Gallery: (8-29-2026) 2026 Football vs. Lock Haven 8.29
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team got off to a strong start Saturday in its 2026 season opener, establishing a 9-0 lead that lasted late into the second quarter, but could not stave off a strong response from Lock Haven as it dropped a 24-16 non-conference clash to the Bald Eagles on a warm and sunny day at Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium.
Shippensburg (0-1) forced a 3-and-out defensively to start the game and, on its first series on offense this season, unleashed a 22-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 12:40. SU had six first downs on the drive, going 4-for-6 on third down in addition to converting once on fourth down, but ultimately settled for a 37-yard field goal by junior
Wilson Ingerski to open the scoring.
On the next play from scrimmage,
Mere Durham stepped up from his spot in the secondary to force a fumble on a run play by that was recovered by
Dave Hines Jr. at the Bald Eagle 21-yard line.
Two minutes into the second quarter, quarterback
Roman Jensen found
Caiden Pines in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked – giving SU a 9-0 lead.
That lead remained until the final three minutes of the half. Lock Haven (1-0) made a quarterback change, and in his first series, Carson Nagle heaved a 26-yard touchdown to Mekhi Watson that made the score 9-7 – a margin that lasted into halftime.
The Bald Eagles settled in with Nagle's play under center and a strong push from its defense. Lock Haven limited SU's offense to five plays or less on six consecutive drives while scoring on its first three drives of the second half to take a 24-9 lead with nine minutes to go.
Shippensburg did not relent, putting forth a strong push in the final quarter. A nine-play Raider drive resulted in a turnover on downs, however, and after forcing another punt, the Raiders were then pinned on their own 12-yard line with 3:46 left to play.
On the first play of the drive, however, Jensen found
Derek Guzman wide open for what proved to be a 74-yard pass connection that ended on the Lock Haven 14-yard line. After a 10-yard rush by
Sam Massaquoi got SU to the 4-yard line, four straight incompletions resulted in another turnover on downs.
With 1:47 left, Shippensburg got the ball back on the Lock Haven 33-yard line and scored in two plays. Jensen found
Chris Adegunle for a 26-yard completion and on the next play threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Massaquoi to create the final score line.
Jensen was among the host of Raiders making their collegiate debut on Saturday. He finished 20-of-29 for 266 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked six times – two of which resulted in fumbles recovered by the Bald Eagles. Jensen also ran 12 times for 32 yards.
Guzman led the Raiders with a career-high 114 receiving yards; Adegunle had five catches for 97 yards (including a dazzling 42-yard catch along the sideline).
Defensively, junior captain
Nate Myers led the Raiders with 12 tackles from his spot at middle linebacker. Among those were 2.0 tackles-for-loss and two pass breakups.
Kaden Shope, who made his first collegiate start at safety, intercepted a pass in the first half.
Lock Haven was paced offensively by Nagle, who finished 12-of-22 for 123 yards and two touchdowns coming off the bench. Tailback Ezequiel Johnson ran for 71 yards and a touchdown. The Bald Eagles tallied 12.0 TFLs – LucRichard Rameau and Martin Wantong each had 1.5 sacks.
Shippensburg is off next week; it returns to action Thursday, Sept. 10 at West Virginia Wesleyan.
