CHEYNEY, Pa. - The Shippensburg University football team earned a 31-10 victory over Cheyney on Saturday afternoon from a mud-filled O'Shields-Stevenson Stadium to win the PSAC Eastern Division Championship and earn the right to host California (Pa.) in the PSAC Championship game next weekend at Seth Grove Stadium.
Shippensburg (8-2, 6-1 PSAC East) earned its first divisional championship since 2004 and will play in its first conference championship game in 28 years. By virtue of West Chester's 30-14 victory over Bloomsburg, the Red Raiders earned their first outright divisional title since winning the Western Division in 1981.
Saturday marked Shippensburg's first game at Cheyney in 21 years, when coach Joe Bottiglieri guided the Red Raiders to a 17-6 victory. Head coach Rocky Rees had never competed or coached in a game at Cheyney prior to Saturday, whether as a running back at West Chester or as a coach at Shippensburg.
The contest featured difficult field conditions as steady rain over the last 48 hours transformed the field into a combination of mush, sod and mud. The SU ground game capitalized by running 54 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Redshirt freshman
Kevin Herod battled for a career-high 112 yards on 27 carries with one touchdown, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.
True freshman
Mike Frenette had another stellar performance with 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a two-yard run in the fourth quarter that extended the Red Raider lead to 14 points. SU held a 10-7 lead at halftime after a 23-yard field goal from senior
Kyler Ford.
The Red Raiders sealed the game in the final minute with a 21-yard touchdown pass from redshirt senior quarterback
Chad DiFebbo to senior tight end
Mark Rossi. DiFebbo finished the day 9-of-18 for 150 yards and a touchdown.
"I'm very proud of our kids," Rees said after the game. "Being ranked fifth in the preseason by the coaches, going out and beating all of the big names, winning when they had to and finding a way to get it done - it's special. We overcame the obstacles along the way that knocked us down. I'm happy for them to have a title alone."
Shippensburg is scheduled to face the Vulcans at home next Saturday at 1 p.m.
More details to follow.
