SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Senior Kevin Marshall scored his second rushing touchdown of the day with 1:29 remaining in regulation on Saturday afternoon as the Shippensburg University football team concluded the home portion of its regular season schedule with a 19-14 victory over Millersville.

Shippensburg (3-6, 2-4 PSAC East) built an early 7-0 lead that held through the first three quarters of play on the strength of an outstanding defensive effort that blocked two field goals, recorded five sacks and produced an outstanding goal-line stand in which the unit survived four plays from the 1-yard line.

SU never would have had the chance to make its goal-line stand if not for the hustle of redshirt freshman safety Tyriq Kershaw, whose dead sprint to come back and tackle Jamal Smith on a 75-yard reception saved a potential touchdown.

The raucous final frame featured 26 combined points, four touchdowns and two crucial lead changes. SU built a 13-0 lead on the opening play of the fourth quarter when sophomore quarterback Steven Adams improvised out of the pocket to avoid the pass rush and shoveled an eight-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Brian Heitz. The resulting extra point attempt hit the upright and was no good.

Millersville (2-7, 0-6 PSAC East) answered just 50 seconds later when Bishop McDevitt alum Mike Jones broke a 74-yard run for a touchdown. Before that run, the SU defense had limited the Marauders to 12 rushing yards on 23 carries.

Following an interception, the visitors took the lead with 11:38 to go on a 25-yard touchdown catch by Jamal Smith from Bill Shirk. Smith, the league's leading receiver, finished with seven receptions for 164 yards.

With 4:58 remaining, SU got the ball back and began its seven-play, 48-yard drive to paydirt. Sophomore Kevin Herod began the drive with two solid runs before Marshall gained three yards and a Marauder personal foul penalty for a late hit out-of-bounds put the ball on the MU 14-yard line.

Facing a third-and-6 from the 10-yard line, Adams' hard count forced an offsides penalty that moved SU closer to the end zone. Marshall's go-ahead touchdown came on the next play.

The Marauders got a chance to re-take the lead and reached the SU 26-yard line in the game's final two minutes. However, the defense produced one final play to secure the victory, as senior Jamahn McCollough intercepted a pass in the end zone with 30 seconds remaining.

Marshall finished with 74 yards on the ground and 112 all-purpose yards. Adams was 14-of-26 for 207 yards. Heitz had a career day, hauling in a team-high four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, senior Marcellus Sammons had seven solo tackles and eight total to lead Shippensburg. Riley Bowen had six tackles, including two for a loss. Fellow senior Erik Van Ness had 1.5 sacks, while SU as a team recorded 10 tackles for loss.

After the game, a brief ceremony was held in which the football office was formally named the Rocky Rees Football Suite. Rees was presented with a plaque and addressed the crowd. The SU marching band played briefly before serenading those assembled with the alma mater.

Shippensburg travels next weekend to East Stroudsburg for a 1 p.m. contest from Eiler-Martin Stadium.

Notes: Junior Terence Glenn blocked the second field goal...it was his third blocked kick of the season...sophomore Cody Fleming blocked Millersville's first field goal attempt...the Marauders were 0-for-3 in red-zone chances...freshman kicker Nate Schmidt booted two touchbacks in the game on kickoffs...freshman Jason Brady earned his first career start, playing right tackle.