The Shippensburg University football team was unable to overcome four turnovers in its 2022 season opener Saturday, dropping a 29-6 decision at West Virginia State in non-conference action at Dickerson Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (0-1) took a 6-3 lead in the first quarter when, following a West Virginia State (1-0) field goal, sophomore Redd Douglas returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown.
 
It proved to be the only points of the game for the Raiders. SU totaled 174 yards of offense, with sophomore Ian Sheehan (five catches, 71 yards) leading the receivers and redshirt-sophomore Nasai Moon (12 carries, 41 yards) leading the ball carriers.
 
Redshirt-freshmen quarterbacks Sam Johnson III and Joey McCracken combined to go 15-of-25 for 146 yards but threw three interceptions, and they were sacked eight times. The longest Raider pass play of the day was a 31-yard connection from McCracken to Sheehan.
 
Defensively, SU collected 10 tackles-for-loss (TFLs), including two sacks. Riley Good was one of five players with a team-high six tackles, including a team-high 3.0 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) that included an 11-yard sack. Javon Cruz had six tackles, including 2.0 TFLs.
 
For the second consecutive year, West Virginia State held a 10-6 halftime lead. The score remained 10-6 heading into the fourth quarter, when the Yellowjackets pulled away with three touchdowns.
 
Shippensburg hosts Seton Hill at 1 p.m. Saturday in the home opener at SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.