Raider Greats
This page features highlight videos, videos of games from the 60s through the 2000s. We also showcase great players, coaches and teams from all decades of Red Raider football. Your team not listed on here? Let us know and we’ll see what we can do.
NEXT LEVEL RAIDERS
This off season we will take a look at Red Raider greats that had the opportunity to try out for professional teams. Know someone who should be on the list, let us know by emailing Fran@RR4L.org.
DAN SEARER, DB, 1970-1974
(From SU Football Website) Dan Searer ’74 had a tryout with the Washington Redskins following a recordsetting career as a member of the secondary at Shippensburg State College. He was with the Redskins during the preseason but was cut in August. During his senior year, in the fall of 1974, Searer earned honorable mention All-American honors as a defensive back. He was also a first team All-PSAC selection and a third team Associated Press All-Pennsylvania player. In addition to leading Shippensburg in interceptions with four in 1974, Searer was second in the nation in punt returns and kickoff returns. He averaged 17.4 yards per punt return (13 for 226) and 28.1 yards per kickoff return (18 for 506). He came close to becoming the first player to ever lead the country in both categories the same season. Searer had an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and also blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for another touchdown. At the time of his induction into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997, Searer held the university record for blocked kicks in a season (4, accomplished in both 1973 and 1974.)
JOEL GAMBLE, TE, 2000-2004
(From SU Football Website) Joel Gamble ‘04 spent the 2010 preseason with the Cleveland Browns before he was waived at the end of training camp. He spent several weeks during the 2010 regular season on the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans. In December 2009, Gamble was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad and was with the Eagles through the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.
Gamble was also a regular on the indoor football circuit: he played for the DC Armor of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) and also suited up for the Tennessee Valley Vipers (2007), Oklahama City Yard Dawgz (2007) and Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings (2008) of arenafootball2 (af2).
In his career at Shippensburg (2001-04), Gamble totaled 41 receptions for 631 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 15.4 yards per reception. As a senior in 2004, Gamble helped Shippensburg to its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division championship since 1988 and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship. He totaled nine catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns, the latter of which ranked second on the team.
In 2003, Gamble earned All-PSAC Western Division First Team honors at tight end. The strong blocker and sure-handed receiver had 20 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns on a team that went 8-3.
A native of Baltimore, Gamble graduated from Shippensburg in 2004 with a degree in criminal justice. He is now active in the Joel Gamble Foundation, an organization dedicated to educating and preparing young student-athletes in the Greater Baltimore area to have success in their future endeavors.
HOMER “KNUCKLES” GILBERT, Lineman, 1924-1925
(From SU Football Hall of Fame website) Homer Gilbert played for the SU Normal School football team in 1924 and 1925 while he was enrolled in the Normal high school. He later attended the New York Military Academy and Albright College.
Gilbert played professional football for 12 years using a friends last name “ Boyle.” He used the name because he could not be enrolled in Albright College (1935-1936) and play pro football at the same time. During his professional football years Gilbert was said to be so tough he earned the nickname “Knuckles.”
In 1934, Gilbert played in one National Football League (NFL) game for the New York Giants against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Forbes Field. According to the game program, he was listed as the second-biggest player on the Giants. In subsequent years, Gilbert played for the Reading Keys in 1935 and the Pittsburgh Americans (AFL II) in 1936.
He also played baseball in the New York-Pennsylvania League, served as the freshman football coach for Franklin & Marshall in 1938, and was working in the Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Police Department at the time of his death in 1943 responding to a disturbance. He was 32 years old.
Gilbert had a brother, Sherrod, who was the captain of the 1923 team. He also had a much older brother, Levi, who served as the Shippensburg State Normal School’s Dean of Men in the 1920s and later its President from 1945-48. Gilbert Hall is named after Levi Gilbert.
