Box Score

AUDIO: Coach Rees on Marshall

AUDIO: Coach Rees On Marshall's 53 Yard TD Reception

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University football team totaled a season-high 498 yards of offense on Saturday afternoon at Seth Grove Stadium and red-shirt sophomore Kevin Marshall totaled over 250 all-purpose yards for the second consecutive week as the Red Raiders earned their first PSAC Eastern Division victory of the season, 35-14 over Millersville.

Shippensburg (2-3, 1-1 PSAC East) posted at least 35 points for the third consecutive week and entirely dictated the pace of the game - recording a 21-minute advantage in time of possession while posting its largest offensive production since a school-record 749 yards on Oct. 27, 2007 against Lock Haven - a span of eight games.

The Red Raiders received another stellar performance from Marshall - who led the team in rushing (64 yards, one touchdown) and receiving yards (158 yards on four receptions) while posting the seventh-best all-purpose performance in single-game history with 263 yards from scrimmage. Last week, Marshall totaled 270 all-purpose yards against ESU, which is the fourth-best single-game performance in school history.  

Red-shirt junior quarterback Chad DiFebbo recorded his best game yet as a Red Raider, completing 19-of-29 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the day with career highs in completions (19), completion percentage (.655), passing yards (321) and passing touchdowns (three) and has thrown a touchdown in all five games this season.

Shippensburg's defense once again forced multiple turnovers - recording two interceptions and recovering one fumble against Millersville - bringing the season total to 18 through five games. Despite committing seven turnovers in the treacherous conditions of Week 2 against Edinboro, the Red Raiders have totaled a +6 turnover margin through the first five games.

Red-shirt sophomore cornerback Jeff Fertig came up with a remarkable interception in the second quarter by taking away a loose ball from a Millersville receiver while both men were lying on the ground after a jump ball attempt. Senior defensive back Reggie Farrior also recorded a highlight reel interception with a diving pick in the fourth quarter that all but killed Millersville's momentum down the stretch.

It only took two plays from scrimmage for Marshall and Shippensburg to open the scoring. After getting stuffed on the opening rush of the game, Marshall caught a swing pass from DiFebbo and was off to the races for a 53-yard touchdown reception that gave the Red Raiders a 7-0 lead.

A solid Marauder drive tied the score at 7-7 and the two teams then exchanged punts before Shippensburg would re-take the lead. Starting at the Millersville 47-yard line, the Red Raiders methodically moved downfield and took the lead on a 15-yard yard run from Marshall with six seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Millersville (0-5, 0-2 PSAC East) tied the score early in the second quarter because of tailback Brad Lantz, who ran eight consecutive plays for 55 yards to bring the Marauders inside the 10-yard line. A six-yard quarterback scramble from Bill Shirk brought the score to 14-14 with 11:00 remaining in the first half.

Shippensburg took the lead for good after forcing a turnover on a punt midway through the second quarter. Sophomore linebacker Riley Bowen, who entered the game tied for the conference lead in fumble recoveries, issued a solid hit upon Marauder punt returner Andy Tischbein that led to a loose ball recovered by junior long snapper James D'Annibale and excellent field position for the Red Raiders.

DiFebbo took advantage of the short field with by finding his favorite receiver on the afternoon, red-shirt junior Mike Harris, for a one-handed catch in the back of the endzone that put Shippensburg on top 21-14. Harris finished the day with a career-high 10 receptions for 121 yards and the touchdown.

Despite failing on a fourth-and-goal opportunity from the 1-yard-line just before the end of the first half, the Red Raiders quickly took control of the game in the third quarter by scoring touchdowns on their first two drives of the second half while the defense held the Marauders to one first down during the same stretch.

On the team's first drive of the third quarter, DiFebbo converted two long third downs with completions to Harris. The Red Raider offense converted all three of their third down plays on the drive and capped off the momentum by handing the ball to red-shirt sophomore fullback Chris Infante. His two-yard run capped off a 10-play, 51-yard drive and gave Shippensburg a 14-point lead.

After another quick three-and-out from Millersville, Marshall had a 54-yard reception from DiFebbo that brought Shippensburg inside the red zone once again. On third-and-goal from the 3-yard line, DiFebbo found junior Mark Rossi for a three-yard touchdown that capped off the scoring.

In addition to his forced fumble, Bowen was a defensive juggernaut - totaling a team-high 7.5 tackles along with one sack and two tackles for loss. Red-shirt senior Jason Stone had six tackles including one for loss while Farrior finished with four total tackles.

Shippensburg converted 11 of its 18 third downs on the afternoon - good for 61 percent - after having converted just 25 percent of its chances through the first four games of the season (15-of-59). The team also committed just two penalties, its smallest total since committing just two penalties in a 42-27 victory over Kutztown on Sept. 16, 2006 - a span of 24 games.

The Red Raiders will look to improve to 2-1 in the PSAC Eastern Division next week when it hosts C.W. Post at Seth Grove Stadium. The two teams have only met twice in school history, with the last meeting coming 25 years ago when Vito Ragazzo's Red Raider squad earned a 40-27 victory over the Pioneers on Sept. 17, 1983.