Turnovers, Rushing Woes Plague Shippensburg in 30-0 Loss at No. 20 IUP
Nov. 3, 2007
INDIANA, Pa. - Rushing
struggles and key turnovers plagued the Shippensburg University football
team as No.
20-ranked Indiana (Pa.) defeated Shippensburg 30-0 on Saturday at Miller
Stadium. It was the first time this season that the Red Raiders had been
held scoreless and the first time since Sept. 23, 2006, when they were blanked
24-0 at West Chester.
Shippensburg (3-7, 2-3 PSAC West), who suffered its 20th consecutive loss
to IUP, forced six punts and two fumbles, but committed three turnovers of
their own which led to 17 Crimson Hawk points. The Red Raider defense also
limited Indiana (Pa.) to 338 yards of total offense, but were on the field
for nearly 35 minutes as IUP dominated in time of possession, 34:36 to 25:24.
With the exception of a 13-play, 62-yard drive that resulted in a field goal
for IUP’s Matt McNelis, the teams exchanged lackluster drives in the
first quarter with the Crimson Hawks leading just 3-0 after 15 minutes of
play.
However, the second quarter proved to be the difference in the game.
With IUP leading 6-0 late in the first half, the Crimson Hawks reeled off
a 9-play, 60-yard drive that propelled them to a 13-0 lead with 4:16 remaining.
On the ensuing drive, Shippensburg red-shirt senior Gabe Maiocco
(Media/Marple-Newtown) was picked off by Quinton Cobb, who returned it to the Red Raider 25-yard
line.
Three plays later, Andrew Krewatch found Dan Pickens in the end zone for
his second touchdown pass of the game, giving Indiana (Pa.) a 20-0 lead that
it would take into halftime.
Through 10 games, Shippensburg has been outscored
151-113 in the first half, including 85-66 in the second quarter as the
Red Raiders have either trailed
or been tied at the half in all but one of its seven losses this season.
IUP (8-1, 5-1 PSAC West), whose rushing defense was ranked second in the
PSAC entering the contest, contained Shippensburg’s running backs for
the duration of the contest as the Red Raiders finished the day with minus-16
yards rushing on 20 carries.
Facing constant pressure all day, Maiocco attempted a career-high 48 passes,
10 of which were deflected, including two interceptions, and he was sacked
three times. He did manage to complete a career-high 23 passes for 283
yards.
Six different running backs combined to rush for just 11 yards on 17 carries
for Shippensburg.
One of lone bright spots in the game was red-shirt sophomore Mike
Harris (East Earl/Garden Spot), who reeled in nine catches for
130 yards, becoming the first Red Raider receiver since 2004 to record
three
100-yard receiving
games in a season. That year, Patrick Ferguson also had three 100-yard
receiving games.
Defensively, red-shirt sophomore Andy Casale (Mechanicsburg/Cumberland
Valley) led the Red Raiders with a team and career-high 13 tackles.
He also had a 16-yard fumble return. Senior Dee Wolford (Munhall/Steel Valley) had
one of his strongest games of the season, totaling nine tackles, including
two
for loss and one sack.
The last victory for Shippensburg against IUP was Oct. 15, 1988 when
the Red Raiders won 24-23 at Seth Grove Stadium. During its current 20-game
losing streak to the Crimson Hawks, Shippensburg is 0-11 at Miller Stadium.
The Red Raiders will conclude their season on the road at California
(Pa.) next Saturday against the No. 5-ranked Vulcans. Game time from
Adamson
Stadium is set for Noon with the game being broadcast by Fox Sports Net
Pittsburgh,
which is available locally on Comcast channel 47.
- Red Raider Football -
