EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University football team hits the road for the final two games of the regular season, beginning with a trip to East Stroudsburg for a 1 p.m. kickoff from Gregory-Douds Field at Eiler-Martin Stadium. SU won last year's meeting, 38-14.
The game is being broadcast live on redzonemedia.com. The ESU sports information office will be providing live statistics at www.esuwarriors.com.
Both teams have disappointed this season based on preseason expectations. Each squad received at least one first-place vote in the PSAC East Coaches Poll but have played to 3-6 overall records.
The Shippensburg Wing-T establishes a strong tempo in the run game. SU has run the ball at least 25 times in 33 straight games and helped the Red Raiders lead the PSAC last season in time of possession. Against Cheyney, SU ran the ball 54 times and only had five of those attempts result in negative yards (excluding two quarterback kneels at the end of the game). Overall, the Red Raiders totaled a season-high 264 rushing yards.
Senior tailback
Kevin Marshall has rushed for 1,611 yards through three-plus years as a Red Raider while averaging over four yards per carry. With 90 more rushing yards, Marshall could move into the school's all-time Top 10 rushing yards leaders.
This season, Marshall has averaged 5.0 yards per carry: 500 yards on 100 attempts. His eight rushing touchdowns are the most in one season by a Red Raider since Aaron Dykes had 11 in 207. Marshall has 18 career rushing touchdowns.
For his career, Marshall has compiled 4,206 all-purpose yards. He is one of just three players in school history with 4,000 or more all-purpose yards, and is second all-time only to John Kuhn. Marshall currently ranks fifth in the PSAC, averaging 136.9 all-purpose yards per game.
Entering this week, Shippensburg has played the most difficult schedule of any PSAC Eastern Division school - with its schedule of opponents ranking 19th-hardest in Division II. That data is based on opponent's winning percentage. Three of SU's opponents this season are currently ranked in the AFCA Top 25 poll: Shepherd, Kutztown and Bloomsburg.
Shippensburg boasts the best red zone defense in the PSAC. Opponents have scored just 13 of 24 times in red zone opportunities, while SU has forced two fumbles, an interception and a turnover on downs amongst its many successes.
The two teams bring defenses to the table that rank 10th and 11th in the PSAC in scoring defense, allowing 223 and 226 points respectively. The squads are also comparable in total defense, ranking ninth and 10th.
East Stroudsburg leads the PSAC with 28 total sacks for a loss of 167 yards. The Red Raiders are tied for ninth in the conference, totaling 21 sacks for a loss of 143 yards.
Marshall and Joe Klebon are among the top kickoff return specialists in the league. Klebon ranks second in the PSAC, averaging 23.8 yards per return, while Marshall is third with a 23.3 return yard average.
