SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Shippensburg University football team was bested in its season opener Saturday, losing a nonconference matchup against NE-10 foe American International College at AIC's Abdow Field, 28-3.
 
Shippensburg (0-1) redshirt-junior Tanner Hess paced the Raiders with 129 all-purpose yards (100 return yards, 24 rushing yards, five receiving), while redshirt-junior linebacker Sam Emge led the SU defense with nine tackles in his first career start.
 
A fired-up SU defense came out on the right foot early on, with senior Javon M. Cruz and Emge delivering hard-hitting tackles on the game's opening drive.
 
American International (1-0) opened the scoring on their next chance, as running back Sidiki Kone broke loose for a 26-yard TD scamper to give the hosts a 7-0 advantage.
 
Hess responded with a 64-yard return of the ensuing kickoff to set up a career-long 47-yard field goal from redshirt-junior Tanner Luther to make it a 7-3 score with 4:29 remaining in the opening frame.
 
The game remained within a single score until AIC quarterback Cephas Williams connected with wideout Fatir Bell on a 36-yard TD pass with 4:23 remaining in the second quarter.
 
An interception by the AIC defense cut the ensuing Raider offensive drive short and set up a back-breaking 13-yard TD reception from Bell with just 45 seconds before halftime.
 
The SU offense, deploying a young offensive line that featured a handful of players making their collegiate debuts, looked its best late in the contest. Redshirt-sophomore quarterback Joey McCracken engineered a 10-play drive that brought the Raiders deep into AIC territory, highlighted by a pair of first down catches by senior tight end Gavin Pritchard.
 
McCracken finished 14-of-25 in pass attempts for 92 yards.
 
Yellow Jackets quarterback Cephas Williams recorded three touchdown passes, finishing 15-of-23 passing for 172 yards.
 
Bell recorded 89 yards through the air and a pair of receiving touchdowns, while Kone totaled 86 yards on 22 attempts.
 
The 2024 season opener also marked the collegiate debut for a number of Raiders, including freshman Carson Swartz, redshirt-freshman Andre Weidman, redshirt-freshman Marcus Sweeney, freshman Xavier Moore, redshirt-freshman Luke Hines, freshman Alex Sauve, freshman Ty Neal, freshman Wilson Ingerski, freshman Josh Graeper, redshirt-freshman AJ Baldwin, freshman Ty Millhimes, freshman Dice Moore, redshirt-freshman Charles Fortney, freshman Peyton Stadler and freshman Cordell Brown.
 
Swartz, Sweeney and Weidman each recorded their first career reception in the contest, while Hines, Stadler and Sauve notched their first career tackles. Baldwin (center) and Graeper (guard) each made starts on the Raider offensive line. Ingerski served as SU's primary kicker on kickoffs and Neal's primary duties was as a return man.
 
Up next, the Raiders play the first of three straight home games at Seth Grove Stadium when they welcome Clarion next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.