The Shippensburg University football team dropped a 42-0 decision at No. 4 Slippery Rock on Saturday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contest at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (0-3) gained 366 yards of total offense – only 54 yards less than Slippery Rock (3-0) – but could not overcome six turnovers (three interceptions, three fumbles) and a flurry of big plays by the hosts.
 
The Raider defense established some early momentum by stopping Slippery Rock on fourth down on each of the first two drives. However, The Rock opened the scoring with 5:47 left in the first quarter by returning a Raider punt 71 yards for a touchdown.
 
SRU scored 21 of its 42 points off turnovers. Its final two touchdowns were long pass plays of 58 and 61 yards respectively that resulted from missed tackles.
 
Shippensburg's spirited effort included several noteworthy performances.
 
Linebacker Nate Myers made 12 tackles in the first half – including two big tackles-for-loss (TFLs) in the red zone. Myers also had a tackle on one of the fourth-down stops. He finished the game leading all players with 13 tackles.
 
Through the first four weeks of the season (when including Week 0), Myers leads the PSAC in tackles per game (12.0) and TFLs per game (2.17).
 
Riley Gunnels achieved a career high in passing for the second time this season, finishing 30-of-50 for 295 yards. Gunnels, currently second in the PSAC in passing yards per game (270.7), is the first SU quarterback to record 200 or more passing yards in three straight games since Brycen Mussina did so in four straight games (Weeks 2-5) in 2021.
 
Additionally, Gunnels is the first Raider quarterback to complete 30 passes in a game since Max DeVinney achieved the feat on Sept. 21, 2019 at Cal (Pa.).  
 
Joziah Gonzalez led the Raiders with season highs of seven receptions and 81 receiving yards. Gonzalez also paced the Raiders with 121 all-purpose yards after contributing a 24-yard kick return and a 16-yard punt return.
 
Josiah Leonard entered Saturday having never caught more than two passes in a game; he finished Saturday with career highs of five receptions and 54 receiving yards. Leonard was successful in the screen game; his 59 yards after catch (YAC) makes for a higher total than his statistical output of receiving yards. Overall, he finished with 90 all-purpose yards, as he added 36 yards on the ground.
 
Nathan Beighley gathered 72 all-purpose yards, including a team-high 47 rushing yards. Jaevon Parker had five catches for 50 yards while Derek Guzman had four catches for 54 yards.

SU did get The Rock to commit one turnover, as Connor Black forced a fumble on a punt return that was recovered by Gabe Benjamin.
 
Slippery Rock's DaOne Owens made his first career start at quarterback after leading his team to a comeback victory last week over Shepherd. Owens finished 16-of-27 for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Running back JayJay Jordan had 11 carries for 102 yards.
 
The Rock had six sacks – five of Gunnels and one of Vincent Micucci – and 11.0 TFLs overall.
 
Shippensburg opens PSAC Eastern Division play at 1 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Bloomsburg for Family Day at Seth Grove Stadium.

FOOTBALL: Playing BIG against BIG competition. Linebacker Nate Myers has 12 first half tackles at #4 Slippery Rock, including two tackles for loss! 💪 pic.twitter.com/qCKEDJhSG8

— Shippensburg University Raiders (@ShipURaiders) September 20, 2025