The Shippensburg University football team traveled to West Chester University on Oct. 8 to take on the Golden Rams in a battle of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division powerhouses.
The Red Raiders entered the game with a challenge, playing without starting quarterback Ryan Zapoticky, who was out with an injury.
Chase Yocum took Zapoticky’s place and played well, but a tough second quarter doomed the Red Raiders, as they fell to the Golden Rams 31–15. Yocum went 12-of-26 passing for 127 yards and a touchdown, while he also threw an interception.
Yocum accounted for 115 yards on the ground as well in the first start of his collegiate career.
West Chester took control of the game early, as quarterback Pat Moriarty found wide receiver Tyler Karpinski for a 5-yard touchdown with 3:55 left to play in the first quarter.
West Chester was not done. The Golden Rams dominated the Red Raiders in the second quarter, scoring 24-unanswered points.
West Chester running back Jarel Elder ran for two scores, one from a yard out and one from two yards out to give West Chester a commanding 21–0 lead. The Golden Rams added another score on a 42-yard field goal off the leg of Brendan Paulison to go up 24–0.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Red Raiders caught a bad break. West Chester decided to kick it short and the ball bounced off SU senior linebacker Allen Holman’s leg. West Chester was able to recover the ball and regain possession. The Golden Rams did not let the extra possession go to waste.
Moriarty found Karpinski again, this time from a yard out for the Golden Rams’ third touchdown of the quarter. West Chester led 31–0 at halftime.
In the first half, the Red Raiders tallied just 43 total yards of offense, to go along with 60 yards in penalties.
SU refused to go away and played a strong second half. The Red Raiders finally got on the scoreboard with 6:02 left in the third quarter, when Yocum found wide receiver Erik Kerns for a 30-yard touchdown pass.
The Red Raiders would add a final score as time ticked off the clock in the fourth quarter. SU completed an 18-play, 98-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Cole Chiappialle, his seventh of the season.
The Red Raiders went for two and converted, as Yocum found tight end Shea O’Donnell for the conversion.
The Red Raiders defense held the West Chester offense in check in the second half, keeping them off the scoreboard. The Red Raiders forced a fumble in West Chester’s only substantial drive of the second half. Tyler Emge forced the fumble, while Chad Miller recovered it.
The Red Raiders have been strong in the second half all season, outscoring opponents 80–10 in the second half, as well as 59–0 in the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders defense has yet to allow points in the fourth quarter this season.
The Red Raiders (4–2, 2–1 PSAC East) will look to bounce back Oct. 14 at Seth Grove Stadium, when the Red Raiders host Cheyney University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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