September 18, 2004

KUHN CARRIES RED RAIDERS TO SIXTH-STRAIGHT VICTORY

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. ≠ Senior John Kuhn (York, Pa./Dover) rushed for a career high 234 yards to lead the Shippensburg University football team to a 49-27 road victory over Millersville University on Saturday night.

The victory marks the first time since 1993 that Shippensburg (4-0) has started the season with a four-straight victories. The Red Raiders gained 513 yards in total offense, 418 of which came on the ground. In addition to leading the team in rushing, Kuhn was the teamπs leading receiver, adding 58 yards and bringing his all-purpose yardage total to 292 yards on the night.

Millersville (1-2) would score two touchdowns at the gameπs end to make the final score close, but Shippensburg dominated the game. Brandon Tyler adding a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:49 left in the game to cut the Ship lead to 49-21 and following a fumble by Raider junior quarterback Rick Henshaw (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City), Millersvilleπs Dan Csencsitz completed a 22-yard touchdown to Andy Neupauer for the gameπs final score.

The Shippensburg defense held Millersville to only 10 net yards rushing in the game as senior Chris Leonetti Richboro, Pa./Council Rock) and sophomore John Sharbaugh (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the team with five tackles each. The Red Raiders as a team totaled 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions. Senior Mike Street (Philadelphia, Pa./Mastbaum) had interception for the second-straight week.

After both teams scored on their first two possessions, red-shirt freshman Howard Chavous (Collingdale, Pa./Academy Park) returned the ball 30 yards to the Shippensburg 48-yard line, setting up the next Red Raider touchdown, a Kuhn 17-yard run to give ship a 21-14 lead with 6:51 left in the second quarter.

It was the beginning of three quick touchdowns for Shippensburg as it would score two more times before the end of the half, both touchdowns coming on 1-yard runs from Kuhn and senior Andre McLaurin (Warminster, Pa./William Tennant) to give the Red Raiders a solid, 35-14 lead going into the locker room.

With the Marauders driving early in the third quarter, with the ball on the Shippensburg 39-yard line, Csencsitz threw the ball down to the endzone, but junior Brent Grimes (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast) intercepted it at the 2-yard line.

From there, the Red Raiders used ball control to keep Millersville at bay as a 12 play, 80-yard drive gave them a 42-14 lead with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter. Five different backs ran the ball during the drive, with Kuhn leading the way, rushing five times for 44 yards. Senior Matt Acri (Trucksville, Pa./Dallas) gained 11 yards while sophomore David Wilkerson (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown) ran the ball three times for 12 yards.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders used up nearly nine minutes with a 15 play, 67-yard drive for their final touchdown of the game. Senior Dante Poole (Glenside, Pa./Valley Forge Prep) and sophomore Walter Crump (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park) and Wilkerson all had several carries, as Henshaw led Ship down the field. Poole ended the drive with a 4-yard run to give Shippensburg a 49-14 lead.

Red Raider sophomore Tony Gomez Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) won his fourth consecutive game as a starter this evening, completing 5-of-13 passes for 67 yards and one touchdown. Henshaw completed 3-of-5 pass attempts for 28 yards and rushed for one score.

After Shippensburg had scored back-to-back touchdowns to take a seven-point lead at the start of the second quarter, Millersville tied the game at 14-14 when Bakari Brown caught a 50-yard pass from Csencsitz for the touchdown, capping a 4-play, 64-yard drive. Csencsitz finished the game with 304 yards on 26-of-39 passing.

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division play opens next weekend for the Red Raiders when they take on Edinboro University on Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m., at Seth Grove Stadium.

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