JOHN SELL, OG/C, 1977-1980
John Sell #50 is an inspiration for many Red Raider Alumni. John was one of the great offensive lineman to ever play at Ship. I played along side John in 1979 & 1980, he was big and fast with the heart of a lion and the power of a bull. When Big John pulled around the end on a sweep, we were going to get yards. I had the opportunity recently to visit John and his wife Angie at their home in Florida. Many of you know John’s story, he lost both his legs due to knee surgeries and complications from a viral infection. Through all this, John has never lost his heart of a lion mind set. He is positive and optimistic and always wears a smile and brings a laugh. It was a great visit and he looked well as he navigated his lovely Florida home on his electric wheelchair. We shared stories and laughed a lot, it was great to see my old teammate. John has a never-give-up attitude and talks about getting back out on the golf course and hitting the gym to build up his strength. John should be an inspiration to all of us and a reminder to never give up. John is a big supporter of RR4L, he wants to give back to the program that had a profound impact on his life. The following is the Hall of Fame write up on John, truly a Raider Great!
(From SU Football Hall of Fame website) John Sell was an All-American offensive lineman and four-year letter winner who played for the Red Raider football team from 1977-1980. He started three years for the Red Raiders either as a guard or center, and was voted as one of the best offensive lineman to suit up for the team in the last 50 years.
Recruited to Shippensburg as a Top 5 “Blue Chip” state lineman from Littlestown High School, Sell would go on to sign a professional contract with the Philadelphia Eagles after his graduation in 1981 – attending training camp with legendary coach Dick Vermeil. An injury resulted in him being one of the team’s final cuts.
His best year came as a senior in 1980, a season for which he earned Associated Press “Little All-America” honorable mention honors in addition to All-PSAC and All-ECAC First Team honors. At the time, the AP All-America Teams consisted of all college football teams at the 1-AA, Division II, and Division III levels. Sell’s exploits also resulted in earning the football team’s prestigious Vinton Rambo awards as the outstanding senior lineman.
In 1980, his senior year, Shippensburg set a team record for most plays per game with 80.1 plays per game. It was the first time that the Red Raiders averaged better than 80 plays per game during a season. SU also set a team record for most rushing attempts in a game with 74 against Bloomsburg in 1980 (284 yards) and highest average number of rushing attempts per game for a season with 55.9. Both those rushing attempt totals for single game and season remain the team records. John was a guard in his All-American season – he played eight games at center in 1979.
In Sell’s four years, the Red Raiders posted a 22-17-1 record. SU went 6-4 in 1977 and 7-3 in 1978 under Joe Mark. SU defeated Slippery Rock 45-14 in Michigan Stadium in 1979 and went 5-4-1 in 1980. In the Slippery Rock game in Ann Arbor, Sell helped open holes for a potent running attack that saw the rare distinction of having two Raiders gain more than 100 yards in the game. Sell was coached by Vito Ragazzo his last two seasons.
The Chambersburg Public Opinion selected an All-Time All-Star Football Team for the years of 1976-1988, and Sell was selected to this team along with the likes of fellow SU Hall of Famers such as Tony Winter, Tim Ebersole, Averell Harris and Fred Glasgow. In 2011, Sell was inducted into the Adams County chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Fran Masciantonio OG ‘81 John Sell OG ‘80
ROB DAVIS, DL/LS, 1988-1992
(From SU Football website) Rob Davis ’92 was hired Jan. 27, 2020 as an assistant head coach with the Dallas Cowboys. Davis played for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears before retiring on Mar. 26, 2008. The first modern Red Raider to play in the NFL, Davis took over as the Packers' long snapper in 1997 and played 167 consecutive games – the third-longest streak in Green Bay history behind Brett Favre (255) and Forrest Gregg (187).
Davis was also the first Red Raider to play in a Super Bowl on Jan. 25, 1998 as the Packers were defeated by the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII. Before making it in the NFL, Davis spent 1995 playing for the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has the distinction of playing in a Super Bowl, Grey Cup and NCAA playoff game; Davis and the Stallions won the 1995 Grey Cup after defeating the Calgary Stampeders, 37-20.
After retiring as a player, Davis spent 11 seasons as the director of player development with the Green Bay Packers. He has also been a staunch advocate for community efforts in Wisconsin and worked as a life coach and motivational speaker.
Davis was a standout on the defensive line for Shippensburg from 1988-92. He was a two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division selection, earning First Team honors in 1991. He is a two-time American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American who set the university record for most tackles by a lineman (353). He was inducted into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.
A native of District Heights, Md. and a 1986 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George's County, Davis went on to receive his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2014.
