Marshall's five-yard touchdown run capped a seven-play, 48-yard drive that gave Ship (3-6, 2-4 PSAC East) a five-point lead with just 1:29 left in the PSAC Eastern Division clash. Millersville (2-7, 0-6 PSAC East, however, with all three timeouts left, would make the finish dramatic for Coach Rees and the Red Raiders.
The Bill Shirk (Phoenixville/Phoenixville) to Jamal Smith (Camp Hill/Trinity) connection worked for 31 yards on the first play of the drive and for eight more on the second play. After an incomplete pass, Shirk found Mike Jones (Middletown/Bishop McDevitt) for nine yards to give Millersville a first-and-10 at the Shippensburg 26-yard line. The Marauder drive ended quickly, though. Shirk rolled out of the pocket looking for Jones in the end zone, but senior Jamahn McCollough--playing in his final home game--intercepted Shirk's pass. The Red Raiders were then able to run out the clock.
Millersville had its opportunities. After falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter on Marshall's first touchdown of the game, the defense held Shippensburg in check before Steven Adams found Brian Heitz from eight yards out nine seconds into the fourth quarter.
With four sacks--two by senior Jacob Haines (Dover/Dover)--and Matt Sutjak's (Slatington/Northern Lehigh) fourth interception of the year, the Marauder defense turned in its best statistical performance of the season. The 19 points, 99 yards rushing and 306 yards of offense allowed were all season bests for a unit that entered the game 16th in the PSAC in total defense. But the offense and special teams stalled through the first three quarters.
Two Anthony Kassab (Pine Grove/Pine Grove) field goals were blocked, and Millersville failed to come away with points after a 75-yard catch by Smith put the ball on the Shippensburg one.
It wasn’t until the 14:48 mark in the fourth quarter that the offense showed life. Jones, who had missed the last three games with a rib injury, ripped off a 74-yard touchdown run that brought Millersville to within 13-7. On Ship's next drive, Sutjak intercepted Adams and handed the offense outstanding field position at the Millersville 44.
Millersville needed only four plays to travel the 56 yards to pay dirt. Jones rushed for seven yards on first down and Matt Egenrieder (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) drew a pass interference penalty on second down. Shirk then completed two passes to Smith. The second completion was a 25-yard TD grab that gave Smith his 10th touchdown catch of the season and Millersville its momentary 14-13 lead.
With that receiving touchdown, Smith became the first player in school history to record two season of at least 10 receiving touchdowns. He also finished with seven catches for 164 yards, bringing his season total to 1,035 yards and making him the just the third player in school history to total over 1,000 yards receiving in a season. He now needs just 97 yards to break Sean Scott's single-season receiving record.
Shirk completed 16-of-27 passes for 283 yards. Egenrieder totaled 80 yards receiving on three catches. Millersville also out-gained Shippensburg 375-306 but were 0-for-3 in the red zone and 4-for-13 on third downs.
Jeff Longley led the defense with 10 tackles and a half-sack. Jamie Thomas (Philadelphia/Plymouth Whitemarsh) also assisted on the sack, and Lee Hoover (York Haven/Red Land) registered his second sack of the year.
The Marauders travel to West Chester on Nov. 6. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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