Box Score

Audio: Rees On Game Changing Play

Audio: Rees On West Chester

Audio: Rees On Next Week

WEST CHESTER, Pa.-  The Shippensburg University football team held a 7-6 halftime lead over the Golden Rams of West Chester, but could not sustain that momentum in the second half, falling 25-7 on Saturday afternoon at Farrell Stadium.

Shippensburg (3-5, 2-3 PSAC East) took the lead late in the second quarter when red-shirt junior Chad DiFebbo found red-shirt junior Mike Harris in the back corner of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:00 remaining in the half.

West Chester (6-2, 5-0 PSAC East) would answer by driving the length of the field in 45 seconds, culminating in a Joe Wright 18-yard touchdown pass to Mike Washington. West Chester would muff the extra point attempt and the Red Raiders took a 7-6 lead into halftime.

DiFebbo finished the afternoon completing 10-of-20 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown and has now thrown a touchdown in all eight games this season. He also ran nine times for 32 yards.

Harris caught five balls for 54 yards and a touchdown, including one reception for 17 yards from red-shirt sophomore Kevin Marshall on a halfback option. Marshall finished the day as the team's leading rusher (15 carries, 41 yards) and receiver (two catches, 55 yards).

Shippensburg opened the second half with a 12-play, 61-yard drive but failed to put points on the board after Kyler Ford missed a 36-yard field goal. Given the opportunity, West Chester would take the lead late in the third quarter when Wright connected for his second touchdown pass of the afternoon to Ryan Paulson for a 44-yard score.

After sputtering on its ensuing three drives and trailing 16-7, the Red Raiders mounted a nine-play, 64-yard drive that ended with an interception that was returned 96 yards. West Chester used the resulting field position to clinch the victory with a Mike Washington 5-yard touchdown scamper. The Golden Ram defense would add a safety for the final score of 25-7.

Defensively, red-shirt senior Jason Groller finished the afternoon with three tackles including two for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. Also forcing a fumble for the Raider defense was red-shirt freshman Andy Horn, who recovered the fumble and finished with one sack and one tackle for loss.

The leading tackler for Shippensburg was red-shirt senior Josh Oswalt who recorded ten tackles on the afternoon with one for loss.

Shippensburg will return to action next Saturday afternoon as they host the No. 6 Bloomsburg Huskies for homecoming. The game will be broadcast on the PA SportsFever Television Network as well as 88.7 WSYC-FM and on the internet at wsyc.org. Game time is 12:35 p.m.