READ ROB DAVIS’ HALL OF FAME BIO, CLICK THE LINK BELOW
RON JOHNSON, DE, 1999-2003
(From SU Football website) Ron Johnson ’03 was signed as a rookie free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles and was promoted to Philly’s active roster after the first four weeks of the 2003 season. Johnson played in three games for the Eagles in 2003 after being elevated from the team’s practice squad.
A defensive lineman, Johnson remained on the Eagles’ active roster before suffering a career-ending back injury in the final game of the 2004 preseason.
Johnson worked hard in his rehabilitation. In 2005, Johnson was the No. 1 draft pick by the Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europe, but his NFL doctors did not clear him to play in the league and recommended surgery for his previous injuries.
In 2007, Johnson signed with the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League but was eventually forced to retire from football after sustaining another injury.
In four seasons with Shippensburg (1999-2002), Johnson finished his career with 158 total tackles, including 35 for loss and 18.0 sacks while earning All-PSAC Western Division First Team honors as a senior in 2002. He was also named All-PSAC Western Division Second Team in 1999 and 2000. Johnson remains eighth in school history for career sacks.
Johnson earned his degree from Shippensburg in speech communication in 2003. He remains active in football as the owner and director of Ron’s Rising Stars LLC – an organization which provides football camps and mentoring services. Johnson teaches youth to be better football players and to inspire them to follow their dreams and focus on education. He travels across the country to schools and universities and is also a keynote speaker and facilitator for CoolSpeak, a youth engagement company.
His primary football camp, held every summer in Shippensburg, teaches children the basic concepts and fundamentals of football, in addition to providing advanced training about the importance of doing well in school and being a respectable and well-rounded individual. Johnson was inducted into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
READ RON JOHNSON’S HALL OF FAME BIO, CLICK THE LINK BELOW
BRENT GRIMES, DB , 2002-2005
(From SU Football website) Brent Grimes is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a 2014 All-Pro Second Team performer who totaled 575 tackles, 33 interceptions, 140 pass defenses and three defensive touchdowns in a distinguished career.
Grimes suited up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016-18. He recorded a career-high 24 passes defensed in 2016 and earned a 90.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus — the highest individual grade of his career. In three seasons with the Buccaneers, Grimes intercepted seven passes, 137 tackles and two forced fumbles over the course of 42 games.
Grimes spent three seasons with the Miami Dolphins from 2013-15. The 2013 Miami Dolphins MVP, Grimes totaled 13 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 43 passes defensed and 166 tackles in a Dolphin uniform. He was an All-Pro Second Teamer in 2014 with five interceptions, 12 passes defensed, a forced fumble and 57 tackles.
In six seasons (2007-12) and 59 career games with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, Grimes totaled 254 tackles, 56 pass defenses and 13 interceptions. He capped off a breakthrough 2010 season by intercepting all-pro quarterback Peyton Manning in the Pro Bowl. His signature season in Atlanta included an NFC-best 23 passes defensed, five interceptions and 94 tackles.
In 43 career games at Shippensburg, Grimes was a six-time All-PSAC Western Division selection, including three as a defensive back and three as a return specialist. He was also a three-time All-American. Grimes ended his career with 27 interceptions, the most in PSAC history, He also boasts numerous school records for his work on special teams, including career punt return yardage (1,133).
AVERELL HARRIS, WR 19, 1973-1976
(From SU Football website) Averell Harris was one of the best wide receivers in school history. He lettered three years for Shippensburg and helped the Red Raiders win a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship in 1976, his senior year.
Harris grew up in Sewickly and arrived at Shippensburg in the fall of 1973. He played for the JV team his first year,In the fall of 1974, he earned a starting berth on varsity team. Harris finished the season with 14 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown.
In 1975 he led the team in receiving with 49 catches. He set records for the most yards receiving in a single game with 172, most yards in a season with 954, and most touchdown passes caught with nine.
Shippensburg went 8-2-1 in 1976 and won the PSAC Western Division. The tie occurred at the State Game when Shippensburg ended Eastern Division champion East Stroudsburg’s 19 game winning streak with a 14-14 deadlock. Harris finished the year with 36 catches for 525 yards and one touchdown.
For his career Harris had 99 catches for 1,677 yards and 11 TDs. He was an honorable mention All-American and a first team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Davison player in 1976.
