The 2014 Shippensburg University Raiders football team knows it needs to come out strong this year in order to improve on an impressive season last year. After starting 0-2 in 2013, the team went on a tear to finish 7-4, but it was not quite enough to make the playoffs.

In the 2014 PA State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Coaches Poll picked Ship at fourth in the Eastern Division. This is despite a record breaking 2012 season in which the Raiders went 11-2 and made the second round of the playoffs; the Raiders have been voted outside the top three spots in the poll for three out of four years.

Ship’s current Head Coach, Mark “Mac” Maciejewski, who is an SU graduate himself, is returning to lead the team for his fourth season. Coach Mac holds a 25-10 record over his first three seasons, which is the most wins by any head coach in Raiders history.

The team has flourished under Coach Mac, who believes that he can improve the team every season they step on the field.

“We are so much better right now offensively than we were at this time last year in preseason camp.” Said Coach Mac, reflecting on his expectations for this year’s high-powered Raiders offense.

“Our offensive line is doing a great job of protecting, and I’m gonna tell you, our running backs, with Blaire Brooks and Justin Pyle, they are flying around, and they can run, and they are tough runners. Our wide receivers, we are deep at wide receiver. You got Trevor Harman and you got Sheldon Mayer. Plus we got some young guys that nobody has really seen yet, some tall guys, some lanky guys that can go up and get the ball. So I am very excited about our potential on offense.
Things will be shaken up a little bit on defense this year, with five strong defensive players not returning, including two defensive ends and two safeties.

Most notably, the Raiders will be without Jake Metz, PSAC East defensive player of the year in 2013, who led the team with 11 sacks. His fellow defensive end Dainen Green graduated as well; Metz is 6 foot 6 inches and Green is 6 foot two. The defensive line will be losing some height this year, but according to coach Mac, younger players have stepped up this spring and summer, and he is confident the line will be as strong as ever.

“We have got to find the right combination of people to put on the field, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams,” said Coach Mac. “That’s why we’re here right now doing all the preseason preparation.”

The Raiders are excited for this upcoming season; they look good in practice, and younger players are stepping up and learning the offense and defense well. With a good combination of returning experience and young talent, the rest of the PSAC East is in for a tough year with the Raiders in town.

Shippensburg’s first game is away at Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pa. on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 pm.

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