For Immediate Release

October 23, 2004

SHIPPENSBURG EARNS SECOND SHUTOUT OF THE SEASON

CLARION, Pa. - The Shippensburg University football team earned it second shutout of the season, defeating the Clarion Eagles 44-0 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

The Red Raiders (8-1, 4-1 PSAC West) put in strong performances on both sides of the ball. John Kuhn scored five touchdowns and led the team with 111 yards rushing on 24 carries. Patrick Ferguson had 105 yards on four receptions. Quarterback Tony Gomez completed 8 of 14 passes for 148 yards, with one interception.

On defense, Shippensburg held Clarion to 90 net yards. Frank Duffy led the team with eight tackles, including a fumble return. Chris Leonetti had six tackles with one tackle for loss. Ryan Hoffman had two tackles for loss, with five total tackles. Chris Wolf and Brandon Cook each made sacks in the game, and nine Red Raiders made tackles for loss, totaling 52 yards.

Shippensburg went into the game ranked 17th in the American Football Coaches Association Poll, with a ranking of 2nd in the NCAA Division II Northeast Region Poll.

Big defensive plays set up all of the Red Raiders scoring drives in the first half. On the first play of Clarionπs third series, Ryan Hoffman forced a fumble by Eagle rusher Brandon Dando, which was recovered by Frank Duffy at the Clarion 18. With the ball in Shippensburgπs possession, John Kuhn rushed for 17 yards to score on a three yard run on the next play. Jamie Rederπs kick was good for a 7-0 lead.

Shippensburg nearly scored on their next possession. On the first play of the second quarter, Tony Gomez found a big hole and ran 27 yards down the sideline, but was called back on a Red Raider holding penalty. Gomez was intercepted two plays later.

Clarion made it to the Shippensburg 41 on the next series. Their punter dropped back to punt on fourth down, and a bad snap on the punt set the Red Raiders up at the Clarion 37 yard line. Ted Lipford tackled the punter for a loss of 22 yards on the play. Shippensburg scored on the ensuing drive, with Kuhn rushing six times for 30 yards. Kuhn capped the score with a 3 yard run.

Shippensburg punted on their next drive. Denver Brydonπs 28 yard punt bounced off Jhermel Goss and was recovered by Ryan Penaroza at the Shippensburg 49 yard line. The 7 play, 42 yard drive was capped of by a 26 yard field goal from Reder. Patrick Ferguson completed a 28 yard reception to help set up the score for a 17-0 halftime lead.

The Red Raiders scored their third touchdown of the game on their first drive of the second half. Howard Chavous returned the kickoff 17 yards, and Gomez connected with Ferguson on the first play of the drive for 32 yards. Two plays later Ferguson picked up another 36 receiving yards to put the ball at the Clarion 6 yard line. Kuhn hit paydirt on the next play.

Shippensburg made it to the Clarion 25 on its next possession. Rederπs field goal was blocked by Tim Connolly for a touchback, giving Clarion possession on its own 20 yard line. The Eagles were forced to punt five plays later, and Will Morrison jumped in to block the punt. Clarionπs Lance Fink recovered the ball at the Clarion 5 yard line, where the Red Raiders took over. Kuhn rushed the five yards into the end zone to start the Shippensburg drive. Reder put the ball between the posts for a 31-0 lead.

Scott Laffertyπs kickoff put Clarion on its own 27-yard line. Three incomplete passes later, Joe Farkas returned the ball to a waiting Brent Grimes in the backfield. Grimes ran across the field and down the sidelines, going 46 yards on the return to the Clarion 12 yard line. Kuhn rushed for 5 and 7 yards respectively to cross the goal line. The Red Raiders held a 38-0 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Matt Acri scored the final touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard run to cap off a 10 play, 37-yard drive. Dante Poole had 32 yards of the drive.

Clarion quarterack Brandon Dando completed six of 17 pass attempts for 74 yards. Pieree Odom had 49 receiving yards on 4 receptions, while Marcus Lowe led the Eagles in rushing with 24 yards. Bo Busch led Clarion with 13 tackles.

Shippensburg takes on Slippery Rock next weekend on Saturday, October 30. It is Senior Day for the Red Raiders. The 21 graduating seniors will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony.