EDINBORO, Pa. (Sept. 12, 2015) – A battered Edinboro defense playing numerous freshmen held the high-powered Shippensburg offense to less than 21 points for the first time in 22 straight games, but the Red Raiders rallied from a 13-3 halftime deficit to claim a 20-13 win at Sox Harrison Stadium on Saturday afternoon.  Edinboro falls to 0-2 with the PSAC crossover loss, while Shippensburg is now 2-0.
 
Shippensburg was coming off a 64-14 win over Seton Hill a week ago, but the young Edinboro defense came up with numerous stops throughout the day. The Red Raiders had scored 21-or-more points and at least three touchdowns in 22 straight games dating back to the 2013 season opener. A year ago they handed the Fighting Scots a 47-21 defeat.
 

Edinboro's defense was missing starting linebackers Mike Shansky and Gabe Tillman, along with top reserve Anthony Principale. Five freshmen started on the defensive unit, and many more saw action during the contest.
 
Edinboro would jump out to a 13-3 lead at the half, and that lead could have been larger if not for a goal line stand by the Shippensburg defense at its own one-yard line on Edinboro's opening drive.
 
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Red Raiders parlayed an 11-play, 49-yard drive into a 3-0 lead on Billy Deane's 25-yard field goal with 13:08 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Edinboro would knot the score at 3-3 later in the quarter on the first of two Austin Reese field goals. The field goal was set up by the first career interception by freshman David Ballew III. The outside linebacker returned a tipped pass 28 yards to the Shippensburg 16. Reese would convert a 27-yard field goal.
 
Following a three-and-out for the Red Raiders, Edinboro scored in quick fashion to take a 10-3 lead. On 3rd-and-3 play, tight end Justin Kempka just stretched enough for a first down at the Edinboro 46. One play later, sophomore Jake Sisson combined with Darren Massey on a 51-yard scoring play. Massey took the short pass in the right flat, juked to his left to set up a block by Tavious Bridges, and outran several Shippensburg defenders to the end zone with 3:03 left in the half.
 
Edinboro's defense held the Red Raiders without a first down on the next possession, and Josh Kibbie blocked Deane's punt after he struggled with the snap. The Fighting Scots would take over at the SU 36. Reese's field goal from 43-yards out as the second ended gave Edinboro a 13-3 lead at intermission.
 
Reese's two field goals marked the first time an Edinboro kicker had two field goals in a game since T.J. Hardy booted a pair of three-pointers against Seton Hill in 2013. In addition, the 43-yarder was the first 40-yard field goal since 2012.
 
Edinboro outgained Shippensburg, 213 yards to 151, over the first 30 minutes. Most of that came through the air, as Sisson completed 12-of-19 passes for 197 yards.
 
The second half proved to be a different story, as the Scots were held to 132 yards while Shippensburg picked up the tempo and ended with 279 yards.
 
Shippensburg took the third quarter kickoff and made a statement immediately, driving 57 yards on 13 plays. However, a six-yard tackle for a loss by freshman A.J. Hulton of Andrew Smith held the Red raiders to a 35-yard field goal by Deane. That cut Edinboro's lead to 13-6 with 10:54 left in the period.
 
The Red Raiders would tie the game at 13-13 with 1 minute, 2 seconds left in the quarter. They went 75 yards on 11 plays with quarterback Ryan Zapoticky doing most of the damage. His 20-yard pass completion to Jordan Harro, followed by an Edinboro personal foul, gave Shippensburg a first down at the EU 5. On 2nd-and-goal Smith burst in from five yards out for the tying touchdown.
 
Shippensburg was back knocking on the door on its first possession of the fourth quarter. The Red Raiders moved from their own 23 to a first down at the Edinboro 3. The Boro defense held the Red Raiders the first two downs, but a pass interference call in the end zone game them a 1st-and-gaol at the one.
 

Four times Shippensburg tried the middle of the Edinboro defense, and four times the Boro defense repelled the run. Redshirt freshman Sam Breese, making his first start at defensive tackle, took part in the first three tackles. On fourth down Smith tried the middle but was stopped short by DeVon Groves and Rickey Bailey III to complete the epic goal line stand.
 
Edinboro managed a pair of first downs before being forced to punt. A short kick into the wind and now a driving rain gave the Red Raiders the ball at their own 45. They needed just six plays and 1 minute, 37 seconds to cover the 55 yards. On 3rd-and-3 from the 13, Zapoticky combined with Jeff Gulyas for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Deane's extra point gave Shippensburg a 20-13 lead with 3:19 to play.
 
The Fighting Scots would have two more chances with the ball. The first resulted in one first down before they turned it over on downs at their own 45 yard line.
 
The defense forced a Shippensburg punt, and this time the Scots took over at the nine with 1:54 to play. With backup quarterback Jon Girvin replacing an injured Sisson, they came up with a pair of first downs and reached their own 41 before time ran out.
 
Edinboro ended the day with 345 total yards compared to 430 for Shippensburg. Most of that once again came through the air, as the ground game managed just 59 yards on 34 attempts. Sisson completed 18-of-32 passes for a career-high 257 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Girvin, in his first action since 2103, complete 3-of-9 passes for 29 yards.
 

Massey once again enjoyed an incredible day. After setting the school record with 13 receptions in the opener against Saint Joseph's, the junior hauled in 12 passes for a career-high 195 yards. The yardage is the sixth-highest single game total. He now has 131 career receptions to move into a tie for eighth place, and his 1,534 yards receiving moved him into 13th place.
 
Cory Bell led the ground game with 18 carries for 36 yards.
 
Smith gained 117 yards on 16 carries for Shippensburg, with Justin Pyle adding 57 yards on 12 carries. The Red Raiders ended the day with 203 yards rushing. Zapoticky completed 21-of-39 passes for 227 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Sheldon Mayer caught 5 passes for 45 yards and Harro added 4 grabs for 68 yards.
 
Edinboro will hit the highways for the first time in 2015 while looking for win number one. The Scots play at East Stroudsburg on Saturday, September 19 at 1:05 p.m.