Thanks to a huge performance from redshirt-freshman quarterback Brycen Mussina and the Red Raider offense in the second half, the Shippensburg University football team claimed a 56–37 win over a fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) squad in Lock Haven University (LHU).

Mussina continued to improve from week to week and had the most efficient outing of his season so far. In the defeat to Kutztown University last weekend, he threw for more than 500 yards and four touchdowns, but had two interceptions. 

This week, Mussina finished with just less than 300 yards, but had five touchdowns with no turnovers. It was only the second time all season that Mussina did not throw an interception, and first since the opening game of the season against Clarion University.

Unlike the Kutztown game, the SU offense did not need to completely rely on its passing game to carry the team. The run attack had its best game since the one against Millersville University a couple weeks ago. As a unit, it racked up 231 total yards — 152 of which came from redshirt-sophomore running back Raleigh Sirb. The yardage was a career-high for Sirb and was the first time a Raider reached the 100-yard mark this season.

Senior quarterback Chase Yocum also had a good day running the ball on the way to claiming a school record. Yocum passed former starting quarterback Ryan Zapoticky for most career rushing yards for a quarterback in SU history (1,289). 

He had 56 yards rushing with two touchdowns. Yocum also took some snaps on special teams, serving as the kick returner on a couple occasions. He even had a 66-yard return to open the second half.

SU trailed for the majority of the game and continuously had to claw its way back into the game. The defense did not have its best performance, allowing 449 total yards to the Bald Eagles, but the unit tightened up and limited the LHU offense in the second half. 

SU forced three turnovers and sacked Tobias twice — one apiece from redshirt-senior linemen Richard Nase and John Durkin. 

The Bald Eagles scored on both of their first drives of the game, running out to an early 10–0 lead.

The Red Raider offense got the jumpstart it needed thanks to a Terez Franklin interception of LHU quarterback Cameron Tobias. The redshirt-sophomore defensive back picked him off at LHU’s own 11-yard line, giving his offense little work to do. 

Yocum did all the work, ending the drive with a 2-yard touchdown scamper to make it 10–7 as time wound down in the first quarter.

SU took its first lead of the game just three minutes into the second, after a big 22-yard run from Sirb brought the ball into LHU territory. Sirb carried the offense the rest of the way, before Mussina found his favorite target in redshirt-junior wide receiver Josh Gontarek for a 10-yard score. Gontarek finished with a career-high three touchdowns and 58 yards, continuing his streak of impressive performances.

The Bald Eagles did not stay down and responded with two consecutive touchdowns to take the lead back, scoring with just more than a minute remaining in the first half to make it 23–14. The Red Raiders came out flying to start the second half, as Yocum’s big return put the offense at the LHU 31. Mussina had a couple short completions before finding Gontarek for another score on a short pass over the middle.

The defense came up big on the following drive, as redshirt-senior defensive lineman Dakota Thompson tackled Tobias and forced a fumble inside LHU territory to make it a short field for the SU offense once again. 

The Red Raiders capitalized quickly, only needing one play to recapture the lead. Mussina went back to Gontarek for his third consecutive score on a 16-yard completion.

The LHU offense would respond immediately, as Tobias threw his third and final touchdown of the day to make it 30–28 in favor of the Bald Eagles midway through the third quarter. The teams started moving downfield at free will, as the Red Raiders were led by Sirb — who had 63 yards on the drive — before Yocum ran it in from two yards for his second of the day.

SU started pulling away at this point and the offense scored on its fourth drive in a row on a 26-completion to redshirt-freshman receiver Mari Wright to push the score to 42–30 in favor of the Red Raiders. 

All Sirb’s hard work finally paid off, as he broke off a 13-yard run for a touchdown for the team’s fifth consecutive scoring drive.

After the defense gave up a huge 86-yard run to LHU running back Chantz Swartz, the offense extended the deficit with the final score of the game, making it 56–37. Mussina connected with star redshirt-sophomore receiver Winston Eubanks for only the fifth time in the game, but it was a 53-yard completion for a touchdown.

Redshirt-junior defensive back Jailen Harmon really sealed the victory with his second interception of the season and the defense’s third turnover of the day. 

The Red Raiders looked sharp after a disappointing loss in the Homecoming game to the rival Golden Bears last weekend and returned to winning form. 

Only two matchups remain on the schedule, as East Stroudsburg University comes to Seth Grove Stadium for SU’s final home stand of the season, before the season rounds out with a trip to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Kickoff for the matchup with the Warriors is at 1 p.m. this Saturday.

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