SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team raced out to a 24-0 lead on Saturday in its 2017 season opener and never looked back, as the Red Raiders ultimately dispatched visiting American International by a 41-7 score from a rain-drenched SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (1-0) totaled 451 yards, including 342 through the air, while the defense forced three turnovers and nearly pitched a shutout. The Red Raiders had 13 plays that went for 10 or more yards on the afternoon, as senior quarterback Ryan Zapoticky finished 29-of-46 for 342 yards and three touchdowns.
 
SU's offensive performance marks the most points allowed by American International (0-1) in a season opener in 17 years. The Yellowjackets finished the 2016 season ranked ninth in NCAA Division II in total defense, allowing an average of just 174 passing yards per contest.
 
Including last year's season-opening matchup, Zapoticky is 56-of-81 with 707 passing yards in two career contests against the Yellowjackets. By comparison, no other opposing quarterback has thrown for more than 223 yards in a single game against AIC since the start of the 2015 season.
 
Just four plays into Saturday's season opener, the Red Raider defense had forced a turnover. Sophomore Tig Spinelli, making his first career start at middle linebacker, forced a fumble after a reception that was recovered by sophomore Dennis Robinson – himself who was making his first collegiate start at safety.
 
A nine-play SU drive ensued, culminating with a one-yard keeper by Zapoticky for the game's first score. A 17-point second quarter included touchdown receptions by sophomores Shea O'Donnell and Kyle Haines, as the Red Raiders went into halftime with a 24-7 advantage.
 
The visiting Yellowjackets were never quite put away until late in the contest – with the decisive score being a connection between Zapoticky and redshirt-freshman Winston Eubanks on a 33-yard touchdown. Eubanks made a nifty lunging catch, toe-tapping the back of the end zone to cap off an eight-play, 59-yard drive at the 7:42 mark of the fourth quarter.
 
Sophomore Eric Dzieniszewski closed out the scoring with 6:13 to play when jumped a route to intercept a pass and return it 28 yards for a touchdown. Junior J.T. Hopple made his first collegiate start at safety in the contest and also intercepted a pass in the third quarter – an effort that resulted in a 38-yard field goal by senior Billy Deane.
 
SU's refurbished receiving corps was on full display Saturday, with Eubanks and Haines leading the way. Eubanks had a debut to remember, totaling eight receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown. Haines finished with seven catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt-freshman Abel Hoff had four catches for 71 yards in his debut.
 
Senior Cole Chiappialle notched his third 100-yard rushing game as a Red Raider – finishing the day with 108 yards over 24 carries. Chiappialle also had six catches for 30 yards – finishing the day with 30 touches out of the backfield.

Spinelli was SU's leading tackler, totaling 11 stops on the day and two forced fumbles. The Red Raider defense amassed seven tackles for loss, including 1.5 each by senior Austin Rosenberry and junior Richard Nase. Nase and fellow end junior Dakota Thompson applied constant pressure to AIC quarterback Kwame Jarvis all game long, combining for double-digit quarterback hurries.
 
Shippensburg begins a three-game road swing next weekend when it heads to Erie for a noon matchup on Saturday at Gannon. SU will be looking to avenge a home loss suffered at the hands of the Golden Knights in last year's Week 2 meeting.