Shippensburg University Athletics

The commitment to winning has never been stronger with the Shippensburg University football program while under the skillful direction of 20th-year head coach Rocky Rees. With the return of 24 letter winners and six offensive starters to the 2009 roster, there is plenty of room for optimism as the team enters training camp.

In addition to the commitment, the team’s desire for victory has reached a crescendo. Six of Shippensburg’s losses over the last two seasons have been by six points or less, and last year the Red Raiders came within 11 points of a 7-4 record. In 2009, Shippensburg is looking to play four quarters of football each week and finish games strong to reverse the trend of “close, but not quite.”

While the team has averaged just four wins per season in the four years following the 2004 Division II postseason berth, the Red Raiders have had to deal with the fact that nothing comes easy in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). All of Shippensburg’s losses last season came against teams that finished the season with five or more wins, and the combined record of these opponents was 55-25.

However, when Shippensburg was in the win column, it got there in convincing fashion. The Red Raiders won each of their four games last season by at least 17 points and outscored opponents by a 160-31 margin in these victories. Additionally, in the four conference games hosted by Shippensburg at Seth Grove Stadium, the Raiders posted a 3-1 record and outscored opponents by a 124-52 margin.

After ranking second in the conference in forcing turnovers last season and averaging 24.8 points per game, the Red Raiders have established a solid infrastructure to build from this season. In 2009, Shippensburg is ready to rebound and features the right amount of young talent and veteran leadership to make a significant impact of the PSAC Eastern
Division.


Shippensburg has employed five different quarterbacks over the past four seasons (Chad DiFebbo, Gabe Maiocco, Tony Gomez, Rick Henshaw, Dave Chervansky) and none of them has yet produced a career completion percentage higher than 47 percent.

Shippensburg ranked ninth in the PSAC last season for its quarterback efficiency rating but also finished next to last in completion percentage – meaning the competition is wide open for the starting spot.

DiFebbo enters training camp as one of the leading candidates to start after finishing his first full season at the helm with 18 touchdown passes – the most by a Red Raider signal caller since the 19 thrown by former standout Chris Gicking in 2000. The red-shirt senior averaged 178 passing yards per game and posted an efficiency rating of 121.5 despite completing just 45 percent of his passes.

A pair of red-shirt freshmen has progressed well through one year in the program and the two men are making strong bids for significant playing time.

Steven Adams, a native of Cedar Grove High School in New Jersey, made significant strides last season with adjustments to the collegiate game after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and nearly 30 touchdowns in high school. The 6-foot, 5-inch signal caller looks to have a strong showing in the preseason that will put him in position to start this season.

Meanwhile, touted recruit Pete O’Connor of Downingtown East High School has also put himself in position for some time under center after making improvements during his redshirt season. O’Connor threw for over 4,500 yards and 49 touchdowns in high school and is another candidate to become Shippensburg’s sixth all-conference quarterback since the PSAC began its current award system in 1951.

The other veteran in the group is sophomore Dave Chervansky, who served as the primary backup last season. Originally a transfer from U-Mass, Chervansky appeared in five games as a quarterback and also saw a lot of time as a special teams player on kickoff returns. He
returns along with red-shirt freshman Jeff Tomasetti, a Delaware native who is ready for his first full season on the roster after an illustrious high school career.


The Wing-T offense boasts the opportunity for deception, and the Red Raiders will have no shortage of speed and finesse to incorporate from the halfback position this season. Ball control has helped the team rank among the conference’s top-five in time of possession for each of the past seven seasons.

The leader will once again be red-shirt junior Kevin Marshall, an All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team selection who has led the team in rushing for each of the past two seasons. Marshall totaled 452 rushing yards and three touchdowns while displaying a knack for producing the “big play.” After five rushes of 20 or more yards and compiling an average of 4.2 yards per carry, Marshall could be primed for an explosive breakout season at left halfback in 2009.

