Box Score

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Red-shirt senior safety Jason Stone led all players with 15 tackles (seven solo, eight assisted) and clinched a Red Raider victory with a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as Shippensburg defeated visiting C.W. Post, 27-10.

Shippensburg (3-3, 2-1 PSAC East) broke through for the game's first big play early in the second quarter when red-shirt junior quarterback Chad DiFebbo threw a bomb that hit red-shirt sophomore Chase DiFebbo in stride and he coasted to the end zone for an 81-yard touchdown.

It was the longest play from scrimmage for Shippensburg in 14 years. On Oct. 8, 1994 in a 31-17 loss to Edinboro at Sox Harrison Stadium, Red Raider quarterback Mike Carver found Mike Buglia open along the sideline for a play that resulted in a 93-yard touchdown.

The Red Raiders held a 10-0 lead at that point and extended the lead at halftime to 17-3 on a four-yard run from red-shirt sophomore Brett Stoops. The scoring drive totaled 10 plays and 69 yards and was the second drive of 10 or more plays in the half for Shippensburg. The opening Red Raider drive traveled 60 yards on 11 carries and was capped off by a 28-yard field goal from junior Kyler Ford.

Leading 20-3 in the fourth quarter, Stone stepped in front of an R.J. Kuhn pass along the sidelines and took it to the house for his first career touchdown. It was the first defensive touchdown for Shippensburg since Oct. 8, 2005 when current Raider assistant coach Brandon Cook returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown against Lock Haven - a span of 33 games.

Stone finished the afternoon with the impressive tackling performance yet also recorded a tackle for loss, forced a fumble and broke up a pass. Also defensively, sophomore linebacker and reigning PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week Riley Bowen had 13 tackles (including nine solo) along with a sack, a forced fumble and two pass breakups.

With Stone's interception and Bowen's forced fumble, the Red Raider defense has now forced multiple turnovers in all six games this season. Through the midway point of the season, Shippensburg has now recorded a +6 turnover margin.

In addition to his big play, Stone also came through on several crucial situations. He forced a punt on C.W. Post's first drive of the game by combining for a tackle on a third-and-1 play and then forced a fumble on a third-and-1 play on the second Pioneer drive after they had reached the Shippensburg 29-yard line.

Stone stuffed a third 3rd-and-1 chance from the Pioneers in the third quarter that forced a punt and also made two special teams tackles for the Red Raiders. He is now tied atop the PSAC with three forced fumbles while ranking second in the conference in tackling and fifth in interceptions. 

On the ground, red-shirt sophomore Kevin Marshall had yet another strong performance with the best rushing game of the season for the Red Raiders, totaling 108 yards on 16 carries. His longest run of 48 yards set up a 25-yard field goal from Ford that gave Shippensburg a 20-3 lead in the third quarter.

The offensive line of red-shirt senior Matt Olecki, red-shirt sophomore Drew Gallardy, red-shirt freshman Peter Kreisher, red-shirt junior Dave Fremont and red-shirt junior Luke Grata put together another strong performance, opening up space for the Red Raiders to record 211 rushing yards while allowing just one sack.

Over the past four games, the Red Raiders have only allowed two sacks while the team has rushed for 898 yards. Shippensburg has also run for at least 170 yards in each of those contests.

Red-shirt junior receiver Mike Harris went over 100 yards receiving for the second consecutive week and the third time this season, totaling 105 receiving yards on five catches. Through six games this season, Harris has caught 35 passes for 517 yards.

DiFebbo completed only 9-of-20 passes but through for 206 yards. Kuhn was 17-of-38 for 159 yards and one touchdown for the Pioneers.

Shippensburg will be on the road for its next two contests. The Red Raiders will take on Kutztown next weekend at 1 p.m. from University Field.