Dykes Rushes For Three Touchdowns as Red Raiders Get First Win of the Season
Oct. 6, 2007
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Red-shirt senior
Aaron Dykes (West Chester/Downingtown) ran for 114 yards and three touchdowns
to lead the Shippensburg University football team to its first victory of
the season on Saturday afternoon, 41-23 over Clarion at Memorial Stadium.
Dykes became the first Red Raider to surpass 100 yards rushing this season.
Despite its slow start, the win moved Shippensburg (1-5, 1-1 PSAC West) into
a tie for third place in the PSAC Western Division standings with Indiana
(Pa.) following the Crimson Hawks' 38-16 loss at home to California (Pa.).
The Vulcans and Edinboro, who defeated Lock Haven 63-19 at home, are currently
2-0 in the division.
It was the second 100-yard rushing performance of Dykes' career and first
since Oct. 22, 2005 when he totaled 139 yards and one touchdown in a 37-0
victory over Clarion at home. His three touchdowns was a career-high.
Meanwhile, red-shirt junior David Richards (Clearfield/Clearfield) just missed
his third career 100-yard output as he finished with 92 yards and one touchdown.
Richards' last 100-yard rushing game came in last year's season finale when
he rushed for 106 yards and one score in a 35-10 win against Clarion at home
on Nov. 11, 2006. A native of nearby Clearfield, Richards has totaled 272
yards in three games against the Golden Eagles.
A big difference in today's game came in the first half as the Red Raiders,
who had been outscored 93-40 in the first half coming into today's game,
managed a 21-7 lead at halftime, marking just the second time in six games
this season that the team has led at intermission.
After Clarion (0-6, 0-2 PSAC West) took a 7-0 lead with 17 seconds left in
the first quarter, Dykes responded with back-to-back touchdown runs of one
and three yards to give Shippensburg a 14-7 lead with 2:34 remaining in the
second quarter.
The two scores began a streak of 31 consecutive points scored by Shippensburg
as it built a 31-7 advantage with 6:30 to play in the third quarter, capped
off by a 32-yard field goal by senior Jamie Reder (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier).
Reder would add a career-long 45-yard field goal with 4:15 left in the fourth
quarter to put the Red Raiders in front 41-16. He now has 38 in his career,
which is seven behind Howie Guarini's school record.
Shippensburg totaled a season-high 444 yards of total offense, including
296 yards rushing, and scored six times on seven trips inside the red zone
with five touchdowns. In addition, the offensive line did not surrender a
sack for the first time since a 42-27 victory over Kutztown at home on Sept.
16,
2006, a span of 15 games.
The Red Raiders travel to Millersville next weekend for a 1:00 PM kickoff
from Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium. It will be Homecoming for the
Marauders, the second-straight game that Shippensburg has been an opponent's
Homecoming opposition.
- Red Raider Football -
