker (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) led the Gannon defense with 10 tackles, including a pair for losses. It was the redshirt senior linebacker's second straight game with 10 tackles. Defensive back Ty Tiggs (Cleveland, Ohio/Mayfield) added a career-high eight tackles.

The Gannon defense recorded two sacks, with Charles Calhoun (Euclid, Ohio/St. Edward) receiving credit for 1.5 sacks. The redshirt junior defensive lineman was second on the team with 6.5 sacks a year ago.

Tyriq Lewis paced East Stroudsburg's rushing game with 122 yards on 19 carries. Tahir Mills added 70 yards on 14 rushes. Sean McTaggart completed 18-of-25 passes for 188 yards.  John Siggins caught 5 passes for 66 yards.

THE RECORD BOOK
Donell "Tank" Mason is climbing up the career receiving charts after just two years and two games. The junior moved up two spots to 14th in career receptions with 79 and has moved into 13th place in career receiving yards after topping 1,000 yards for his career. He now has 1,166 career yards receiving.

UP NEXT
Gannon plays its second of three PSAC crossover games with Kutztown visiting McConnell Family Stadium on Saturday, September 21. The Golden Bears are off to a 2-0 start following Saturday's 26-0 triumph over Edinboro. They are the defending PSAC champions and finished at 12-3 a year ago, reaching the NCAA Division II semifinals.

 
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Players Mentioned

Trey Baker

#50 Trey Baker

LB
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Charles Calhoun

#7 Charles Calhoun

DL
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
David Morgan Jr.

#7 David Morgan Jr.

RB
5' 10"
Graduate Student
Ty Tiggs

#2 Ty Tiggs

DB
6' 0"
Graduate Student
Braxton Todd

#28 Braxton Todd

RB
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
Jayden Whitaker

#9 Jayden Whitaker

QB
6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
Armani Bailey

#1 Armani Bailey

WR
5' 8"
Senior
Napoleon Harris

#4 Napoleon Harris

WR
6' 1"
Graduate Student
Michael Watkins III

#6 Michael Watkins III

WR
5' 10"
Senior
Bryson Costa

#33 Bryson Costa

PK
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Trey Baker

#50 Trey Baker

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
LB
Charles Calhoun

#7 Charles Calhoun

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
DL
David Morgan Jr.

#7 David Morgan Jr.

5' 10"
Graduate Student
RB
Ty Tiggs

#2 Ty Tiggs

6' 0"
Graduate Student
DB
Braxton Todd

#28 Braxton Todd

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Business
RB
Jayden Whitaker

#9 Jayden Whitaker

6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
QB
Armani Bailey

#1 Armani Bailey

5' 8"
Senior
WR
Napoleon Harris

#4 Napoleon Harris

6' 1"
Graduate Student
WR
Michael Watkins III

#6 Michael Watkins III

5' 10"
Senior
WR
Bryson Costa

#33 Bryson Costa

6' 0"
Freshman
PK