Game Notes vs. Lock Haven

2008 Media Guide

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Shippensburg Red Raider football team will partake in its second and final PSAC Crossover of the season on Saturday night when the team travels to PSAC Western Division opponent Lock Haven. Kickoff from Hubert Jack Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The Red Raiders have won the last five meetings between the two teams and 12 of the last 13 overall.

The game is being broadcast live on Shippensburg University student radio station, WSYC 88.7 FM and on the internet at www.wsyc.org (radio pre-game starts at 6:45 p.m.). Senior communications/journalism major Dan DiVeglio will handle the play-by-play while communication studies graduate student Andy Malnoske will be the color commentator. The Shippensburg University Television (SUTV) crew will be filming highlights of the game to be shown at a later date.

Hubert Jack Stadium is now home to a synthetic-field turf playing surface, replacing the artificial “Astro Turf” surface that had previously covered the field. The “Astro Turf” has now been moved to McCollum Field, the former soccer field, which now hosts field hockey and lacrosse.

The last time these two teams met at Hubert Jack Stadium, three quarterbacks combined to complete just 22-of-58 passes while throwing three interceptions. The boot of Red Raider junior kicker Jamie Reder sealed the 20-17 Red Raider victory with a 32-yard field goal in the first overtime period.

Shippensburg (0-2) is looking to earn its first victory of the season before the conference schedule begins on Sept. 20 at East Stroudsburg. The team will be looking to establish a strong running presence, as red-shirt sophomores Chris Infante and Kevin Marshall have combined for just 147 yards on 32 carries without a touchdown through two games this season. The Red Raiders are looking to avoid going three consecutive games without a rushing touchdown for the first time since Sept. 2-15, 1990 - the first three games of Rocky Rees' coaching career at Shippensburg.

Last week, the Shippensburg University football team forced five turnovers and limited Edinboro quarterback Trevor Harris to his lowest passing total since the start of the 2007 season, but the Red Raiders could not overcome the elements or the Fighting Scots in a 34-11 loss on Saturday afternoon at Seth Grove Stadium.

Lock Haven is off to an 0-2 start to the season, having been outscored by a 67-6 margin. Their quarterback of the past two seasons, Ilio DiPaulo, has been shifted to wide receiver. Freshman Jarryd Burkett has taken over as the signal caller and made his first career start last week against West Chester. Sophomore running back Ibrahim Smith has been demoted on the depth chart and has been replaced by Reggie Mencer. Linebacker Luke Ellison is back from an injury red-shirt season and leads the team in tackles with 11. DeMarr Dowell leads the team in all-purpose yards with 136 through two games.

Last week, Lock Haven University dropped a rain-soaked gridiron clash on the road at No. 23 West Chester (1-1), 37-6. Sophomore Ibrahim Smith scored on a six-yard run for the only Bald Eagle points of the game. Defensively, Ellison made five solo tackles, one tackle for a loss and forced a fumble. DeMarr Dowell had a 48-yard interception return while Dean Tortorice had a 46-yard interception return.