The most veteran member of the backfield is red-shirt junior Nick Klinepeter, a journeyman who logged his first playing time with Shippensburg last season. After seven appearances that included a pair of touchdowns against Cheyney, Klinepeter should expect to see a fair amount of playing time at right halfback this season.

Also at right halfback, red-shirt sophomore Roshaan McCain will vie for a starting role after some impressive performances during his debut season. McCain’s excellent breakaway speed was displayed with his impressive average of 6.2 yards per rush on just 52 carries, a feat that ranked him third on the squad in rushing. McCain ran for 137 yards against Cheyney – the most by an SU back in four years – and there will be plenty of opportunities this season to build upon the promise shown as a rookie.

Much like the quarterback position, the Red Raider backfield boasts an onslaught of talent that is ready for a breakthrough this season. Among the legion of talented halfback recruits includes freshmen Kenny Baker of Pottstown High School and Mike Frenette of Cumberland Valley High School. The coaching staff thinks highly of both men and the duo leads a strong group of candidates who could also figure into the mix. Freshman Camryn LaSalle possesses great speed and could earn playing time this season along with the other freshman newcomers.


Some of the most noticeable turnover has been in the backfield, where Shippensburg returns just three letterwinners and four total players from last year's roster. However, the lone redshirt amongst this group figures to make the biggest impact on the team in 2009.

Redshirt freshman, Kevin Herod, who ran for nearly 1,000 yards in 2007 on a highschool team that made the Class AAAA championship game, is a workhorse that has gotten stronger and is ready for his chance to make a significant impact with the Red Raiders. He will be given every chance to earn the starting fullback spot this season with Shippensburg and display his impressive talents on the field.

Providing stiff competition for the starting spot will be redshirt sophomore Chad Halterman, a native of Northern York High School and a transfer from West Chester. Last season with the Golden Rams, Halterman finished fourth on the team in rushing and averaged 4.4 yards per carry through nine games of action. He is expected to see a lot of action in the backfield for Shippensburg this season.

A strong corps of incoming freshmen bolsters the depth at the position. The leader is Nick Whittles, a newcomer from Severna Park, Md. who compiled 1,800 rushing yards in his final two seasons as a fullback. Joining Whittles is Pat Schuhl, a veteran of Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey, and local Shippensburg Area Senior High School product Ethan Naylor. All will be given a chance to compete in camp.


The otherworldly talents of redshirt senior Mike Harris will once again be on display for the 2009 season. As one of the team’s four captains, the all-conference and all-region selection from last season will be gunning
for the record books after becoming just the second receiver in school history to compile over 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Harris, who was voted the team MVP last year by his peers, enters his final season ranked fourth all-time in career receptions as well as receiving yardage.

Another complimentary receiver is redshirt junior Chase DiFebbo, whose nine-game debut in 2008 featured 296 receiving yards and five touchdowns. One of those strikes was an 81-yard bomb from his brother that stands as the longest touchdown pass in 14 years. DiFebbo seeks to continue his maturation as a wide receiver and hone his big-play ability.

Redshirt freshman Jacob Baskerville is ready for the spotlight in 2009 after completing his first season with the team. His 6-foot, 2-inch frame should provide him ample opportunities for playing time as a split end in the Shippensburg Wing-T after a solid career as a defensive back and wide receiver at Pottstown High School.

The depth remains solid at the position with the return of several other split ends from last year’s rosters. Redshirt freshman Taimur Harris, a native of Penn Wood High School, continues to climb the depth chart and will be given some opportunities for playing time. Redshirt sophomore Anthony Varischetti adds depth.


Senior Mark Rossi returns to help bolster the offensive line in addition to being another pass-catching option for the Red Raiders. Rossi posted 14 receptions for over 200 yards last season and brings leadership to a relatively young offensive corps. He is one of just three players on the roster to have played in all 33 games over the past three seasons.

Red-shirt junior Jake Biondi emerged last season as another valuable fit along the end of the line. Biondi, the Patti Rees Memorial Scholarship winner for 2009, appeared in 10 games, caught four passes and posted solid grade-outs.

