EAST STROUDSBURG, PA. – The 2023 Pace University football season kicked off Thursday evening on the campus of East Stroudsburg University with Pace falling, 62-9.

The action started almost immediately for both sides; ESU struck first on the opening possession of the 2023 season with a touchdown on it's first drive.

Pace responded to ESU's scoring drive with a big play right off the bat. Israel Lopez (New Britain, Conn./Conard) took his first touch of the season 52 yards to get the Setters in the red zone, at the ESU 19. Following a Pace false start, ESU kept Pace out of the end zone, forcing Pace to settle for a field goal to make the score 7-3 after each team's first possession of the season.

ESU repeated its success from the first drive, using a big play once again to set the tone. ESU completed 34-yard pass to get to Pace's 25-yard line and got in the end zone off a 10-yard pass, making the score 14-3.

The big plays kept coming for ESU, the first play of the second quarter was 46 yard run to get deep into Pace territory. The lead grew to 20-3 following a six-yard touchdown pass, followed by a failed PAT by the Warriors.

The run game gave the Setters some production in the first drive of the second quarter. Tyreek Smith (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell) burst through the ESU defense for a 28-yard gain. A pair of 12-yard gains followed to get Pace on the ESU 4 yard-line, but Pace could not get the final four yards on the Warrior's defense and were forced to settle for a field goal to make the score 20-6 in favor of the home team.

The second half opened with Pace being forced into a three-and-out and ESU responded with another touchdown and kept pouring it on from there.

Pace returns to action next Saturday for the home opener at Northwell Stadium against Findlay University. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.