Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team attempted a feverish comeback bid in the third quarter of Saturday night's PSAC crossover matchup at Slippery Rock but could not stave off a spirited effort by the home team, as The Rock came away with a 58-38 victory over the Red Raiders at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

Shippensburg (0-2) trailed 44-10 at halftime but responded with 21 points in the first 7 minutes 58 seconds of the third quarter, as junior tailback Blair Brooks rushed in from a yard out and senior quarterback Zach Zulli threw touchdown passes to juniors Trevor Harman and Sheldon Mayer.

Slippery Rock (2-0) eventually slowed the Red Raiders and re-established a comfortable margin with two more touchdowns of its own, one late in the third quarter and another in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Rock quarterback Nigel Barksdale threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and finished the game with 304 yards and four scores.

Zulli wrapped up the contest with 340 yards on 32-of-65 passing and three touchdowns for his 11th career 300-yard passing game. He was also sacked four times and The Rock defense registered six additional quarterback hurries.

Zulli's 65 attempts gives him 1,022 on his career, which sets a new Raider school record, passing Brian Gilbert's (1990-92) 1,013 attempts. The three passing scores also give him 91 on his career, making him one of just six players in PSAC history with over 90 passing touchdowns. Zulli's 7,968 career passing yards now place him in the Top-15 all-time in PSAC history.

Harman surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards in the contest, finishing Saturday's game with eight receptions for 120 yards. It was his seventh-career 100-yard receiving game and his 29th career receiving score. His 2,080 yards also makes him just one of six players in SU history to reach 2,000 receiving yards.

Mayer set career highs with nine catches for 71 yards and returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown late in the game. It's the first punt return for a touchdown by a Red Raider since 1998. 

With five seconds left in the second quarter, senior Drew Newcomer drilled a 49-yard field goal that broke a 29-year-old school record. The previous mark was set by Barry Jackson, who kicked a 48-yard field goal against The Rock on Oct. 20, 1984. The field goal was the 20th of Newcomer's career.

Shippensburg begins its PSAC East schedule at 1 p.m. next Saturday when it hosts ESU on Parents & Family Day at Seth Grove Stadium.

Notes: The Raiders converted their first onside kick since 2008 (Kyler Ford) when on Saturday night, the attempt from senior Nate Schmidt was recovered by SU in the fourth quarter…the 58 points are the most Shippensburg has given up since it also gave up 58 against The Rock on October 29, 2005…SU's 42 team rushing yards are its fewest in a game since posting -16 yards against IUP on November 3, 2007.