He will be joined by redshirt sophomore Brian Heitz, a dependable end who appeared in all 11 games last season and served a valuable special teams role.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Shippensburg must overcome the loss of its bookend tackles from a season ago; as all-conference left tackle Matt Olecki has graduated along with right tackle and former team captain Bill Morrison. This year’s line boasts a mixture of interior veterans along with some upside-laden youth that will look to match the success of last year’s group that allowed just 17 sacks while opening holes for the running backs to average 165 yards per game on the ground.

Red-shirt senior Dave Fremont is another team captain and will anchor the right guard position. An All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team selection last season and a CDS Preseason Honorable Mention selection this year, Fremont started all 11 games last year and will provide a wealth of valuable leadership up front. Fremont posted some of the most consistent grade-outs along the line last season and participated in at least 48 snaps in every game during 2008. Redshirt freshman Chris Restino will likely be the primary backup.

Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Peter Kreisher was the only Red Raider to be on the field for every offensive snap in 2008. He has earned the starting role at center and accumulated a wealth of experience last season that will help him vie for an all-conference honor this season. Kreisher averaged the second-highest grade-out of any regular offensive lineman last season and is ready for another strong season at center.

Redshirt junior Drew Gallardy is the leading candidate at left guard after making 10 starts last season. Gallardy provided solid production along the line and averaged solid grade-outs throughout the season, including three performances with a grade-out over 65 percent. He will be supported by redshirt freshman Bobby Mullen.

At left tackle, redshirt sophomore Steven Hohenwarter is the favorite after coming on strong at the end of last season and making nine appearances overall. Sophomore Taylor Edwards will also vie for time.

On the opposite end of the line, red-shirt sophomore Myles Roche will compete with red-shirt senior Luke Grata for the starting role at right tackle.


Heading into 2009, the defensive line boasts five players with at least one season of competition under their belt. However, the entire starting defensive line from last season has moved on, including All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team selection Jason Groller. This leaves a large window of opportunity for a multitude of candidates.

Along the ends, red-shirt junior Tyton Brunner and red-shirt sophomore Andy Horn are prime candidates to start after breakthrough campaigns with the Red Raiders a season ago.

Brunner, who platooned with departed senior Anthony Marsh last season, displayed an impressive defensive prowess with 11 tackles and a blocked kick in 10 games. Horn, a transfer from Towson, wasted no time becoming a valuable member of the rotation last year by leading all newcomers with four tackles for loss.

Another veteran competing for time is redshirt senior Taylor Davis, who made strides last season with appearances in all 11 games and a total of 10 tackles. Redshirt freshman Nik Rosenberry is also vying for playing time in his first full season in uniform with the team.

Along the interior, redshirt senior Antoine Parks is back as a favorite for playing time at the nose guard slot. Parks has appeared in 22 games and hopes to be a key figure along the line this season.

Meanwhile, redshirt junior Erik Van Ness returns as a defensive tackle after his debut last year in which he appeared in all 11 games and made 14 tackles. Redshirt freshmen Mark Kahlil Smith and Zach Collins also stand to see significant playing time in their first full seasons with the team.


Ferocity dwells in the middle of the Red Raider defense, as both of the team’s defensive captains return to anchor a hard-hitting, talent-laden group of athletes in 2009. In fact, six returning players complement a pair of talented redshirt freshmen that makes for one touch-as-nails linebacker corps.

Redshirt senior Andy Casale, the 2009 Zack Topper Memorial Scholarship recipient, will once again bring his professional attitude and work ethic to the Red Raiders this season along his intrepid leadership from the middle linebacker position. After an All-PSAC Western Division Second Team selection in 2007, Casale ranked third on the team last season with 76 tackles while starting all 11
games.

Junior Riley Bowen also serves as a captain after leading Shippensburg last season with 12 tackles for loss in addition to 74 total tackles. Bowen, the only non-senior captain on the team, also totaled three sacks and one interception, broke up seven passes, forced three fumbles, recovered three fumbles and recorded a safety as an All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team linebacker.

