The Shippensburg University football team wrapped up its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division schedule on Saturday afternoon with a 42-21 loss to Lock Haven at Hubert Jack Stadium.
Shippensburg (2-8, 1-6 PSAC East) totaled 196 rushing yards, its second-highest total of the season, behind strong outings from redshirt-sophomore
Josiah Leonard and freshman
Ethan Arneson. Leonard totaled 102 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns, while Arneson added a career-high 73 yards and scored his first career touchdown.
Lock Haven (4-6, 3-4), the top-ranked passing team in the PSAC, piled up 396 passing yards Saturday. Bald Eagle quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky led the way with a season high five passing touchdowns and 329 yards through the air.
Buoyed by Leonard and the first career start for redshirt-freshman quarterback
Riley Gunnels, SU managed to jump out to an early 14-0 lead.
Leonard broke a 53-yard rush on the Raiders' opening possession, which set up a 5-yard Leonard TD run out of the wildcat formation.
Later in the first quarter, a fumbled snap on a Lock Haven punt attempt was recovered by sophomore
Josh Cordoba, which allowed the Raiders to take over possession at the Lock Haven 8-yard line.
On fourth and goal, Leonard was able to turn the corner on an outside run and crossed the goal line from two yards out, giving the visitors a 14-0 edge.
Ostrowsky came alive after the first 15 minutes, tossing four TD passes in second quarter alone. Wide receiver T'iar Young was the recipient of Lock Haven's first two scores, tying the score at 14-14 early in the second quarter. Chris Hicks added TD receptions of nine and 15 yards to put the Bald Eagles in front, and Lock Haven's KJ Howard capped the 35-0 frame with a back breaking 64-yard TD run just before halftime.
Despite the deficit, the SU offense kept at it, and Arneson sparked the Raiders to their third score. The freshman back toted the ball on eight straight plays spanning the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, eating up 55 yards and eventually finding paydirt.
As the clock winded down, the Raiders had one of their best drives of the contest, traveling 97 yards over nine plays down to the Lock Haven two-yard line before time ran out.
Gunnels finished with 11 completions for 128 yards.
Defensively, senior linebacker
Javon M. Cruz totaled 10 tackles and an interception. Redshirt-freshman linebacker
Nate Myers also finished with 10 stops. Junior
Josh Lesesne registered five tackles and a season high three pass breakups.
Young finished with nine catches for 134 yards for the Bald Eagles.
Shippensburg wraps up its season at 2 p.m. Saturday at IUP.
