Bloomsburg's Drops NCAA Playoff Game to East Stroudsburg

BLOOMSBURG- Bloomsburg University's undefeated season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs with a 52-39 loss to conference-rival East Stroudsburg.

The game featured two of the nation's best Division-II football players in BU tailback Jamar Brittingham (Levittown/Neshaminy) and ESU quarterback Jim Terwilliger, but in the end, Terwilliger lead his Warriors to a second half charge that was too much for Bloomsburg to handle.

On the opening drive of the game, Bloomsburg's Dominick Esgro (Carbondale/Lakeland) forced Terwilliger 15 yards back into ESU's end zone where Bloomsburg was credited with a safety on an intentional grounding penalty putting the Huskies ahead, 2-0 just 12 seconds into the game.

Bloomsburg got down to the East Stroudsburg six yard line on their first possession, but were held to a Garrett Bloom (Sunbury/Shikellamy) 23-yard field goal making the score 5-0, Bloomsburg.

On the Warriors second drive of the game, Matt Smith (York/Central York) intercepted Terwilliger on ESU's 47-yard line which set up a 29-yard field goal by Bloom increasing the Husky lead to 8-0.

ESU answered back with 12-play, 87-yard drive that was capped by a seven-yard touchdown run from Terwilliger. Mark Brubaker's extra point was good, cutting the Husky lead to 8-7.

On the opening drive of the second quarter, the Warrior's Zach McDowell blocked a Bloomsburg punt that was returned by Tyree Townes for a touchdown, giving ESU a 14-8 lead. Bloomsburg countered with a two yard touchdown run from Brittingham putting the Huskies back on top 15-14.

East Stroudsburg scored again with just over a minute left in the half on a 19-yard reception by Doug Ogden to put the Warriors up 21-15 going into the locker room.

The Huskies opened the second half with two touchdowns in under four minutes regaining the lead 29-21. Brittingham ran 21-yards for the first score and the second came on a Jack Lydic (Selinsgrove/Selinsgrove) pass to Brad Bowman (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) for a 16-yard touchdown.

On their next drive, East Stroudsburg narrowed the Huskies lead to one on a three-yard pass from Terwilliger to Ben Culver. Bloomsburg added another Garrett Bloom field goal, this time from 34-yards out, to push the Huskies lead to 32-28 at the end of the third quarter.

John Glenn picked off a Lydic pass to open the fourth quarter and set up a 40-yard touchdown pass from Terwilliger to Evan Prall. The score put the Warriors back on top 35-32 where they would stay for the rest of the game.

Bloomsburg was forced to punt on their next possession and the Warriors added their second-straight score on a 27-yard reception to Prall to increase the ESU lead to 42-32.

Zach Toomey recovered a Lydic fumble on Huskies next possession ending Bloomsburg's undefeated season and their playoff hopes. Anthony Carfagno scored on a one-yard run giving the Warriors a 52-32 lead.

Bloomsburg scored on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Al West (Berwick/Berwick Area) to Luke Kuklick (North Wales/North Penn) to make the final score 52-39 in favor of East Stroudsburg.

Terwilliger finished the game 16 of 25 passing for 224 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for nine yards and a touchdown. 190 of his total yards and three of his touchdowns came in the second half.

ESU's Anthony Carfagno rushed for 170 yards and one touchdown to lead the Warriors on the ground.

Brittingham ended the game with 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns. His 2,260 yards for the 2005 season are the most in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) history. He also finishes the season with the PSAC records for rushing touchdowns in a season (32), touchdowns in a season (34) and points in a season (204).

Lydic completed 16 of 26 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown finishing his career at Bloomsburg in third place on the all-time passing list with 5,186 yards. His favorite receiver on the day was Donny Patrick who became the first Bloomsburg player to have over 100-yards receiving in a game this season. He ended the day with 155-yards including a 60-yard reception.

Bloom's three field goals in the game tied a career-high and also a school record. He also increased his extra-point total to 54, which is a school record.

Defensively, East Stroudsburg was led by Tyree Towns and John Vetter who each had 11 tackles. Bloomsburg's Rob Biernat (Bristol/Conwell Egan) had a game and season high 17 tackles for Bloomsburg.

East Stroudsburg will host C.W. Post on Saturday, November 26th in the NCAA Semifinal game.

Bloomsburg finishes the 2005 season 11-1 as the PSAC Eastern Division Champions.