Following his senior year Harris was signed by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. He lasted until the final cut. He also had a try-out with the Buffalo Bills the following season. Harris played minor league football for the Chambersburg Cardinals for several seasons and helped the Cardinals win the national championship in 1979 and 1980. Harris then became the supervisor of the credit department for the Equitable Gas Co. in Pittsburgh while residing in his hometown of Sewickly.
Photo from SU HOF website
JAKE METZ, 2018 DL, 6-7 · 255 · Harleysville, Pa./Souderton
(From the SU Football website) Jake Metz '18 signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) in April 2017. He spent the entire 2017 preseason with the Bills. It was his second NFL contract, as Metz appeared in the final game of the 2016 preseason for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Metz exceled with the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League (AFL), where he was named the 2016 AFL Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the league with eight sacks and helping the Soul to the Arena Bowl XXIX Championship. Earlier in 2016, Metz played football for the Qingdao Clipper of the China Arena Football League (CAFL).
The 2013 Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award finalist finished his storied collegiate career as Shippensburg University's all-time career sacks leader with 30.5 and all-time career tackles-for-loss leader with 55. He broke the single-season school record for sacks in 2012 with 11.5 and finished with 11 in 2013. The 2013 Super Region One Defensive Player of the Year, Metz was named to five different All-America teams (four First-Team selections) as a senior -- including recognition by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and by the Associated Press (AP) on its Little All-America Team. In total, he was named an All-America eight times in his career by various organizations.
Photo from SU Football website
HALL OF FAME OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
PLAYER
Robert Adams
Tackle
1954
1988
Walter Bailets
Edward Bellas
Guard
Guard
1935
1953
1996
1999
Dean Bergstresser
Guard
1941
1994
Chuck Burnheimer
Tackle
1954
2002
Dave Calvario
Tackle
1981
2007
Bill Cockley
Guard
1953
1986
Tom Henn
Guard
1977
1992
George Rubhovcak
Tackle
1957
2009
Lou Ilioff
Guard
1940
1987
Paul Kohler
Tackle
1949
1989
Ronald Lawhead
Lineman
1958
1998
Edgar Mitchell
Guard
1931
1989
Joe Persiponko
Center
1957
2011
Michael Ryan
Center
1938
1988
Ken Schaeffer
Tackle
1981
2011
John Sell
Center/Guard
1981
2016
Charlie Shields
Center
1949
2004
Earl Strohm
POSITION
Lineman
GRADUATED
1947
HOF INDUCTION
1991
HALL OF FAME LINK
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Greg Keller Tackle 79-83
Fran Masciantonio Guard 78-82
Dave Schanbacher Center 79-83
Chip Dimmick Guard 80-84
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Andre Pelletier Tackle 1996
Corey Bornman Guard 1990
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Gary McChalicher Tackle 96-2000
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Doug Randall
Nominate your team mate, submit to Fran@RR4L.org
ALL-TIME GREAT TEAMS
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"The formative years of Shippensburg University football featured a great deal of prosperity – with Harry Newsham Bentz’s 14-3 recor during the 1924-25 seasons being among the signature achievements in early Red Raider history.
However, the Red Raiders began their first truly prosperous run in the mid-1930s under legendary coach Ed Gulian. After a 1-6 debut season in 1933, Gulian championed the Red Raiders all the way through the 1946 season following the students’ return from World War II, fashion- ing a career record of 47-28-8.
While Gulian’s 47 total wins may seem like a small number given his 11 seasons as a head coach, it’s a strong accomplishment given the fact sea- sons typically averaged just eight total games in his era. In fact, Gulian’s 47 career victories are the second-most by any coach in SU football history, trailing only Rocky Rees.
Gulian never coached an undefeated team, but his 1935 and 1936 teams both went 7-1 and were among the best ever fielded by the Red Raiders. They were captained each year by Brower Pernet – an SU hall of famer who thrived at the end position. Pernet was the last player to serve as team captain for two consecutive seasons until Tim Ebersole and Rich Pryor in 1981 and 1982 and Dave Szlahetka in 1985 and 1986.
Pernet was a senior in 1936 and the Red Raiders were as stingy as can be on defense. In Pernet’s two seasons as captain, Shippensburg allowed just 34 points in 16 games and posted 12 shutouts.
In an age when 60-minute men were the rule rather than the exception, the 1936 squad set a school record for fewest points allowed, a minis- cule 15, and posted shutouts in six of its eight games.
