All on the line for PSAC rivals
East Stroudsburg, Kutztown ready to square off in battle of undefeated teams
East Stroudsburg University football coach Jim Terwilliger chose the motto “Blood runs thick” for the first year of his program after he was named to succeed legend Denny Douds.
A former all-American and Harlon Hill Trophy winner at ESU under Douds, Terwilliger wanted to maintain the family feel. His recruiting efforts targeted the Lehigh Valley area, which yielded three true freshmen who would start on the offensive line a year after a 2-9 campaign.
The haul has helped the Warriors begin 5-0 heading into Saturday’s 12:05 p.m. showdown at 5-0 Kutztown. ESU’s offense will follow three newbies, pillars on the right side: right tackle Tim Kinney (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) from East Stroudsburg South, right guard Elias Marte (6-3, 325) of Bethlehem Catholic, and center Anthony Capatini (6-4, 285) of Phillipsburg.
The Warriors are rushing and passing for 394 yards per game.
“They were fortunate to get those kids,” said Kutztown coach Jim Clements. “We’re fortunate to get our kids, too. You throw all the grades and ages out the window usually around this time of year. They’re not freshmen anymore.”
The PSAC pundits might have predicted that Kutztown would start the football season 5-0.
Tight seven-point wins at California and Shepherd have the Golden Bears keeping pace with defending league champion West Chester in the East Division. With the entire offensive line returning from a 9-2 squad, along with talented quarterback Collin DiGalbo, Kutztown is averaging 153.6 yards rushing, 289.2 yards passing and three passing touchdowns per game, despite replacing its offensive coordinator.
Those accomplishments were somewhat expected.
But how did East Stroudsburg — 2-9 last year — win its first five games in the post-Douds era? Terwilliger has reignited the potent offense while also coaching a defense that has allowed a paltry 13 points per game.
“Nothing much has changed,” Terwilliger insists after following Douds, who won 264 games over 45 years. “I played for Coach Douds, and we still use a lot of what he used. I wanted to take it one game at a time. I don’t think of [being 5-0] as a surprise. I have a zoom focus week to week. We take one game at a time. It’s been fun.”
Actually, a lot has changed. While Terwilliger retained his father, Mike, on staff — as well as Mike Santella, who
had handled the offensive line when Jimmy played before his stints at Lehigh and Penn — the rest of the staff has undergone sweeping changes.
The Warriors’ new defensive coordinator, Mike Lackey, had been a graduate assistant at ESU before serving in a similar role at Missouri in the Southeastern Conference last year. He’s tinkered and tested and gambled at times. No opponent has scored more than 18 points against his defense.
The fun comes to Kutztown, where the Golden Bears will celebrate Homecoming and a Pink-out for cancer awareness. They know not to overlook their traditional rivals.
Last year heavily favored Kutztown visited ESU on the Warriors’ Homecoming and won by the thin margin of a failed late two-point conversion attempt by the Warriors.
As Terwilliger put his stamp on the 2019 Warriors, he also inserted a new starter at quarterback.
Jake Cirillo, a 6-4, 225pounder from ES South, has been surgical the past two games, completing 78 percent of his throws for 502 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s also rushed for at least 54 yards in four of five games behind the rebuilt line.
In the 63-14 pasting of Lock Haven, Cirillo threw more touchdown passes (5) than incompletions (4).
Redshirt junior running back Davonte Robinson of Dieruff averages another 49 yards on the ground to keep the offense balanced.
Kutztown will counter that attack with two defensive tackles from the Lehigh Valley. They will determine whether East Stroudsburg’s newbies continue to thrive or face growing pains. Redshirt junior Eric Miller (6foot-2, 270 pounds) from Emmaus and junior Ryan Meyers (6-2, 255) from Saucon Valley will be tasked with taking on double teams and standing up heftier offensive linemen so the Golden Bears linebackers and safeties can make tackles in the four-man front.
Kutztown’s all-American candidate at safety, Shawn Turber-Ortiz, leads the team with 55 tackles and three interceptions. Meyers and Miller allow him to roam the second level unimpeded.
If ESU’s line is precocious, Kutztown’s is time-tested. The Golden Bears start four players who’ve been on campus for at least four years. Coach Jim Clements believes the key on Saturday will be which line can muster an edge.
“Who can run the ball, who can slow down the run, and who can hold on to [the ball],” he said. “Turnovers have been big in every one of our games, and they’ve been big in every one of their games.”
Redshirt-senior running back Abdul-Hassan Neblett has registered two 100-yard rushing games.