The Shippensburg University football team got off to a great start against Gannon University, putting 14 points up in the first quarter before being held in check the rest of the way in a 24–20 loss at Seth Grove Stadium.
The Red Raiders were rolling in the first quarter, capping off two drives with rushing touchdowns by Justin Pyle and Cole Chiappialle, to lead 14–0.
The Red Raiders racked up 127 yards of total offense in the first quarter and also held the Gannon University high-powered rushing attack in check, allowing only six rushing yards.
In the second quarter, the Red Raiders added another three points off the leg of Billy Deane, who launched a 43-yard field goal through the uprights to take an early 17–0 lead.
“That’s exactly what we want to do, we wanted to come out fast and put some points on the board and that’s what we did,” SU head coach Mark “Mac” Maciejewski said.
Meanwhile, Gannon finally found its stride in the second quarter, putting up 14 points in back-to-back drives. The Golden Knights were sparked by an 82-yard kickoff return by Brandon Mansell and scored on the very next play — a 9-yard strike from Gannon quarterback Zach Phillips to Eli Quinter for the score.
In the third quarter, Gannon drove 99 yards down the field, scoring an 84-yard touchdown on a play-action pass that broke the SU secondary wide open. Running back Tyler Johnson streaked down the middle of the field and caught a touchdown pass that gave the Golden Knights the lead for good.
After the first quarter, the Red Raiders started to struggle offensively. Overall, the Red Raiders finished 7–18 on third down conversions and struggled to keep drives alive.
In the third quarter, SU was marching, sustaining a promising drive that covered 43 yards in just seven plays, before SU quarterback Ryan Zapoticky was hit from behind and fumbled, stalling the drive.
SU’s second best opportunity came in the fourth quarter, after a nine-play 54-yard drive ended in a field goal.
The Red Raiders got the ball back with 1:44 left to play and started a solid drive.
Zapoticky found wide receiver Brady Forney open inside the 15-yard line but he was unable to connect with Forney, stalling the drive. The next play, Zapoticky had to force a throw and was intercepted as time expired.
Overall, Zapoticky finished 28–45 for 256 yards. Wide Receiver Erik Kerns had a solid day, catching 11 passes for 133 yards.
“I don’t know what happened after that [the first quarter],” Maciejewski said. “They had that long kick return, and they had a 99-yard drive and got right back into it.”
The Red Raiders will look to rebound next week against Clarion University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Seth Grove Stadium.
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