A strong first quarter was more than enough for the Shippensburg University football team, as the Raiders blew past Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) foe Millersville University, 43–9, spoiling homecoming for the Marauders.
Cole Chiappialle was a scoring machine on Saturday, picking up three touchdowns in the win. Chiappialle added his first score of the day less than two minutes into the game on a 47-yard pass from quarterback, Chase Yocum. He also found the end zone on a 79-yard punt return later in the first quarter.
The Red Raiders started the day with 22 first-quarter points. Fourteen of those 22 points came on Chiappialle’s touchdowns. The other score was a 1-yard rush by running back Justin Pyle.
The Red Raiders continued the offensive barrage, scoring two more touchdowns in the second quarter. Pyle found the end zone again on another 1-yard rushing touchdown, while quarterback Landon Archangelo found Jeff Gulyas for an 18-yard touchdown.
SU held the Marauders to just nine first-half points. Six of those points came on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Millersville’s J.J. Paige to Tyrone Gibson. The Red Raiders blocked the ensuing extra point.
In the second half, it was all SU. The Red Raiders held Millersville scoreless in the final two quarters, marking the sixth-consecutive week that SU has not allowed points in the second half. The Red Raiders have not allowed fourth-quarter points all season.
Chiappialle added another score in the final frame, this time on a 5-yard rushing touchdown.
Along with Chiappialle, it was a big day for Archangelo. On the day, Archangelo finished 9-of-13 passing for 110 yards and a score. He also led the Red Raiders in rushing, with 114 yards on the ground.
Defensively, the Red Raiders were all over Millersville. The Red Raiders allowed just 59 yards rushing, and registered seven tackles for a loss as a unit. SU’s Dakota Thompson registered a sack and forced two fumbles, while D.J. Burkey intercepted a pass in the win.
For SU, the win gave the program its sixth-straight winning season. This marks the first time that the Red Raiders have accomplished six-straight winning seasons since an eight-year run from 1950–1957. The win was also the Red Raiders 13th-straight win over the Marauders.
For SU, coach Mark “Mac” Maciejewski earned his 45th win as the coach of the Red Raiders. He improved his overall record to 45–20 all-time, becoming the first coach in SU history to record six-straight winning seasons. The eight-year run of consecutive winning seasons consisted of two coaches, Vint Rambo and Jack Roddick. With the win, Maciejewski tied Rambo for third on SU’s all-time head coaching wins list.
With Maciejewski at the helm, the Red Raiders have broken, re-broken, tied or re-written 152 records.
The Red Raiders, (6–2, 4–1 PSAC East), can control their own destiny for the PSAC East Division title with a win against Kutztown University Oct. 29. The day is also homecoming and Senior Day for SU. It is the final home game of the season for the Red Raiders. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Seth Grove Stadium.
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