Spring is a time of renewal, a new beginning. The same can be said for the Shippensburg University Football team, as they split up the squad to play the annual Red & White spring game on Saturday.

The “White” team was able to defeat the “Red” team by a score of 15-3, on a day where Red Raider defense dominated.

Overall, there were 10 sacks between the teams, as well as forcing two turnovers on the day. The teams combined to hold the Red Raider offense to a total of 237 yards.

The scoring opened midway through the first quarter when freshman Austin Rosenberry was able to recover a wild snap and rumble into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown, which was followed with a missed extra point attempt.

The “Red” team was able to pull within three when freshman kicker Billy Deane placed a 37-yard kick between the uprights late in the first quarter.

However, that would end the scoring for the “Red” team on the day, as the “White” squad was able to cruise to victory.

Freshman quarterback Ryan Martin, who was the passer for both teams, was able to connect with redshirt-freshman Jeff Gulyas on a three-yard strike midway through the second quarter for the only offensive touchdown of the day. Martin finished the game 27-for-55 with a touchdown and an interception.

The “White” team was able to add on a safety when junior Kurt Walker was able to get to Martin in the end zone during the third quarter to cap the scoring at 15-3.

A college team’s spring game is a great way for a coaching staff to get a look at its younger players in action. This was the case for SU as youth ruled the day for the Red Raiders, with many young players making big contributions to the team’s efforts on both sides of the ball. Freshman Paryss Marshall led all receivers with five catches for 49 yards. Fellow freshman John Ford led the “Red” team with four catches for 45 yards.

On the ground, redshirt freshman Colin McDermott rushed the ball eight times for a team-high 21 rushing yards, while adding two catches and 30 yards through the air.

On the defensive side of the ball, freshman Dylan Herb was able to record an interception and a tackle. Sophomore Kevin Goldsmith and J.T. Lynch were both able to record six solo tackles on the day, with Goldsmith leading the way with nine stops.

Despite missing some key players, the Red Raiders were able to perform well defensively, which was not the case in 2014. The team struggled, only able to finish with a 6-5 record and allowing seven of its eleven opponents to score 30 or more points.

Senior safety, Chad Miller, who missed all of last season after suffering an ankle injury, thinks the team will be able to take steps forward this season.

“Overall, I expect the 2015 season to be an improvement over last season,” Miller said. “Our offense has returning starters and we have new incoming talent that will help in many positions. Our defense should improve greatly in comparison to last year, mainly at the defensive back position. We had many key injuries last season and that left us putting a lot of freshman into games when they weren’t prepared as well as they should have been. Now, with another year under their belts, all the freshman that played last year will have more experience and have a better knowledge for the game helping the whole defense.”

The Red Raiders will need the influx of new talent to fill some big shoes, especially on offense, as SU will lose key contributors to graduation.

Last season’s leading rusher, Blair Brooks, tallied 1171 yards and a team-high 11 rushing touchdowns, but will need to be replaced. The same goes for wide receiver Trevor Harman, who led the Red Raiders with 98 catches this past season and was tied for the team lead with 11 receiving touchdowns.

With an improvement on the defensive side of the ball, and younger players stepping up on offense, the 2015 season has hope for the Red Raiders, who will open regular season play on Sep. 5 at home against Seton Hill.

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