Box Score Box score
Cheyney scored 27 points but came up short falling to the Warriors of East Stroudsburg 59-27.
After the both teams stalled on their opening drive the Wolves Eric Barrow blocked a punt which was scooped up Tom Stewart and returned 38 yards for a touchdown for the first points of the game. The Warriors Brandon Mercer took the ensuing kick-off 94 yards for a touchdown; knotting the game at 7. After the Wolves were forced to punt, ESU took the lead with a 41 yard field by Taylor Groff.
The quarter ended with the Wolves punting however, the Warriors misplayed the punt and the Wolves took over on the East Stroudsburg 21. On the Wolves first play from scrimmage quarterback Blaze Wasserleben found a wide open Khalif Dandy for the easy score. However the PAT blocked and returned by ESU’s Darius Jackson for a defensive PAT. The score gave the Wolves a 13-12 lead.
After the teams traded punts the Warriors took over on their own 28. Two plays later the Warriors connected on a 49 yard pass play to take a 19-13 lead. On their next possession the Wolves Tyler Wilkinson faked a punt and scrambled 10 yards for a Cheyney first down. However, three plays later a Wasserleben pass was intercepted and returned 54 yards for a touchdown extending the lead to 26-13.
ESU capitalized on another Cheyney turnover to make the 33-13. On the Wolves next possession, the coaching staff turned to freshman signal caller Leroy Stanford. However, on the second play from scrimmage the snap went over his head into the end-zone where Stanford fell on it for the safety. The Wolves got back on the scoreboard late in the quarter after Shannon Burch picked up a fumble and returned it 63 yards to the ESU 22. Five plays later, Wasserleben found Nahum Purdie in the end-zone on a 23 yard strike to make the score 35-20. A 39 yard field goal by ESU’s Groff concluded the scoring in the first half giving the Warriors a 38-20 lead as the teams headed to the locker room.
Wasserleben paced the Wolves throwing the ball for 190 yards. He was 11-20 with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Justin Watkins and Marquis Garcia Palmer each caught three passes for 99 and 30 yards receptively. Cheyney struggled running the ball. The Wolves were credited with 66 net yards rushing. Watkins accounted for 51 of them. Isaiah Fleming and Khalil Neal recorded 10 tackles apiece.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. Cheyney’s score came on a Wasserleben 92 yard pass and catch with Justin Watkins. In the fourth quarter the Warriors tacked on two more touchdowns to preserve the win.
Next week the Wolves return home to face the Lakers of Mercyhurst College. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 pm.