Another veteran who is expecting to see a lot of playing time this season is redshirt junior Josh Simmons, a phenomenal athlete that has made a mark with the team after being recruited as a tailback. Simmons was one of the team’s leading tacklers last season with 38 overall, including 20 solo stops. He is a favorite to earn an outside linebacker position this season.

Redshirt senior Joel Petersheim is another veteran who has seen a lot of playing time over the past three seasons. A veteran of 29 games as a Red Raider, Petersheim will compete for a starting spot at outside linebacker while maintaining his role as a steady member of the special teams.

Sophomore Vinnie Ranauto was the only true freshman to letter last season, appearing off the bench in the final nine games of the season to make 19 tackles. Ranauto will serve as the primary backup to Bowen while also competing for playing time at either outside linebacker spot.

Redshirt sophomore Beau Hoffman is another reserve linebacker who was an integral member of the special teams unit last season. Meanwhile, redshirt freshmen Cody Fleming and Tyrik Clary boast a wealth of talent and are looking to make an impression with their first opportunities in uniform. Fleming and Clary are two of the best athletes on the team and will play their way into significant field time in 2009.


While some of the personnel has been moved around in the secondary, the majority of last season’s impact players have returned. Redshirt junior Travis Proctor, who started at free safety last year, has moved to the strong-side corner position and will solidify that spot after recording 42 tackles to rank fifth on the team.

On the opposite side, red-shirt junior Jeff Fertig made his playing debut last season and immediately impressed by leading the team with three interceptions despite making just one start. Fertig made 31 tackles last season, and is in prime position for a starting spot at the weak-side cornerback position.

Red-shirt sophomore Makal Sabree will vie with Fertig for playing time along the weak side while fellow red-shirt sophomore Marcellus Sammons is expected to provide depth along the strong side. Both players made their playing debuts last season.

Meanwhile, red-shirt junior Jamahn McCollough flips with Proctor to serve as a free safety. McCollough made 18 solo tackles and recorded an interception last season after starting all 10 games in which he appeared.

At strong safety, redshirt junior Nick Melusky will be a primary figure after a breakthrough season in 2008. Melusky appeared in nine games and made 25 tackles to rank among the team’s top 10 in the category.

Redshirt freshman Corey Hunt, a native of Thomas Johnson High School in Maryland, will make an immediate impact this season as a safety. His athleticism and hard-hitting potential will get him on the field for significant playing time this season. Redshirt freshman Mike Lloyd will also fight for some playing time at both safety spots after coming into the program as a cornerback.


A plethora of seniors return to serve as the primary contributors for punting and place kicking duties. Senior Kyler Ford has appeared in all 33 of the team’s games since the start of the 2006 season along with senior long snapper James D’Annibale and will be the primary punter this season. Senior quarterback Chad DiFebbo is the returning holder.

Ford was an All-PSAC Western Division First Team punter as a freshman and has averaged 39.3 yards per punt over the course of 190 boots in his career. Last season, Ford was a workhorse once again with a career-high 71 punts while also serving as the team’s place kicker, converting 5-of-11 field goal attempts.

Challenging Ford for the place-kicking duties will be freshman Nate Schmidt, a graduate of Jim Thorpe High School who has thrived as a special teams performer. Freshman Drew Newcomer will also challenge for place-kicking duties.

All-purpose yardage institution Kevin Marshall will be the team’s leading kickoff returner once again after averaging 24.9 yards per return last season. He has two career kickoff returns for a touchdown to his credit and last season had 19 returns of at least 20 yards or more. Marshall ranked fourth in the PSAC in all-purpose yardage and finished 31st in the nation for kickoff returns.

Senior Mike Harris will once again be the primary punt returner after averaging 6.4 yards per return on 27 attempts. Redshirt sophomore Roshaan McCain will also be a primary kickoff returner along with Marshall after averaging 18.4 yards per return last season.