After three long road trips, the Shippensburg University football team made its return to Seth Grove Stadium a triumphant one, keeping Lock Haven University from getting any momentum in a 37-6 win on Saturday.

The Red Raiders had a dominant defensive performance that included SU’s fourth defensive touchdown of the season as Chavez Cheatham stripped Lock Haven’s Kyeef Williams and SU linebacker Tyler Emge returned the fumble for a 25-yard touchdown on the Bald Eagles’ first play from scrimmage. 

SU’s win was its second-straight decisive win in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division play.

“If you want to start a game off the right way, that’s the way to do it,” SU head coach Mark Maciejewski said. “We were fortunate to cause the fumble and score. We take a lot of pride in scoring on defense.”

The touchdown was Emge’s second of the year and it helped set the tone for the game.

“We love when we defer the coin toss to get going on defense and we try to make a statement,” Emge said. “We were mad about last week, even though we got the shutout we didn’t get a defensive touchdown so we wanted to come out and get another one.”

After SU took an early 7-0 lead, the Red Raiders continued to pound the Bald Eagles in the first quarter, as senior quarterback Ryan Zapoticky found redshirt junior wide receiver Kyle Haines sprinting to the right corner of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown pass to give SU a 14-0 lead. 

Kicker Billy Deane added a 24-yard field goal later to spark the rout. 

“Give credit to our offensive line, and Zap is having a great season,” Haines said. “Everyone is doing a great job of running routes and doing everything they’re supposed to do.”

In the second quarter, Lock Haven finally got on the board with a field goal. 

Their excitement was short-lived, however, as SU workhorse running back Colin McDermott celebrated his birthday in style, running off-tackle for a 2-yard touchdown just before the half to give SU a 24-3 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, Lock Haven kicker Nick Boumerhi added a 34-yard field goal to cut the SU lead to 18, but it was all SU from that point on. Zapoticky found Haines again, this time from 28-yards out and McDermott once again jogged into the end zone to give the Raiders the 37-6 victory.

While the Red Raiders gained 400 yards of total offense, the real strength was in SU’s defense. Lock Haven quarterbacks Jimmy Strickland and Kyle Knight were uncomfortable all game, as the SU defensive line put endless amounts of pressure on the Bald Eagle signal callers, registering seven sacks in the victory.

Defensive end Dakota Thompson was the direct beneficiary of the constant pressure, racking up three sacks while also recovering a fumble. SU’s John Durkin, Tig Spinelli, Christian Brown and Emge each had sacks.

“You don’t normally get three sacks in a game and all the hurries so when you do get that opportunity its awesome,” Thompson said. “It’s a great feeling and they were definitely stressing all game.”

The defense’s ability to continue to put together strong games has been SU’s strong point this season, as the Red Raiders have allowed just six points in their last three games and SU has outscored opponents 190-46 this season.

Zapoticky finished the game 12-of-23 for 180 yards and two touchdowns, despite a chilly and breezy day. With his 42 rushing yards, Zapoticky became just the ninth quarterback in PSAC history and the first in SU history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in his career.

It was also Coaches to Cure MD day nationwide and the football team welcomed back a special guest in 15-year-old Ethan Pyles, who is currently battling muscular dystrophy. The Red Raiders had 6-year-old Gunnar Downie in attendance to dot the “i” during the SU marching band’s pre-game performance. The Red Raiders gave Downie the game ball after the game.

“As much as it’s fun to win and we’re here to do that on the field, it’s also about those two men and to help them fight their battles and support them,” Maciejewski said. “That is a true victory right there.”

SU now prepares for its biggest test of the 2017 season as it welcomes West Chester University, fresh off a 27-21 win over Kutztown University. West Chester was the pre-season favorite to win the PSAC Eastern Division, and the Red Raiders will look to avenge a 31-15 loss to the Golden Rams from last season.

“They are a very good football team and so are we,” Maciejewski said. “We have to work really hard this week and it’s going to be a battle, but we’re at home so we’re excited about that.”

SU defeated West Chester 27-11 on homecoming in the Golden Rams’ last trip to SU. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium.

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