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Shippens University Athletics

Shippensburg University Athletics

Ryan Trexler, SU Sports Info.
20
Winner Shippensburg SHIP 2-0
13
Edinboro EDIN 0-2
Winner
Shippensburg SHIP
2-0
20
Final
13
Edinboro EDIN
0-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SHIP Shippensburg 0 3 10 7 20
EDIN Edinboro 0 13 0 0 13

Game Recap: Football | | By Perry Mattern, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Second-Half Comeback Propels Red Raider Football Over Edinboro, 20-13

SU scores 17 points in second half to erase a 10-point halftime deficit

Video still to come.

EDINBORO, Pa. -- 
Sophomore Ryan Zapoticky's touchdown pass to sophomore Jeff Gulyas with 3:19 remaining capped off a 10-point comeback by the Shippensburg University football team in a 20-13 road win over Edinboro on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Sox Harrison Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (2-0), which trailed 13-3 at halftime, outscored Edinboro (0-2) 17-0 in the second half to remain unbeaten through two games. Senior Andrew Smith's five-yard run late in the third quarter and Gulyas' game-winning catch – just the second reception of his career – were the only touchdowns scored on the day by the Red Raiders.
 
Zapoticky finished 21-of-39 for 227 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Smith ran for 117 yards on just 16 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per rush. SU ran for 203 yards on 41 carries, as junior Justin Pyle added 57 yards on 12 carries.
 
The Red Raider defense held their opponent to 14 points or less for the second straight game – the first time it has done so since Sept. 22-29, 2012 against Millersville and Lock Haven. With the exception of a 12-catch, 195-yard afternoon by Edinboro wide receiver Darren Massey, the Fighting Scots managed just 150 yards from the remainder of their offense.
 
SU recorded four sacks and 10 total tackles for loss in the contest. Senior defensive end and captain Kurt Walker, who entered Saturday's game with just three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 36 career games, totaled 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks to lead a spirited Red Raider defensive effort.
 
Junior linebacker Allen Holman led the Red Raiders with 14 tackles, while sophomore Kevin Goldsmith added 12 tackles. Sophomore linebacker Darius Wills, who entered with just four total tackles in 11 career games, had seven tackles Saturday, including 1.5 for loss. Sophomore Austin Rosenberry also had a hand in 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
Shippensburg was credited with nine pass breakups on the day, three courtesy of sophomore Kevin Taylor II. Sophomore Chavez Cheatham had eight tackles and intercepted a pass in the first half.
 
Sophomore Billy Deane kicked a 25-yard field goal in the first half and a 35-yard field goal in the second half. He also averaged 40.2 yards per punt.
 
SU out-gained Edinboro 266-107 in the second half, limiting the Fighting Scots to a 2.8 yards-per-play average over the final 30 minutes. In a flag-filled affair, the two teams combined for 22 penalties and 164 penalty yards.
 
Both teams also made goal-line stands in the game, preventing the other from scoring on fourth-and-goal plays from the one-yard line. SU's stop came on the opening drive of the game, while EU's occurred in the fourth quarter.
 
The Red Raiders scored first Saturday as Deane's 25-yard field goal in the second quarter capped off a drive that started with Cheatham's interception. However, Edinboro intercepted Zapoticky soon after and kicked a 27-yard field goal to tie the game with 7:07 left in the second quarter.
 
The Fighting Scots then added a 51-yard touchdown pass to Massey and a 43-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to take a 13-3 lead into halftime.
 
The Red Raiders picked up the pace after receiving the second-half kickoff, quickly moving into Edinboro territory and converting a key fourth down on a reception by sophomore Brady Forney. SU could not build off Forney's catch, though, and settled for Deane's second field goal to trim its deficit to seven.
 
Later in the third, the hurry-up offense led to SU's first touchdown of the day as Shippensburg marched 75 yards in just 2:44, tying the game on the five-yard scamper by Smith.
 
The Red Raider defense stood tall, forcing an Edinboro three-and-out to start the fourth quarter on the ensuing drive, and again SU drove quickly. A completion to junior Jordan Harro set up first and goal at the Edinboro two-yard line. SU earned a new set of downs when senior Sheldon Mayer drew a pass interference call on third down. However, the Red Raiders could not punch it in on four tries, and turned it over on downs at the Scots' one-yard line.
 
SU allowed one Edinboro first down, but forced a punt that set up the Red Raiders at their own 45-yard line with 4:56 remaining. One minute and 37 seconds later, Shippensburg had the lead as Zapoticky hit Gulyas with a pass in the back of the end zone to take a lead the Red Raiders did not relinquish.
 
The Red Raiders then forced a turnover on downs when junior Chad Miller knocked down a pass in the secondary. The Fighting Scots were afforded one more chance, taking over after a SU punt at their own 9-yard line with 1:54 to go. However, Edinboro did not make it past midfield before time expired.
 
Saturday's win was only the seventh time in 47 career games for Shippensburg head coach Mark Maciejewski in which the game was decided by less than 10 points.
 
Shippensburg will travel again next Saturday, this time to California (Pa.), for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Vulcans.
 
Notes: Nine different receivers caught a pass for the Red Raiders on Saturday, the most variety in a single game since 11 different receivers caught a pass in Week 6 last season at Lock Haven…SU was held to less than 21 points and without three touchdowns in a game for the first time since the 2013 season opener (23 games)...the Red Raider defense has seven sacks through two games after totaling just 15 all of last season…the defense has also allowed just 127 rushing yards (1.9 yards per rush) through two games...SU was playing at Edinboro for the first time since a 24-14 victory back in 2009.

 
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Photo By: Ryan Trexler, SU Sports Info.
 
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Photo By: Ryan Trexler, SU Sports Info.
 
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Photo By: Ryan Trexler, SU Sports Info.
 
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Photo By: Ryan Trexler, SU Sports Info.

 
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