Shippensburg mowed through the opposition and didn’t allow a point in its first five games of the season, defeating Wilson (now known as UDC), Kutztown, ESU, Cal and Bloomsburg and compiling a 134-0 scoring margin in the process. In its next two games, SU defeated Mill- ersville, 19-6, and IUP, 14-0.
Unfortunately, SU narrowly missed a conference title and an undefeated year when Lock Haven handed the Red Raiders a 9-7 road defeat in the season finale. But when all was said and done, the Red Raiders out- scored the opposition by a 74-15 margin – a feat that will stand the test of time in SU’s history"
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"The “Golden Age” of Shippensburg football had many memorable seasons under legendary coach Vinton Rambo. The 1953 squad, w was led by Associated Press Little All-American tackle Robert “Tiny” Adams, was the first team in the history of college football to lead the nation in total defense, pass defense and rushing defense in the same
season. Other teams had led in total defense and either passing or rush- ing defense, but never all three.
The squad, captained by Ray Ellis and Chuck Burnheimer, demolished every opponent in its path en route to an 8-0 season. Ellis eventu-
ally became the namesake for the football team’s treasured “Fighting Heart” award. After a 24-14 season-opening win over Lock Haven, Shippensburg won its next three games by a combined 119-0 margin. The Red Raiders then defeated Slippery Rock on the road, 20-14, before a 65-0 rout of Millersville, a 20-7 road win over Cheyney and a 52-0 whitewashing of Bridgewater.
Adams was the first football player in Shippensburg history to earn first team AP All-America honors. He used his strength to dominate the line of scrimmage, helping set school records for fewest yards allowed per game (81.9) and fewest yards per play. Among his most famous exploits that season was a punt in which he blocked his man into the flight of the kick and subsequently the punter.
Burnheimer was a lineman, playing tackle on both offense and defense. In 1953 he was second team All-Conference again and he was one of only three Shippensburg players to earn All-Pennsylvania honorable mention recognition. The All-Pennsylvania team consisted mainly
of major college players and it was difficult for players from smaller schools to gain those accolades.
Hall of famer Spencer Keyes was the leading rusher and scorer on the squad with 66 carries for 588 yards and nine touchdowns. He passed for two more touchdowns and also set the schoo record for most kick returns for touchdowns (two punts, one kickoff )"
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"In his first season at the helm of the Red Raiders, head coach Joe Mark guided the Shippensburg University football team to the PSAC West- ern Division championship and a split of the PSAC crown after tying East Stroudsburg in the State Game, 14-14. It was Shippensburg’s first conference championship in 19 years.
After starting the season with a tough loss to West Liberty State, Shippensburg rattled off seven consecutive victories, including a 21-0 road shutout of IUP, a 10-3 home win over Slippery Rock, and a 7-0 road victory at Lock Haven. Rounding out October, SU crushed Cali- fornia 58-0 and then defeated Edinboro, 28-24.
Shippensburg shared the best record in the Western Division with Slippery Rock but the Red Raiders were selected to compete in the State Game by virtue of their head-to-head victory in Week 5. Rushing touchdowns by Fred Glasgow and Rene Posey were the only scores for Shippensburg, but the tie prevented East Stroudsburg from matching Shippensburg’s all-time PSAC record for consecutive victories set in 1954 (20).
Several players produced memorable seasons. Glasgow, one of four fu- ture SU hall of famers on the 1976 squad, led the team in rushing with 220 carries for 990 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was an AP honorable mention Little All-America selection.
Wide receiver Averell Harris led the team with 31 receptions and 439 receiving yards – earning honorable mention All-America honors in addition to being a first team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division player.
Quarterback Scott Knudson had one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of Red Raider football. Knudson was the third- string quarterback entering the season but became the starter as a sophomore after the first two quarterbacks were injured within a week. Knudson finished the season as the team’s leader in total offense with 74 completions in 137 attempts for 1,030 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, senior co-captain Tony Winter led the team with over 150 tackles. He set school records for the most tackles in a single game (27 in a road loss to Clarion) and career tackles with 387. Winter won the 1976 Ray Ellis Fighting Heart Award and was also the team’s Most Valuable Player. He was a first team All-Pennsylvania Conference choic for All-American."
