SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team held its opponent to single digits for the second straight week and for the third time overall this season as it downed the Millersville Marauders in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division tilt Saturday on a windy, overcast day at Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium, 13-7.
 
The Raiders' (2-6, 2-3 PSAC East) defensive unit, having previously allowed just nine points in an overtime loss at PSAC East-leaders Kutztown, put forth another dominant effort to earn the victory, holding the Marauders (3-5, 1-4) to just 21 yards rushing and a stingy 3-for-21 on third down conversions. Junior linebacker Javon M. Cruz contributed a career-high 10 tackles, including eight solo, and a fumble recovery that led to the Raiders' only touchdown. Redshirt-junior Chisom Ifeanyi totaled three of SU's six quarterback sacks Saturday, nearly doubling his career total.
 
The Marauders, held scoreless until 2:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, had a chance to steal a win with a successful two-minute drive late, but the Shippensburg defense stepped up one final time, allowing just six yards before forcing a turnover on downs to seal the victory.
 
Millersville had chances to jump out to an early advantage. A first quarter fumble recovered by defensive back Tyler Malik-Ismail in Shippensburg territory led to a Millersville 1st and goal from the two, but the opportunity was denied thanks to a goal line interception from sophomore DJ Jackson.
 
A long Millersville drive resulted in zero points again in the second quarter, as a Marauder 24-yard field goal attempt drifted wide right.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Tanner Hess delivered a jolt for what had been a stagnant Shippensburg offense, breaking a big 50-yard run to begin a Raider drive midway through the second quarter. The drive reached the Millersville five-yard line before stalling, resulting in a 25-yard field goal from junior Jaxson Montross.
 
On the very next possession, a strip sack by graduate Evan Townsend-Henry was recovered by Cruz on the Millersville 13, and two plays later Hess ran the ball in from 8 yards out to give the hosts a 10-0 edge.
 
Hess finished with a game-high 111 yards on the ground Saturday, marking the third time Hess has eclipsed 100 yards rushing this season in only five starts – becoming the first Raider to rush for 100 yards three times in a season since Luke Durkin in 2019. He ranks 11th in the PSAC with 491 rushing yards on the season.
 
The score remained the same until a two-yard goal-line plunge from Millersville running back Jaheim Morris late in the fourth quarter. Morris, coming off a career-high 229 yards the week prior, was held to 11 yards rushing on seven carries by the SU defense Saturday.
 
Ifeanyi's three-sack game is the first of its kind by a Raider since Tim Bradley had three at East Stroudsburg on Nov 09, 2019.
 
Senior Brandon Holt halted another Millersville drive with a first half interception. senior Jacoby Sherard and redshirt-freshman Ibrahim Diawara rounded out the Raiders' six sacks.
 
Saturday's contest resembled a game of hot potato, as both teams combined for an astonishing 37 offensive possessions. The average drive covered just nine yards and took 1:36 off the game clock.
 
The Raiders finished a paltry 1-of-17 on third down conversions themselves, but made the most of their opportunities, going 3-for-3 in red-zone chances.
 
Redshirt-sophomore punter Tanner Luther also helped sway the game in the Raiders' favor, pinning the Marauders back inside their own 20 four times in 11 attempts.
 
The Raiders head back on the road next week to take on East Stroudsburg Saturday at 1 p.m. They then welcome Lock Haven in two weeks for Shippensburg University's Homecoming Game Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.