After losing to Kutztown University 24-21 in double overtime on homecoming last season, emotions were riding high as the Shippensburg University football team kicked off to the Golden Bears on Saturday, this time looking to play spoiler on Kutztown’s homecoming.

It did not start well, as the Golden Bears’ Nyiem Nevarez returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, but the SU defense settled in and stuffed a high-powered Golden Bear offense, holding them to just 220 yards – Kutztown’s lowest offensive output in eight years — in SU’s 27-13 win at Andre Reed Stadium on Saturday.

“That was a tough way to start the game, but our guys didn’t flinch at all,” SU head coach Mark Maciejewski said. “It was very important that we took that next drive and went down and scored to take that kickoff return out of the picture.”

SU quarterback Ryan Zapoticky led the Red Raiders right down the field, connecting with wide receiver Winston Eubanks twice and running back Cole Chiappialle for a big 21-yard gain. Zapoticky capped off the drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown on a quarterback scramble to tie the game.

Both teams struggled to move the ball on ensuing possessions, until the Red Raiders (8-1, 5-1, PSAC East) got the ball with just more than two minutes left in the opening quarter. Zapoticky again led his team down the field, finishing the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Eubanks, to give SU a 13-0 lead.

In the second quarter, SU forced Kutztown (6-3, 4-2, PSAC East) quarterback Colin DiGalbo into multiple uncharacteristic mistakes, as the Golden Bear signal caller threw interceptions on three-straight drives — all three interceptions coming in the red zone — helping the Red Raiders end multiple scoring threats. DiGalbo finished the game just 7-of-12 for 100 yards and three interceptions. He did not play in the second half.

“Turnovers were huge,” Maciejewski said. “We were able to stop a couple drives in the red zone. They are a huge part of the game and being able to come out on the plus side of that was big for sure.”

SU capitalized on one of DiGalbo’s interceptions, culminating an 8-play, 65-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Chiappialle. SU took a commanding 20-7 lead at the half.

Both teams continued to frustrate opposing offenses, as neither team could get on the scoreboard in the third quarter. In the fourth, it was SU’s chance to put the game away.

With 13:01 left to play, Zapoticky found Eubanks for a second time, this time for a 3-yard touchdown pass to give SU a 27-7 lead. For the Red Raiders, they just had to play out the stretch to come away with a signature win, while avenging their loss to Kutztown last season.

After not scoring since the opening kickoff, the Golden Bears finally got on the board with 8:44 to play on a 1-yard rushing touchdown by tailback Evan Culver. The two-point conversion failed, as the Red Raiders led by two scores.

On the following possession, the Red Raiders chewed the clock, using more than eight minutes on a 14-play 72-yard drive to seal the victory. Chiappialle rushed for 43 yards on that drive alone, finishing with 101 yards and a touchdown.

“Our running backs all ran very hard,” Maciejewski said. “Our offensive line did a great job and they were fired up all game.”

The win was one that was huge for SU, and one that meant everything to a senior class that set high goals of winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) this season after losing to Kutztown last year.

“It was a huge win, obviously because of last year,” Chiappialle said. “We didn’t talk about it this week, but we knew in the back of our minds what happened last year. Since we lost [to West Chester] we came in with a playoff mentality, we’re just trying to survive and advance.”

The SU defense which leads the PSAC in scoring defense, rushing defense, total defense and red-zone defense, once again continued to smother opponents. Senior defensive back Kevin Taylor picked off his fifth pass of the year, while Richard Sheler intercepted two DiGalbo passes in the second.

“Everyone wants to throw on us because our run defense with our linebackers and our defensive line is that good,” Taylor said. 

“We knew they were going to pass and we knew we needed to execute. We wanted to get the ball back to our offense. Turnovers are the most successful thing and most important thing in the game for us.”

Taylor finished the game with six tackles and an interception, while John Durkin recorded SU’s only sack of the game. Sheler recorded six tackles and the two interceptions. The Red Raider defense recorded seven tackles-for-a-loss in the game, while Tig Spinelli led SU with 2.5 tackles-for-a-loss.

On offense, it was a great day for Zapoticky, as he finished 16-of-21 for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Eubanks became the first freshman wide receiver to catch 10 touchdowns in a season, and is just the eighth Red Raider to do so. Eubanks has 953 yards and 10 scores in nine career games.

“They just kept grinding,” Maciejewski said. “Zap didn’t have huge numbers, but he was extremely efficient, not only throwing the ball but also using his legs.”

With the win, SU keeps itself in a tie with West Chester University for first place in the PSAC Eastern Division. West Chester holds the tiebreaker however, with its 37-27 win over SU on Oct. 7.

The Red Raiders need a win against Bloomsburg University and a West Chester loss to Millersville University this Saturday to win the PSAC Eastern Division and earn a spot in the PSAC title game.

The Red Raiders are still very much alive in the postseason hunt however, as the win over the Golden Bears should move SU up in the Atlantic Region rankings. SU will need to be ranked in the Top 7 to earn a spot in the playoffs. SU was ranked No. 9 entering last week, while Kutztown held the No. 7 spot.

“The win was huge,” Maciejewski said. “But we’re concerned with Bloomsburg right now. The big picture is very important to us when the end of the season comes, but we’re going to continue to get better right now and take it one week at a time.”

With the victory, SU finished the regular season 5-0 on the road for the first time since 1981. SU will play host to Bloomsburg on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Seth Grove Stadium.

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