Shippensburg University’s football team rallied to celebrate an emotional 24-21 comeback victory over Clarion in the Raiders’ home opener at Seth Grove Stadium on Saturday. 

The win was the first of the season and puts the team’s record at 1-1. 

The game-opening kickoff proved to be a highlight, as redshirt junior running back Tanner Hess, a receiver for the Raiders, ran over 96 yards into the end zone for the Raiders’ first touchdown of the season. Hess fell to his knees in the end zone after scoring and was pulled into a hug by head coach Mark Maciejewski upon returning to the sideline. 

It was Maciejewski’s first game back on the SU sideline after the passing of his son, Levi, in August. 

In a post-game interview with Shippensburg University’s Sports Information team, Hess described the emotions he felt after returning the kickoff into the endzone.

“Today felt even different, you know, I had God with me,” Hess said. “But bigger than that, I had Levi with me.”

After the good start to the game and the converted extra point, SU was scoreless for the rest of the half. 

Redshirt junior quarterback Joey McCracken left the field in the first quarter and was seen at the sideline with his arm in a sling in the second half. Sophomore quarterback Sam Stoner replaced McCracken, but also did not produce much offensively in the first half.

Clarion, coming off a 2-0 start to the season, responded to the opening drive with full offensive power throughout the first half. Dual-threat quarterback Anthony Guercio led his offense to 380 all-purpose yards in the first half and 551 yards in the game.

At halftime, Guercio had already passed for 230 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns. The Clarion offense outgained Shippensburg’s 380-101 in the first half and went into halftime with a 21-7 lead.

After halftime, it was like a new Shippensburg team took the field. 

The Raider defense forced a three-and-out and a punt in the first drive after halftime. 

Defensive coordinator Mike Burkett said in an interview with Asthon Ulmer that neither he nor any of the other coaches changed the game plan or gave an inspirational speech for the players. 

Instead, the coaches just told the players that they had to execute better. According to Burkett, everybody came into the locker room knowing they could play much better than they did in the first half.

The offense also had a successful first drive after halftime. Within three minutes, Stoner and his teammates covered 64 yards in seven plays. They finished the drive in the end zone when Stoner completed a 17-yard touchdown to senior Alex Rufe on SU’s only fourth-down play of the day. 

Freshman kicker Wilson Ingerski made the extra point, and the new score was 21-14 for Clarion.

The SU defense kept the momentum going and forced the Clarion offense to a consecutive three-and out.

On the next drive, the Shippensburg offense rushed the ball for 42 yards but stalled in Clarion territory and had to punt. After that, both teams committed several turnovers.

On a second-and one Clarion rushed the ball, but lost yards on the attempt, and redshirt freshman safety Gabe Benjamin forced his second fumble of the game in his first collegiate start. Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Tyler Masdea recovered for Shippensburg.

The Raider offense capitalized on the turnover with a 4-yard passing touchdown by Stoner to tight end Griffin Patterson at the end of the third quarter. Ingerski once again kicked the extra point and tied the game at 21-21.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Shippensburg forced another turnover by the Golden Eagles. Redshirt junior linebacker Terrance Peterson Jr. sacked Guercio from behind, and Guercio fumbled. Redshirt freshman Noonie Redfern recovered the ball for Shippensburg.

This time, the offense could not benefit from the turnover and missed the opportunity to score with a field goal attempt that went wide right.

Clarion’s offense took the field again, but the Raider defense seemingly held them to another three-and-out. However, the Golden Eagles faked the punt and rushed the ball instead for 35 yards.

Two plays later, junior DJ Jackson, who finished the game with a total of 11 tackles, intercepted a pass from Guercio at the SU 20-yard line.

With 10:26 to go in the fourth quarter, Shippensburg’s offense started to take time off the clock. They covered 72 yards in 11 plays, while taking 5:36 off the clock. The drive ended with a 25-yard field goal by Ingerski and Shippensburg´s first lead since the first quarter at 24-21.

The next two drives were a punt by Clarion and Shippensburg each. 

Clarion started its last possession with 1:05 on the clock and covered 60 yards in 38 seconds. Guercio completed a pass to his senior wide receiver Trevon Tate, who had his third consecutive game with over 100 yards receiving, as he caught eight balls for 143 yards. 

Tate caught the ball and made his way to the end zone, but junior Josh Lesesne forced a fumble at the 1-yard line. 

Junior safety Ely Ghameshlougy recovered the ball in the endzone for a touchback and turnover. Shippensburg’s offense brought the win home in victory formation in the last 30 seconds of the game.

Stoner finished the game with 13 completions on 22 attempts for 149 yards and two touchdowns. McCracken had one completion for 15 yards before he had to leave the game.

Shippensburg’s football team will be back in action at home on Saturday, as it takes on Slippery Rock at 1 p.m. in Seth Grove Stadium.

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