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Sports
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Sports
Information Director: Steve McCloskey Phone:
(570) 662-4845 Email: smcclosk@mansfield.edu
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RELEASE DATE:
10/18/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTES WINNING
STREAK SNAPPED IN 40-7 SETBACK AT ESU – POOHBEAR McNEAL RUNS FOR 124-YARDS AND
TOUCHDOWN --
HOLLAND
BREAKS CAREER TACKLES RECORD
EAST STROUDSBURG – The Mansfield University football team went from the
highest of highs to the lowest of lows in suffering a 40-7 setback to East
Stroudsburg before 4,650 homecoming fans Saturday afternoon.
After a 45-24 win over Kutztown to ensure their first winning season since 1975
and breaking into the national rankings, the Mountaineers came back to earth in
dropping their first game of the season and falling out of first place in the
PSAC East.
“We just didn’t do a good job today,” said head coach Chris Woods. “We
didn’t do a good job prepare this team and I take full responsibility for
that. We were flat today and
East Stroudsburg
did a great job in preparing for and executing in this game. But I know this
team is better than we showed today and come next week we will have to prove
ourselves again.
It as was day in which
East Stroudsburg
could do no wrong and the Mountaineers could do little right.
Coming off one of the biggest wins in the programs history and breaking into the
national rankings, neither the MU defense nor offense could seemed to be able to
get untracked most of the afternoon.
East Stroudsburg
took the opening kickoff and marched 78 yards for a touchdown behind freshman
quarterback Jim Terwillinger who accounted for 75 yards on the drive.
On their second possession, the Mountaineers marched down the field and reaching
the ESU 21-yard line, but quarterback Travis Motley lost the ball on a sack and
Terwilliger passed or ran for all 79-yards and another touchdown as the first
quarter ended.
Mansfield
came right back to close the gap to 13-7 when freshman running back Poohbear
McNeal capped off a 72-yard drive with a one-yard run with
4:53
remaining in the half.
But East Stroudsburg
would use big plays to scored two touchdowns over the last 1:05
of the second quarter to take a 27-7 lead into the locker room.
The Warriors used great field position to score twice in the third quarter on
drives of 18 and 27 yards.
Mansfield
moved the ball in the fourth quarter but twice was forced to give the ball up
on downs within the ESU 35 yard line.
McNeal rushed for 124 yards on 28 carries and broke the school record for
rushing touchdowns in a season with 12. Motley was 13 of 32 for 170 yards but
was intercepted twice ending his school record of 114 passes without and
interception. Joe Bennett had six catches for 106 yards.
Dan Holland racked up game high 16 tackles to break the school all-time career
tackle record and now has 452 total tackles. Andre’ Turner added eight stops
while Mike Donate had seven tackles, a sack and recovered two fumbles.
Jim Terwilliger completed 23-of-38 passes for 380 yards and five touchdowns to
lead
East Stroudsburg
. Anthony Carfagno had five catches for 84-yards and two scores.
The Mountaineers are now 6-1 on the season and 2-1 in the PSAC East. Bloomsburg,
which defeated Kutztown in overtime, holds down first place in the East with a
3-0 mark followed by Mansfield,
East Stroudsburg
and West Chester
at 2-1.
