SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — The Shippensburg University football team seeks its 10th consecutive victory on Saturday when it hosts PSAC East opponent LIU Post on Homecoming at 1 p.m. from SU Student Association Field at Seth Grove Stadium. The Red Raiders have won nine consecutive games dating back to last season – a winning streak that is tied for the second-longest active run in Division II with No. 1-ranked Pittsburg State.
Live video coverage of the game will be provided by Shippensburg University's student television station (SUTV) and can be accessed online at
www.ship.edu/goraiders. Coverage will also be shown on terrestrial television on Comcast community channel 21 and campus channel 82.
A student radio broadcast of the game will be available on 88.7 FM in Shippensburg and can be accessed online at
www.wsyc.org.
Shippensburg is encouraging all fans to wear red clothing to this weekend's Homecoming game. The SU Alumni Association will also be providing a limited number of free t-shirts to fans at the entrances from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Shippensburg is ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll along with fellow PSAC school California (Pa.). SU and California are two of four PSAC teams currently in the Top 25 poll, joining Bloomsburg (No. 7) and IUP (No. 22).
The Red Raiders enter Saturday's game with the nation's No. 1 total offense and the No. 9 total defense. The Raiders are averaging 564.4 yards per game on offense while yielding an average of just 265 yards per game on defense. SU is also averaging 53.2 points per game, which ranks second in the nation behind Henderson State (57.8 ppg).
The latest NCAA statistical rankings have Shippensburg as the nation's No. 2 passing offense (404.4 ypg), with junior quarterback
Zach Zulli ranked second in Division II among individuals for pass efficiency (189.81) and third for total offense (391 ypg).
The Red Raider defense is all over the national rankings. SU ranks fifth in the country in sacks (four per game) and sixth in tackles for loss (9.8 per game), leading the PSAC in both categories.
SU is also fourth in Division II for kickoff returns, averaging 29.1 yards per runback, and 12th in fewest sacks allowed (three in just five games).
LIU Post was voted to finish third in the PSAC Eastern Division Football Coaches Preseason Poll. The Pioneers went 6-1 in conference play a year ago and return four All-PSAC players on offense this season – including PSAC East Rookie of the Year Steven Laurino at quarterback. Laurino is equally dangerous as a passer and as a runner. Among the stable of running backs the Pioneers employ include juniors Jeff Mack and Anthony Brunetti.
Last weekend, Zulli completed a career-high 32 passes for 403 yards and five touchdowns in three quarters of play as Shippensburg blew past PSAC West foe Lock Haven, 49-6, from Hubert Jack Stadium. Zulli was named the PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts – the fourth time through five weeks this season that he has been honored.
Meanwhile, a late bit of magic from Edinboro and quarterback Cody Harris allowed the Fighting Scots to tie its game with LIU Post late in regulation before ultimately winning it in overtime, 31-24.
LIU Post has a 2-2 record but its two losses were a pair of nip-and-tuck affairs. It was within one minute of beating Edinboro and had a fourth-quarter lead over Bloomsburg before falling to the Huskies. The Pioneers enter with the nation's best turnover margin (+14), having forced 16 turnovers while coughing up possession just twice. Both of its turnovers came in last week's loss to Edinboro.
Series History vs. LIU Post
• The Red Raiders and Pioneers are tied in the overall series 3-3. Shippensburg won the first three meetings in the overall series but LIU Post has won the last three meetings. SU renewed its series history with the Pioneers in 2008 by recording an impressive 27-10 win from Seth Grove Stadium.
• C.W. Post earned its first victory in the series in 2009 in a cloudy and rainy affair from Long Island and also won at Shippensburg in 2010, 31-14. The two teams had previously met in 1981 and 1983, when SU was guided by esteemed head coach Vito Ragazzo.
• Shippensburg held a three-point lead in the fourth quarter of last year's matchup with the Pioneers on Long Island but allowed 21 unanswered points before falling, 40-22. The SU defense was unable to contain the Pioneers' persistent rushing attack, as it allowed two 100-yard rushers, including 117 on mobile quarterback Steven Laurino's 21 carries. Quarterback
Zach Zulli was also sacked seven times.
