SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- The Shippensburg University football team seeks its ninth consecutive victory on Saturday when it travels to Lock Haven for a noon matchup from Hubert Jack Stadium. The Red Raiders have not won nine consecutive games since the 1981 team began its season 12-0.

On Monday, the Red Raiders (4-0, 2-0 PSAC East) earned their first national ranking in three years after being voted No. 21 in the latest edition of the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll. SU is one of four PSAC teams currently in the Top 25 poll, joining California (No. 6), Bloomsburg (No. 10) and Indiana (No. 22). Shippensburg's last national ranking was its No. 15 slot in the final poll of the 2009 season.

Shippensburg, with 23 returning starters from a season ago, was picked to finish fifth in the PSAC Eastern Division preseason coaches poll. SU went 7-4 last season in which it scored 411 points and was ranked among the Top 5 PSAC teams in 18 major statistical categories.

Lock Haven (0-4, 0-2 PSAC West), meanwhile, was voted to finish eighth in the PSAC Eastern Division Football Coaches Preseason Poll. The Bald Eagles went 0-11 last season and are currently tied for the all-time Division II record with 46 straight losses.

The Red Raiders have won eight consecutive games dating back to last season – a winning streak that is the third-longest active in Division II behind perennial powers Grand Valley State and Pittsburg State. The Red Raiders have also scored 217 points through their first four games in 2012 – 139 of which have come in the first half.

According to the latest NCAA statistical rankings, SU slots second in the country for passing offense (394 ypg – trailing only Colorado School of Mines) and scoring offense (54.25 – trailing only Henderson State). Junior quarterback Zach Zulli ranks fourth in the country in both total offense (380.0 yards per game) and passing efficiency (188.02).

In 15 games with head coach Mark Maciejewski and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich in their respective positions, the Red Raiders have scored 628 points (41.8 ppg) and totaled 4,436 passing yards (295.7 ypg) and posted an 11-4 record.

Last weekend, senior tailback Mike Frenette set the school single-game all-purpose yards record with 332 yards (a career-high 190 rushing, 39 receiving and 103 on kick returns), breaking SU Hall of Famer Bill Pettyjohn's 22-year-old mark of 315 yards achieved in the final game of the 1990 season. Frenette's 190 yards rushing -- on just 13 carries -- ranks seventh-most in school single-game history.

Frenette's career day helped the Raiders jump out to an early lead on Millerville (1-3, 0-2) after his 23-yard kick return to open the game set up an 18-yard touchdown strike from Zulli to senior wide receiver Jacob Baskerville in the first play from scrimmage just 18 seconds in.

Shippensburg would not look back as it rolled to a 61-6 victory over the Marauders on Parents & Family Day from SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.

Senior linebacker Cody Fleming was a force all afternoon, recording a game-high nine tackles, including 4.5 for loss. For his efforts, Fleming was named the PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Player of the Week, the second such honor in his career.

Fleming's 4.5 tackles for loss -- of which one was an 11-yard sack of Millersville quarterback Ted Stachitas -- now give him 44.5 on his career, good for third-place in school history and just 6.5 behind all-time leader and current SU head coach Mark Maciejewski's 51.

Also on Saturday evening, Lock Haven scored its first points of the season in a 35-19 home opener loss to Edinboro. Junior tailback Brandon Brader rushed for a pair of touchdowns in the defeat.

Series History vs. Lock Haven

The Red Raiders are in command of the overall series, leading 46-18-3. Shippensburg has won eight in a row over the Bald Eagles and has only lost once to Lock Haven over the last 17 years (26-13 in 2002).

The two teams first met in 1929 with Shippensburg earning a 26-6 home victory. Shippensburg has out-scored Lock Haven 277-78 over the last eight meetings. The two teams last met in the 2010 season finale with Shippensburg earning a 41-17 road victory in Rocky Rees's last game as the Red Raiders head coach.

In 1999, Shippensburg earned its largest margin of victory over Lock Haven with a 68-7 decision over the Bald Eagles. In 1995, SU earned a 73-29 victory.