SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team could not overcome a substantial first-half deficit against visiting Clarion on Saturday, as the Red Raiders dropped the 2019 season opener by a 48-28 margin to the Golden Eagles on a sunny afternoon from Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (0-1) totaled 324 yards of offense – 238 yards in the second half – but could not overcome three first-half turnovers that resulted in 20 Golden Eagle points. Despite trailing 34-0 at halftime, the Red Raiders got as close as 13 points, 41-28, with 10:31 left. SU scored all four of its touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the second half that comprised just 7:43 of game clock.
 
Clarion (1-0) totaled 341 yards on the ground, including 186 yards and three touchdowns by tailback Mylique McGriff. Additionally, the quarterback tandem of Jeff Clemens and Michael Proios combined for 116 rushing yards on just nine carries – a sum that is 12 more yards than the duo achieved through the air.
 
The Golden Eagles' defensive-line play was decisive, producing four sacks and numerous quarterback hurries. Forty-eight of Clarion's 69 offensive plays were rushes, resulting in a 34:55 to 25:05 advantage in time of possession.
 
SU redshirt-sophomore quarterback Brycen Mussina completed 24-of-39 passes for 264 yards and two second-half scores, including a 25-yard strike to redshirt-junior wide receiver Winston Eubanks and an 18-yard hookup to sophomore tight end David Balint III. Eubanks finished with seven receptions for a game-high 107 yards, achieving his 10th-career 100-yard receiving game. Balint matched Eubanks with seven receptions and had 64 receiving yards.
 
Numerous Red Raiders spanning both sides of the ball made their collegiate debuts on Saturday. Among them was tailback Bill Williams, who hit the field for the first time in the third quarter and finished with 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
 
Defensively, redshirt-sophomore Cameron Tinner recorded the lone Red Raider sack. Redshirt-sophomore linebacker Laron Woody recorded his first career interception in the third quarter, an action that led to a Red Raider touchdown on the ensuing play.
 
Redshirt-senior safety Dennis Robinson led the Red Raiders with nine tackles, eight of which came in the first half. Redshirt-freshman Tyler Simon had seven tackles, including multiple stops on special teams, while fellow rookie Tyler Petucci had two tackles-for-loss (TFLs) among his four stops. Redshirt-sophomore Josh Russo was credited with six tackles.
 
Saturday's loss snapped a 12-game winning streak over Clarion that dated back to 2000 and a streak of five consecutive victories in season openers for the Red Raiders. Clarion achieved their first victory at Seth Grove Stadium since 1996.
 
The Red Raiders will hit the road for their next two contests, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday at nationally-ranked Slippery Rock.