SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team overcame a 14-point halftime deficit in its home opener on Saturday by forcing five turnovers, the last of which was a fumble at the 1-yard line in the final minute of play, to rally and post a frenzied 24-21 victory over Clarion on a warm, sunny and memorable afternoon at Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (1-1) opened an emotional day with a surreal moment, as redshirt-junior running back Tanner Hess returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It gave the Raiders the lead while the SHIP ROTC cannon smoke was still fresh in the air. After scoring, Hess fell to his knees in the end zone, and upon returning to the sideline, he was greeted with a bear hug from head coach Mark Maciejewski, who was in his first game back on the SU sidelines.
 
Yet those were the only points that the Raiders scored in the first half. Clarion (2-1), which racked up 551 yards of total offense, outgained the hosts 222-35 in the second quarter and 380-101 in the first half on the strength of an offense directed by dual-threat quarterback Anthony Guercio. At halftime, Guercio had already rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns in addition to having thrown for 230 yards and another score.
 
The Golden Eagles got the ball to start the second half, but the Raider defense forced a three-and-out and a punt. Adding further to the momentum swing was the SU offense beginning to find its rhythm. A seven-play, 64-yard drive that started with five straight runs (which net 32 yards) was capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Sam Stoner to senior Alex Rufe on SU's only fourth-down attempt of the day – making the score 21-14.
 
The SU defense countered with its second straight three-and-out, and redshirt-freshman running back Andre Weidman opened the next drive with a 31-yard run on his first collegiate carry. The SU drive stalled in Clarion territory, but thus began the turnover party in the second half.
 
Redshirt-freshman safety Gabe Benjamin, who was making his first collegiate start, forced his second fumble of the game on a tackle in the backfield. Redshirt-sophomore defensive tackle Tyler Masdea fell on the ball.
 
After back-to-back completions and a 23-yard run by redshirt-sophomore running back Josiah Leonard, the Raiders were deemed to have beaten the clock at the end of the third quarter as Stoner found tight end Griffin Patterson from four yards out for his first collegiate touchdown to tie the game at 21-21.
 
Just two plays into the fourth quarter, redshirt-junior linebacker Terrance Peterson Jr. sacked Guercio from behind, and the ball came loose as three Raiders brought the quarterback to the ground. Redshirt-freshman Noonie Redfern fell on the loose ball to mark the third SU turnover to that point, but the Raiders were unable to score on the ensuing possession after a missed field goal.
 
The SU defense appeared to have forced another three-and-out on the next series, but Clarion executed a splendid fake punt with a direct snap to the up-back that went for 35 yards. Two plays after the fake punt, however, Guercio was intercepted by junior DJ Jackson at the SU 20-yard line.
 
The Raider offense responded by going 72 yards, ending the drive on a 25-yard field goal by freshman Wilson Ingerski with 4:50 left that proved to be the winning score. Ingerski was deemed to have missed his initial attempt from 30 yards, but a defensive false start penalty gave him a second chance. Three key plays on the drive included an 18-yard run by Hess on a 1st-and-15, a 28-yard completion to sophomore Karim Brice and a 10-yard completion to redshirt-freshman Marcus Sweeney on a 3rd-and-7.
 
Both teams then traded punts, and Clarion got the ball back on its 40-yard line with 1:05 to go and no timeouts. Guercio then returned to his first-half form, slinging four straight completions that got his Golden Eagles to the cusp of the goal line.
 
The fourth completion was hauled in at the 5-yard line by Trevon Tate, who broke a tackle and got inside the 2-yard line, but then encountered junior Josh Lesesne – who stripped the ball loose. Junior safety Ely Ghameshlougy fell on it in the end zone, and after a kneel down, Shippensburg emerged victorious.
 
After being outgained in the first half by 279 yards, Shippensburg outgained Clarion in the second half – 208-171. The Golden Eagles had just three first downs in the second half until their final drive of the game.
 
Jackson tied for a game high with 11 tackles to go along with his interception and a fumble recovery; he fell on the ball after Benjamin's initial strip of a Golden Eagle ball carrier in the first half. Benjamin capped off a career day with 10 tackles (nine solo). Senior captain Javon M. Cruz had a spirited effort from his linebacker spot, posting 10 tackles. Lesesne had seven tackles.
 
SU ran for 145 yards – its highest rushing total in its last seven games. Leonard ran for a team-high 63 yards on 12 carries. Hess finished with 33 yards.

Under center, Stoner was strong in a relief effort -- finishing the game 13-of-22 for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Brice led the Raiders with five catches for 56 yards. Redshirt-sophomore Jaimen Bryant had two catches for 41 yards.
 
Hess finished with 181 all-purpose yards when factoring in his 148 kickoff return yards. Redshirt-junior Tanner Luther booted a 77-yard punt in the second quarter that was downed at the Clarion 3-yard line.
 
Guercio finished the game 24-of-34 for 334 yards in addition to 98 rushing yards. Tate had eight catches for 143 yards.
 
Shippensburg's homestand continues next Saturday when it hosts nationally-ranked Slippery Rock at 1 p.m. in another crossover at Seth Grove Stadium.
 

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