The Shippensburg University football team traveled to Lock Haven University on Saturday and took on the Bald Eagles in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play. The Raiders continued their dominance over opponents by crushing Lock Haven, 38–16, thrusting them to a record of 4–1 and 2–0 in the PSAC.

Throughout the first five games of the season, SU has been unwavering on both sides of the ball, but its defensive efforts have been historic thus far.

Shippensburg’s defense has only allowed 64 points through the first four games of this season, which are the fewest points allowed through four games since 2004 when they allowed just 44 points.

Following the trend, SU has only allowed 16 points per game, which is second in all of the PSAC. The impressive defensive unit has not allowed any points to be scored in the fourth quarter so far this season, proving their ability to finish games.

“We strive to be better conditioned than any other team so we can do that in the fourth quarter. We feel like its working and we are more conditioned than our opponents in the fourth quarter,” senior safety D.J. Burkey said.

The team is led by many returning defensivemen, including the two senior safeties, Burkey and Chad Miller.

“We have a lot of returning players from last year so we have that built-up chemistry and we all know what each position group has to do during each play so we can rely on them to do their job and we can focus on doing ours,” Miller said.

The two cornerstones of the defensive unit, Burkey and Miller, are second and third on the team in tackles and heavily attribute to the stellar Raiders defense. Last season, the team won the Division II Turnover Margin Championship, meaning it had the best turnover margin in all of Division II football. The team forced 30 turnovers and only turned the ball over 10 times throughout the course of last season.

The team as a whole continues to improve and dominate opposing offenses. “It all starts with watching film on the team, knowing what they’re going to do and practicing everyday, going full speed and making improvements after each game,” Burkey said.

With one of the best defenses in the PSAC, the team looks to take hold of the PSAC and fight for the championship, which has become a reality.

After the Raider’s contest with Lock Haven, the defense looks to be only getting better as they forced the Bald Eagles to turn the ball over six times throughout the course of the game. Miller played well against Lock Haven by having five total tackles with a fumble recovery. Burkey also impressed this week as he accumulated four tackles and a fumble recovery, solidifying the defense’s ability to create turnovers.

“As a defensive unit, I think we need to keep improving and get some shutouts. We just want to get better each week and each practice with an end goal to be in position to play for the PSAC championships,” Miller said.

The next goal for the defense is to obtain the season’s first shutout, which they have yet to do this year. The Raiders looks for consistency as they travel south to take on the West Chester University Rams on Sat., Oct. 8 at 12 p.m.

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