The Rock Outlasts Shippensburg in 38-34 Thriller at Seth Grove Stadium
Oct. 20, 2007
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Four touchdowns, two kickoff returns and 38 fourth quarter points highlighted a 38-34 Slippery Rock victory over Shippensburg Saturday afternoon at Seth Grove Stadium.
A 12-yard touchdown pass from Red Raider red-shirt senior Gabe Maiocco (Media/Marple Newtown) to red-shirt senior Tim Devanney (Mifflinburg/Mifflinburg) on fourth-and-6 started one of the most exciting finishes in college football history.
After Devanney's second touchdown reception of the season gave Shippensburg (2-6, 1-2 PSAC West) its first lead of the game, 25-24 with 1:28 remaining, Maiocco would find sophomore Mark Rossi (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop) for the two-point conversion, putting the Red Raiders in front by three, 27-24.
However, just 10 seconds later, a 68-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kickoff would give Slippery Rock (7-1, 2-1 PSAC West) the lead once again, 31-27.
But not to be outdone, red-shirt freshman Kevin Marshall (Philadelphia/Scotland School) would score his first collegiate touchdown with an 84-yard kickoff return to put Shippensburg back in front, 34-31 with 1:07 left, capping a span of only 21 seconds that saw three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Then, with 1:04 to play, The Rock drove 74 yards in nine plays finished off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Nate Crookshank to Favers with two seconds remaining, giving Slippery Rock its third-straight victory and second consecutive conference win.
The game's wild finish was similar to last season's at Bob Dispirito Field at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium which Shippensburg won, 28-21. In that game, a nine-yard pass from Tony Gomez to senior Patrick Ferguson with 1:40 left to play accounted for the winning margin that gave Rocky Rees his 100th win at Shippensburg.
The loss was also the third heartbreaker for the Red Raiders at home this season. In the home opener against West Chester, red-shirt senior Kyle Fogarty (Kintnersville/Palisades) was tackled at the 1-yard line on fourth down with 1:29 remaining to preserve a 34-29 win for the Golden Rams.
On September 29, Maiocco's pass was deflected and intercepted by Edinboro's Dan Skelton who returned it 77 yards for the game-clinching touchdown with 1:45 to play, giving Edinboro a 33-18 victory.
Red-shirt senior Aaron Dykes (West Chester/Downingtown) totaled his second 100-yard rushing performance in the last three weeks with 112 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. During that time, he has totaled 305 yards and five scores.
Dykes has now totaled 1,665 rushing yards in his career, moving him into 11th on the school's all-time list.
Red-shirt sophomore Mike Harris (East Earl/Garden Spot) also surpassed the 100-yard mark, catching five passes for 102 yards, becoming the first Red Raider since Ferguson in 2004 to total multiple 100-yard receiving games in the same season.
Key in Shippensburg's performance was that it did not surrender a sack, holding The Rock defense, which entered the game ranked second in the PSAC with 24, without one for the first time in eight games this season.
The Red Raider offense also totaled 34 points and 403 yards against a team that was ranked second in scoring defense (17.3 avg) and total defense (316.0 avg).
Defensively, Shippensburg limited the PSAC's top rushing offense (273.3 avg) to just 158 yards and held it without a 100-yard rusher for just the second time this season and first since a 34-31 loss to Indiana (Pa.) on September 29.
However, Crookshank finished with 288 yards passing and three touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing while Terry Grossetti hauled in 104 yards receiving and Colin Golden totaled 99. Both also had one touchdowns each. Favers totaled 100 all-purpose yards and two scores.
The Red Raiders will look for their first home win of the 2007 season next Saturday, October 27 when they welcome Lock Haven to Seth Grove Stadium for Homecoming. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. Shippensburg has won 12 of the last 14 meetings with the Bald Eagles and are 22-8-2 at home with an eight-game win streak.
- Red Raider Football -
