The East Stroudsburg University football program used a committee approach to generate the PSAC’s top rushing attack last season.
The Warriors need a new group of backs to emerge to keep their ground game humming in 2025.
Freedom High School graduate Deante Crawford will receive ESU’s first start at running back this season when the Warriors host Edinboro (7:05 p.m. Thursday, Gregory-Douds Field at Eiler-Martin Stadium). Matt Frame (Northern Lehigh) and Cade Sawyer (Southern Lehigh) also will see backfield touches as the Warriors look to replace the production lost with the departures of Tyriq Lewis and Tahir Mills.
Lewis (899 rushing yards, 6.2 yards per carry) and Mills (843, 5.7) finished third and sixth in the PSAC in rushing yards last season. They helped the Warriors lead the PSAC in rushing yards(2,402), yards per carry (5.4), rushing touchdowns (26) and rushing yards per game (200.2).
Crawford, a redshirt junior, is ready to play his part in keeping ESU’s ground game elite.
“We’ve been putting the pieces together,” Crawford said by phone Monday. “It’s a lot of new guys, a lot of new faces. I think it’s going to take the first couple of games to see where we’re really at.
“But I think the preseason has gone really good. Camp went really good. We’ve really just got to hit the field, see what this team is about, and see who the true leaders are.”
Crawford has handled a heavy workload before. He was the EPC South’s offensive MVP and The Morning Call’s EPC offensive player of the year in 2021, when he ran for 1,719 yards and scored 25 touchdowns to help Freedom win the District 11 Class 6A title.
Crawford then took a redshirt season at ESU in 2022. He played in 19 games over the past two seasons but carried the ball only 54 times.
“It’s Deante’s turn; that’s why we recruited him,” ESU coach Jimmy Terwilliger said. “When he was at Bethlehem Freedom, he was an all-area, all-everything back. He carried the workload for the Patriots, and we expect him to be able to do that in the same way that he did when he was in high school.
“He’s talented enough to do it,” Terwilliger added. “He’s tough enough to do it. He’s got great skills. He’s got great vision.”
Frame (12 career carries) and Sawyer (no college carries) have even fewer touches than Crawford since joining the Warriors. Frame did catch eight passes and score two receiving touchdowns last season.
ESU’s ballcarriers will benefit from playing with an experienced quarterback (redshirt senior Sean McTaggart) and a seasoned offensive line. Graduate student right tackle Guy Gilyard (Pocono Mountain West) is one of several players with significant experience in the trenches. He was named to the all-PSAC East second team last season.
Parkland grad Kale Kumernitsky is the one new starter along the O-line. The redshirt freshman takes over at center for four-year starter Raymond Christas.
“I’m pleasantly surprised on all ends with the offensive front,” Terwilliger said.
Expectations are high for ESU coming off a 10-2 season that included an NCAA Division II playoff appearance. The Warriors were picked to finish second in the PSAC East preseason poll, behind only defending champion Kutztown.
ESU’s immediate concern is Edinboro. The Fighting Scots were picked to finish sixth in the seven-team PSAC West preseason poll. They have a new staff led by coach Matt Scott.
Facing a foe with new coaches adds uncertainty to ESU’s opener. Crawford is confident the Warriors can handle whatever schemes Edinboro runs.
“I expect a big ‘W,’ ” Crawford said. “I think it’s probably going to take a game or two to really see where we’re really at, what we’re really about and what we can do. But I’m really excited.”
One more week: While ESU kicks off this week, the area’s other Division II and III football programs won’t open play until September.
Kutztown is the preseason favorite in the PSAC East after going 11-1 and winning a second straight PSAC title last season. The Golden Bears open their season Sept. 4 against Assumption.
Muhlenberg and Moravian square off in a nonleague game Friday, Sept. 5 to open their seasons. Muhlenberg went 8-3 overall and 4-2 in the Centennial Conference last season. Moravian finished 7-4 overall and 4-2 in the Landmark Conference. It was picked to finish second in the Landmark Conference preseason poll.
Stephen Miller is a freelance writer.
