SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team scored early and often on Saturday, totaling 570 yards from scrimmage and achieving a school record for points in a 76-0 home shutout of Cheyney from sunny SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (5-2, 3-1 PSAC East) built a 21-0 lead within the first eight minutes of play by taking advantage of big plays, special teams opportunities and a stout ground attack. Overall, SU ran the ball on 54 of its 75 plays from scrimmage (72 percent), including its final 14 plays of the game and 26-of-33 overall in the second half.
 
The Red Raiders had 13 drives in Saturday's game and scored touchdowns on 11 of them, punting only on their first drive of the second quarter and the first drive of the third quarter. Seven of SU's eight first-half drives resulted in a touchdown, including the first five.
 
Cheyney (1-6, 0-4) managed just two first downs, the fewest yielded by the Red Raiders in a game in more than 18 years. The Wolves were 1-of-10 passing for just eight yards – the sixth-lowest single-game total in an NCAA Division II game this season.
 
Additionally, Cheyney's 56 yards from scrimmage are the fourth fewest in an NCAA Division II game this season and the fewest allowed by the Red Raiders in more than 18 years. (SU's computer statistics date back to 1998; neither the first downs total or yards from scrimmage total is a school record, but each total is the fewest by an opponent in at least 18 years).
 
The shutout is the first for the Red Raiders since a 42-0 blanking of the Wolves on Nov. 9, 2013.
 
Sophomore quarterback Chase Yocum ran the ball 10 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including a 43-yard run (SU's longest run of the season) in the first quarter that made the score 21-0. Yocum also completed 7-of-10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown to redshirt-freshman Kyle Haines that opened the scoring.
 
Redshirt-freshman quarterback Landon Archangelo alternated series with Yocum on the day, completing 6-of-11 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. The pass completions and touchdowns were the first of Archangelo's career. Senior Erik Kerns and redshirt-freshman Luke Durkin were the recipients of his touchdown throws, with Durkin hauling in his first-ever touchdown reception.
 
Sophomore Marcus Lominy also found the end zone for the first time in his career, running nine times for 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His longest run was a 27-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter. Four different running backs had touchdowns on the day, as senior Justin Pyle ran eight times for 68 yards and a score, while junior Colin McDermott had a team-high 19 carries for 76 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Junior Cole Chiappialle had just three carries, running for 21 yards, but achieved a 58-yard punt-return touchdown early in the first quarter that made the score 14-0. It's the first punt return touchdown for the Red Raiders since Sheldon Mayer's memorable game against Millersville last season.
 
The 334 rushing yards amassed by the Red Raiders match the team's season high achieved against Clarion in Week 3. Saturday also marked just the second time this season that SU did not commit a turnover.
 
Defensively, 22 different Red Raiders had at least one tackle. Despite limited time on the field, senior Allen Holman managed seven tackles, including one for loss. Sophomore Dae Dae Pierce had six tackles and shared a sack with junior Austin Rosenberry. SU finished with seven tackles for loss, including three sacks.
 
For five consecutive weeks, Shippensburg has shut out the opposition in the second half. The only team to score on the Red Raiders after halftime this season is Gannon, as the Golden Knights managed 10 points in the third quarter back in Week 2. SU has out-scored the opposition 107-10 in the second half, including 79-0 in the fourth quarter.  
 
Shippensburg's school record for single-game points surpasses the old mark of 73, previously achieved three times (1995 vs. LHU, 2012 at KU, 2013 vs. SHU). With the school record for points also comes other records, including single-game touchdowns (11). SU tied the school record for extra points (PATs), as junior Billy Deane converted the first 10 attempts, but the final PAT failed.
 
Shippensburg improved to 25-7 all-time at home under head coach Mark 'Mac' Maciejewski, who achieved his 44th overall victory at the helm of the Red Raiders. Maciejewski is now one victory shy of tying the legendary Vinton Rambo for third on SU's all-time head coaching wins list.
 
The Red Raiders have defeated Cheyney in all 18 career meetings. This is the 15th time in 18 career meetings with the Wolves that SU has won by at least 21 points.
 
Shippensburg travels to Millersville next weekend for a 2 p.m. matchup with the Marauders at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium.