In the Press: Chambersburg Public Opinion // Carlisle Sentinel // WHAG-TV (Video)

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team could not overcome a decisive offensive showing by visiting California (Pa.) on Saturday's Parents & Family Day, dropping a 56-34 contest to the Vulcans from SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
 
In a game that featured 1,174 combined yards of total offense, it was Shippensburg (2-1, 1-1 PSAC) who opened the scoring just four minutes in with a 38-yard touchdown hookup between junior quarterback Chris Lawshe and senior wide receiver Trevor Harman.
 
After punting on its opening possession, California (2-1, 1-1) scored touchdowns on five of its remaining six drives during the first half to build a 35-7 advantage.
 
Despite Lawshe scampering for a touchdown just nine seconds left before halftime and then throwing a 22-yard touchdown to junior Sheldon Mayer on the opening drive of the second half, the Red Raiders could not reduce their deficit to fewer than 14 points.
 
Mayer finished with eight receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Harman had eight receptions for 115 yards. Junior Dexter Bridge had a career-high five receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown.
 
Harman has now caught a touchdown in 13 straight games, and his 55 career receiving scores are just three shy of Mike Washington's PSAC record. He is eight catches away from breaking the PSAC record for career receptions (262) held by Bloomsburg's Mike Lelko (1997-00).
 
Lawshe contributed to all five of SU's touchdowns. Through the air, Lawshe completed a career-high 30 passes on 52 attempts, totaling a career-high 367 yards and four touchdowns. He was intercepted twice, however. Lawshe also rushed for 67 yards in addition to his rushing touchdown late in the second quarter.
 
Of SU's five scoring drives Saturday, all of them featured at least eight plays and 75 yards to achieve a touchdown.
 
Shippensburg also converted five of its seven fourth-down conversions in the game – the most for the Red Raiders in at least 16 years (The sports information office began using The Automated Scorebook for statistics in 1998).
 
Cal, however, forced three turnovers while the Red Raiders were unable to record a takeaway for the first time since last season at Lock Haven. SU has finished with a positive turnover margin just once in its last 12 contests.
 
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Allen Holman led the team with nine tackles – just one short of his career high. He added two tackles for loss. Senior James Brennan had seven tackles, including two for loss.
 
Shippensburg travels to Bloomsburg next Saturday for a 2 p.m. clash with the Huskies.
 
Notes: Saturday marked the first time under Maciejewski in which the Red Raiders were defeated at home despite scoring more than 30 points in the game (SU had been 15-0 in such contests)…SU has scored at least 17 points in all 18 home games under Maciejewski…Brooks is five yards shy of cracking SU's all-time Top 10 list for career rushing yards (1,767)…junior Andrew Smith totaled a career-high 124 kickoff return yards on five runbacks.