SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team could not overcome an early deficit in its season opener on Saturday as it dropped a 23-7 decision to Bowie State in a non-conference matchup at SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
 
Shippensburg (0-1) outgained Bowie State (1-0) by 47 yards but committed three turnovers and went just 2-of-11 on third and fourth down. The visiting Bulldogs did not commit any turnovers and outgained the Raiders on the ground, 145-50.
 
Bowie also maintained possession for 20:18 in the second half and was 5-for-10 on third down in that span, keeping the ball away from the Raiders for the majority of the final 30 minutes.
 
Riley Gunnels got the start at quarterback and was 25-of-38 with one touchdown and one interception. His 272 passing yards were just 10 short of his career total entering the game. He also distributed the ball to 10 different receivers on the day.
 
Jaevon Parker had a game and career-high eight receptions for 62 yards and the lone Raider touchdown – a highlight-reel grab from 10 yards out that got SU within a touchdown entering halftime.
 
Defensively, linebacker Nate Myers was all over the field with a game high and career-high 13 tackles – including a 13-yard sack and another tackle-for-loss. Ty Millhimes had a 14-yard sack, and DJ Jackson recorded multiple pass breakups.
 
The Bulldogs grabbed the momentum at the outset by driving 66 yards in the opening two minutes to score a touchdown and take a 7-0 lead. Malakai Anthony found Challenger Valentine for a 29-yard touchdown in the far corner of the end zone.
 
The score remained 7-0 until the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, when a pivotal play kept the edge with the Bulldogs.
 
On a second-and-1 near midfield, Bulldog safety Samuel Graham wrapped up the Raider running back, wrestled the ball out of his hands, and ran untouched 48 yards to the end zone for a defensive touchdown. It made the score 13-0, as post-play penalties on Bowie resulted in a longer PAT attempt that was missed.
 
SU got some momentum back with Parker's touchdown late in the opening half. On a third-and-6 from the 10-yard line, Parker – while being interfered with – deflected the pass into the air and back to himself as he remained in the endzone for a circus grab. It capped a nine-play, 65-yard drive that lasted more than five minutes.
 
The Raiders had five possessions in the second half but could not capitalize on two long drives – another nine-play, 65-yard drive ended at the Bowie 11-yard line when the Bulldogs made a stop on a fourth-and-2, and a 10-play drive at the end of the game got the Raiders to the 2-yard-line.
 
The Bulldogs got an efficient performance at quarterback from Anthony, who was 12-of-19 for 140 yards, and its running back duo of Micah Robinson and Maximus Jones. The two combined for 30 carries, 146 yards and a touchdown.
 
Shippensburg returns to action at 1 p.m. Saturday at Clarion.