Shippensburg University’s football team looked sound on offense this week, but it was not enough in a 28-23 road loss to Seton Hill University. 

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Joey McCracken went 7-for-9 for 124 yards before suffering an injury in the second quarter, but redshirt sophomore Sam Johnson III stepped in and threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns, along with an interception.

The Raiders’ offense scored early, with junior kicker Jaxson Montross kicking a 34-yard field goal on the first drive to make it 3-0. McCracken then connected on a 71-yard pass to junior Jake DeLuccia later in the quarter, with DeLuccia then scoring from a yard out to make it 10-0.

Miscues began for the Raiders in the second quarter, with junior Adam DeGregorio muffing a punt that was recovered by the Griffins. Seton Hill then blocked a Montross punt later in the quarter and capitalized on the great field position with a 2-yard rushing touchdown to make it 10-7.

McCracken left with an injury on the next drive, with Johnson III coming in and playing the rest of the game at quarterback. Seton Hill scored a 55-yard passing touchdown from quarterback Hayden Teska to wide receiver Mark Bails Jr. on their next drive to make it 14-10. 

Shippensburg retook the lead with three minutes left in the second quarter, with Johnson III throwing a 25-yard pass to redshirt freshman Jaimen Bryant to take a 17-14 lead. The Griffins responded though, with Teska throwing a 64-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Fame, making the halftime score 21-17 in favor of Seton Hill.

After the Raiders missed a 43-yard field goal attempt on their first drive of the second half, Seton Hill scored a 74-yard touchdown drive that took seven minutes and 24 seconds off the clock, with running back Tre Mason scoring from 2 yards out to put Seton Hill ahead by 11.

Johnson III connected with junior Redd Douglas early in the fourth quarter for a 25-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-23 after a failed two-point conversion. Both offenses then sputtered out though, with Shippensburg’s final drive ending on an incompletion by Johnson on fourth-and-5 in Seton Hill territory. The Griffins took over on downs and ran out the clock.

Raiders quarterbacks combined for 308 yards through the air, but the rushing game could only muster 43 yards for the contest, which includes four sacks allowed. DeLuccia was the leading rusher with 44 yards on 18 carries, and Douglas led the receiving corps with eight catches for 130 yards. Douglas finished the game with 202 all-purpose yards.

The Raiders travel to IUP next Saturday to face the Crimson Hawks on the road. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game can be viewed on the PSAC Digital Network.

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