September 4, 2021 will mark the first game for the Shippensburg University football team in 22 months, as they will take on West Virginia State at Seth Grove Stadium.

Just 27 letter winners from the 2019 season are among the over 100 player roster reporting for the preseason camp. The Raiders did not play any games in the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

SU is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2019 season where they went 4-7 and their defense gave up 30 plus points seven times.

The team will also need to overcome the loss of their two veteran receivers: Winston Eubanks (Penn State University) and Charles Headen (Southern Methodist University.)

With so much time off for the team, Ship head coach Mark Maciejewski will need to rely on experienced players such as quarterback Brycen Mussina, tight end David Balint III and running back Bill Williams.

Mussina is a former PSAC East Freshman of the Year and is coming off a 2019 campaign where he threw throw 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions for 2646 yards with a 61% completion percentage.

Balint III is coming off a record setting 2019 season, catching 64 passes for 755 yards and two touchdowns. Both marks were new Shippensburg single-season school records for a tight end.

Balint III was named to the 2019 D2CCAA All-American Second Team and was more recently named to 2021 Lindsy’s Preseason All-America Football First Team.

Earlier this month the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Preseason Coaches’ Poll was released and Shippensburg placed 5th.

Shepherd, West Chester, Kutztown and Bloomsburg all ranked ahead of SU. Shepherd, WCU and KU all received first place votes. East Stroudsburg, Millersville and Lock Haven rounded out the division behind Ship.

This past Saturday, the Raiders held a fan appreciation event at Seth Grove Stadium where fans had the chance to interact with players and coaches. 

Starting September 4, fans will have the chance to show even more support in the stands cheering the Raiders on through their quest for a PSAC championship.

The Raiders begin their PSAC East schedule on Oct. 2 against Shepherd University with homecoming landing on Oct. 23rd against Millersville University.

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