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"Shippensburg was the only team in the country to finish the 1981 regular season with an 11-0 record. The Red Raiders were named t ECAC Division II Team of the Year and won the Lambert Cup for be- ing the top Division I-AA or Division II team in the East. SU defeated Millersville 34-17 in the State Game and advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the first time in school history.
In the national quarterfinals, SU achieved a 40-27 victory over Virginia Union before 12,000 fans at Richmond’s City Stadium. Virginia Union entered the game ranked second in the country in total defense. The Red Raiders then hosted North Dakota State in the national semifinals before a capacity crowd at Seth Grove Stadium but lost, 18-6.
Among national rankings, SU finished seventh in the nation in total offense by averaging 394.8 yards per game. The Red Raiders also ranked 11th in the nation for rushing offense after averaging 223.5 yards per game. Eight players received All-PSAC designations.
Quarterback Tim Ebersole was named the ECAC Division II Player of the Year after ranking third in the nation for passing efficiency and 10th in total offense. He also set a school record with 20 touchdown passes that season.
Senior lineman Dave Calvario received the Vinton Rambo Award and was a third-time AP College Division All-American. Ebersole and defensive end Ed Brown received AP honorable mention.
Head coach Vito Ragazzo was the Pennsylvania Conference Coach of the Year, Kodak College Division Coach of the Year (as selected by the AFCA) and the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year for the Chevro- let Scholar program (as selected by ABC television – who broadcasted the national semifinal).
Seven players earned All-PSAC Western Division accolades. The First- Team picks were Brown, Calvario and Ebersole. Five players earned Second Team accolades: linemen Greg Keller and Fran Masciantonio, wide receiver Ed Noon, running back Dave Friese and defensive back Chuck Beans.
Noon teamed with Ebersole to form a potent passing threat - he caught 46 passes for 816 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those totals do not include the 10 receptions for 221 yards that he totaled in the to NCAA playoff games. He added 199 rushing yards and a touchdown to rank second on the team behind Friese with 1,015 all-purpose yards. At the conclusion of the season, Ebersole and Noon shared the team's ""Most Valuable Player"" award"
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Despite finishing second in the PSAC Western Division, the 1991 Red Raiders still earned the opportunity to play in the NCAA Division
II tournament after a 9-2 regular season that was capped off with Jeff Fickes’s blocked field goal to preserve an exhilarating 31-30 victory over New Haven.
The Red Raiders opened the season with five consecutive victories, in- cluding a win in the season opener over NAIA tournament team Shep- herd and a 44-35 comeback over Kutztown in which the Red Raiders trailed 35-14 at halftime. The only two losses of the regular season came against IUP (week 6) and Clarion (week 8).
In the opening round of the playoffs, SU traveled to face East Strouds- burg – the Eastern Division champions. The teams were tied 27-27 af- ter regulation. The Red Raiders scored first in overtime to take a 34-27 lead after a Winston Horshaw touchdown and a Howie Guarini extra point. ESU countered with a touchdown but George Strish blocked the extra point to give SU the win – marking the second straight week that Shippensburg had clinched a victory with a blocked kick.
The season ended in the next round with a loss at Indiana (Pa.) – the eventual national semifinalists.
Horshaw led the nation in kickoff return average, totaling 536 yards on 15 returns (35.6 yards per return). Fickes, an AP All-America First Team selection, led the nation in interceptions with 12 through 11
games - setting new school records for a single season and a career (21). Both men received All-ECAC First Team honors.
Four other men received All-ECAC honors. Linebacker Ken Pickett set a school record with 182 tackles during the season. He also earned AP All-America Second Team honors. Defensive lineman and future NFL standout Rob Davis tied the school record with 10 sacks in a season and led the defensive line with 90 tackles.
Bill Pettyjohn broke the single season school record for rushing with 1,101 yards – he added an additional 181 yards in two touchdowns in the NCAA playoffs. Tad Pribula led the team in receiving despite
missing two games with an injury. He had 48 receptions for 675 yards
and four touchdowns."
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For the first time in 13 years, the SU football team advanced into the NCAA playoffs after a memorable and historic regular season. The 2004 season began with five consecutive victories, had one hiccup in the middle at IUP, and finished with six more victories. SU was ranked as highly as No. 9 in Division II and won its first share of the PSAC Western Division crown since 1988.
