Shippensburg University’s football team won their home opener 36-17 in a non-conference matchup on Saturday afternoon over Seton Hill University.
The Raiders were led in the victory by sophomore Redd Douglas who set a single-game school record with 350 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns.
Douglas totaled 113 receiving yards, four punt return yards and 233 kickoff return yards — seven yards shy of the single-game record set in 2013 by Shannon Maura.
The SU defense was also stellar in the win as they forced four interceptions and recorded two sacks along with a safety. The offense was able to score 13 points off the forced turnovers.
Redshirt-sophomore defensive back Khi’on Smith got the scoring started less than 90 seconds into the game with a 75-yard interception returned for a touchdown.
Seton Hill would respond with a long 18-play drive that lasted nearly nine minutes but only resulted in three points thanks to a field goal.
The Raiders would then capitalize off a Tanner Luther punt that was downed at the 1-yard line with a safety to make the score 9-3 early in the second quarter. Redshirt-freshman quarterback Joey McCracken would then lead a drive down the field which was capped off by a 2-yard rushing touchdown by junior Richie Sykes Jr, stretching the lead to 16-3.
Seton Hill would answer back with a 65-yard touchdown pass to JaiQuawn McGriff, who tiptoed down the sideline to score.
However, Douglas would return the ensuing kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown and Shippensburg completed the two-point conversion to take a 24-10 lead into halftime.
On the opening second half drive Douglas would reach the endzone again this time on a 42-yard pass from redshirt-freshman quarterback Sam Johnson III, who replaced McCracken midway through the second quarter, and the SU lead swelled to 21 points.
Redhshirt-sophomore linebacker Matt Feeney led all players with a career-high 13 tackles and junior linebacker Tyler Simon was right behind him with 10 tackles. Redshirt-sophomore safety Isaiah Gilmore had two interceptions, both coming in the fourth quarter. Junior safety Brandon Holt also had a pick in the contest.
The two SU quarterbacks combined to go 11-21 for 152 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt-sophomore Nasai Moon led the Raiders with 38 rushing yards while Sykes Jr. had 18 rushing yards and a touchdown.
It was a sloppy first game for both teams as they combined for 26 penalties and 327 penalty yards.
It was also a scary day in the stands for Raider fans as three fans in the stands were attended to by paramedics due to heat exhaustion. Another fan needed to be transported to the hospital after suffering a seizure at the game.
The 1-0 Raiders will be returning to the field on Saturday at 1 p.m. to host Indiana University of Pennsylvania at Seth Grove Stadium.
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