SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team was thwarted Saturday in its bid for an Eastern Division title, as visiting Kutztown blocked a potential game-winning field goal on the final play of regulation and later kicked its first field goal of the season to defeat the Red Raiders in double overtime, 24-21, in a madcap Homecoming and Senior Day affair from SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.

Shippensburg (6-3, 4-2 PSAC East) held a 14-0 lead midway through the third quarter, but Kutztown (6-3, 6-0) managed a rally. A pivotal SU penalty following a third-down sack preserved a Golden Bear drive that eventually resulted in a touchdown, and KU later went on to tie the game with 9:01 remaining on a long touchdown run.
 
However, the Red Raiders were in position for the win with three seconds to play after forcing a turnover on downs near midfield with 35 seconds remaining and then hastily driving to the KU 25-yard line.
 
After a Kutztown timeout, a 42-yard field goal attempt by junior Billy Deane was blocked, resulting in the first overtime game at Seth Grove Stadium in 14 years (Oct. 12, 2002 vs. Slippery Rock).
 
Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime after fourth-down pass interference calls preserved each drive. KU faced a fourth-and-11 from the 26-yard line but got new life and scored two plays later. SU faced a fourth-and-4 from the 19-yard line before a penalty eventually resulted in the Red Raiders scoring three plays later (after another pass interference call).
 
In the second overtime, the Red Raiders started with the ball and scored a touchdown that was called back on a holding penalty. Deane had to eventually attempt a 47-yard field goal into the wind, which came up just short. Kutztown then drove to the SU 6-yard line, and on fourth down, KU kicker Brandon Keffer converted a 23-yard field goal, his first field-goal attempt of the year, for the win.
 
Junior Cole Chiappialle was named the Shippensburg VFW Offensive MVP of the Homecoming game for totaling 97 all-purpose yards (44 receiving, 27 rushing, 26 on returns) and scoring the only touchdown of the first half on a one-yard touchdown run.
 
Junior Kevin Taylor II was named the Shippensburg VFW Defensive MVP of the Homecoming game for intercepting two passes, returning one for a 40-yard touchdown, and totaling five tackles with one pass break-up. Taylor's "pick-six" gave SU its 14-0 lead in the third quarter.
 
The game was played in front of a capacity crowd of more than 7,000 strong at Seth Grove Stadium on a picturesque 70-degree day – almost unseasonably warm for a late October afternoon.
 
Shippensburg's defense put forth a truly spirited effort and received contributions from a host of performers.
 
Linebacker Allen Holman, one of 15 Red Raider seniors playing for the final time at home, had the most tackles in a game by an SU player in 11 years. Holman finished with a career-high 17 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, with one pass break-up. It is the most tackles in a game by a Red Raider since safety John Sharbaugh had the same amount versus Shepherd on Sept. 3, 2005.
 
SU picked off DiGalbo four times – matching the redshirt-freshman's total through his first six games. In addition to Taylor's interceptions, senior D.J. Burkey had a first-quarter pick that led to Chiappialle's touchdown, and sophomore Tyler Emge stymied a fourth-quarter drive by KU with a pick at the SU 17-yard line. Emge finished with 11 tackles.
 
Sophomore Richard Nase had eight tackles – one short of his career high – including two tackles-for-loss. Included in that total is a shared sack with junior Austin Rosenberry.
 
Senior Kevin Goldsmith also had eight tackles, while sophomore Dakota Thompson had five tackles. Both men also combined on the sack that set SU up for the potential game-winning field goal in the final minute of regulation.
 
The Red Raider pass rush only had the two sacks – but their pressure yielded a whopping five enforced holding penalties against Kutztown's offensive line (two others were declined due to results of plays).
 
The two teams combined for 22 penalties and 206 penalty yards, with both squads accumulating three figures in yardage (KU – 101, SU – 105). Both teams also struggled mightily on third down, with SU converting just 4-of-19 while KU was 4-of-17.
 
With the exception of a 63-yard run by tailback Craig Reynolds and a 33-yard scramble by quarterback Collin DiGalbo, the Red Raiders limited the visitors to an average of three yards per carry (126 yards on 36 other attempts). KU entered as the No. 13 rushing offensive in the country (249.6).
 
Shippensburg also managed to hold Kutztown scoreless in the first half for the first time all season. SU's defensive limited the Golden Bears to just 108 yards on offense over the first 30 minutes.
 
Deane had a great day punting, totaling seven boots for a net average of 38.3 yards per punt. He did not allow a KU punt return, as his kicks included four fair catches and two touchbacks. Two of his kicks went for 50 or more yards, and two landed inside the 20-yard line.
 
Sophomore Chase Yocum and redshirt-freshman Landon Archangelo again rotated at quarterback on the day. Yocum ran 13 times for 63 yards and scored SU's overtime touchdown while throwing for 37 yards. Archangelo completed 11 passes for 105 yards.
 
Kutztown won in Shippensburg for the first time since 1995, a time when it had future NFL All-Pro linebacker John Mobley roaming the field. SU's 10-game home winning streak over the Golden Bears was also snapped, as the visitors won for just the fourth time in 34 career meetings in Shippensburg.
 
The victory clinched the PSAC Eastern Division title for Kutztown, who will go on to play in the State Game on November 12.
 
SU's second-half scoreless streak ended at six consecutive games on Saturday, as the Golden Bears totaled 14 second-half points to force overtime. The Red Raiders had allowed just 10 second-half points through the first eight games of the season.
 
Shippensburg will travel to Bloomsburg next weekend for a 2 p.m. matchup with the Huskies.