SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team had its 2017 season come to an end on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 27-6 decision to visiting West Chester in an NCAA Division II Football Round One matchup from a cold and waterlogged SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (10-2) could not find its footing on a rainy day at home, yielding 300 first-half yards to West Chester (9-3) while managing just 128 yards of its own in that span. Senior quarterback Ryan Zapoticky completed 16-of-42 passes for 162 yards on the day and also led the team in rushing with 78 yards. His fourth-quarter touchdown was the lone score of the game for the Red Raiders.
 
The decisive second quarter featured a 186-30 margin in yards for the visitors, who scored a pair of touchdowns to take a 21-0 halftime lead. West Chester finished with an 11-minute edge in time of possession, as the Red Raiders only had one drive of more than three minutes and were forced to punt nine times.
 
Junior safety Richard Sheler had a career-high 12 tackles and intercepted a pass late in the first half. Sophomore Tig Spinelli had 11 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss (TFLs). Senior Chavez Cheatham and junior Steven Cain each were credited with eight tackles.
 
Redshirt-freshman Abel Hoff had six catches for 64 yards – his second-most receptions in a single game. Sophomore Kyle Haines finished with three receptions for 26 yards, while redshirt-freshman Winston Eubanks had two catches for 42 yards.
 
Senior Billy Deane averaged 38 yards per punt, including a long of 55 yards.

Shippensburg made its sixth NCAA postseason appearance in school history (1981, 1991, 2004, 2009, 2012). The Red Raiders are now 3-6 all-time in the NCAA Football Playoffs.