SU had an overwhelming 15 All-PSAC Western Division selections – including nine of the team’s 11 starters on defense – contribute to a squad that hosted a NCAA playoff game for the first time in 23 years and appear in the postseason for the third consecutive decade.
Shippensburg, backed by AFCA First Team All-America fullback John Kuhn, set a new school record with 3,112 rushing yards during the season. It was the first time in school history that SU had totaled more than 3,000 rushing yards in one season.
Kuhn completed his career owning 21 school records and four confer- ence records, totaling 910 rushes, 4,685 rushing yards, 53 touchdowns and 23 games with at least 100 yards on the ground. In 2004, Kuhn ran for 1,487 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.
The defense, coached by former Red Raider All-American Mark “Mac” Maciejewski, was one of the best the school has ever produced. SU held seven opponents under 100 yards rushing and only yielded two 100 yard rushers all season. Opponents averaged just 13.6 points per game against Shippensburg, totaled 25 interceptions and recorded 28 sacks.
Among the group was standout All-PSAC West First Team defensive back Brent Grimes, who intercepted seven passes and recorded 12 pass breakups, and Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year finalist Ryan Hoff- man, who recorded 4.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.
Several players also earned All-Region honors from Don Hansen's Football Gazette, including Kuhn, Grimes, safety Mike Street, line- backer Dan Walsh and offensive lineman Chris Leavenworth, who achieved honorable mention All-America honors from the publication.
The 2004 squad, which totaled 391 points and 4,882 yards from scrim- mage, capped off a memorable four-year run in which the Red Raiders went 32-13 to compile a winning percentage of .711. The 32 victories set a new school record for the most victories in any four-year stretch."
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Shippensburg earned its first outright divisional championship and first overall conference championship in 28 years, beating three ranked op- ponents along the way: No. 3 Bloomsburg, No. 15 Edinboro and No. 18 California (Pa.). Two of those games were on the road.
The Red Raider Wing-T was dominant, ranking first in the conference with an average time of possession at 32:40 per game and ranking third in the conference with an average of 182.2 rushing yards per game. SU also led the conference with a total of 510 rushes from scrimmage.
Shippensburg scored at least 21 points in all 12 games, a feat never before achieved in 105 seasons of organized football at the university. The Red Raiders also came within six points of a new record for points scored in a season, finishing the year with 393 points (32.8 per game), and within one touchdown of tying the school record for the most touchdowns scored in one season (53 in 1999).
The season ended earlier than the Red Raiders had hoped, however, los- ing a 26-21 game to California (Pa.) in the NCAA Division II Second Round. SU had earlier defeated Cal in the State Game, 42-35.
Senior quarterback Chad DiFebbo finished his Red Raider career with the school record for passing touchdowns in a season (27) and total touchdowns in a season (29) while throwing at least one touchdown pass in 22 of his 23 career starts.
Senior split end Mike Harris concluded his tenure at Shippensburg as an AFCA All-American and just the 14th player in PSAC history to compile 3,000 receiving yards (197 career receptions, 3,000 career receiving yards). He finished his career with the school record for the most career games with a touchdown reception (20), breaking Ed Noon’s mark.
Another senior, Kyler Ford, set school records for career punts (245), career punting yards (9,768), points by a kicker in one season (77) and successful extra points by a kicker in one season (47). He was among the nation’s top five punters in terms of net average and competed with Harris in the Valero Cactus Bowl.
In all, Shippensburg averaged 32.8 points per game and ranked among the PSAC’s Top 5 teams in 23 statistical categories. Nine players earned All-PSAC credentials."
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Mark ‘Mac’ Maciejewski, an All-American defensive lineman with the Red Raiders in the late 1980s and early 1990s, whipped up much fervor in his first seasons as the head coach of his alma mater during the early 2010s. In his first two seasons, Mac guided Shippensburg to an 18-6 record – including a historic 11-2 run in 2012. SU posted its second-highest win total in school history and won its first NCAA postseason game since 1991 while being the only PSAC team to post an undefeated 7-0 divisional record en route to an Eastern Division title. Along the way, the Red Raiders broke or tied 73 school records, scoring 609 points and 83 touchdowns en route to 6,889 yards of total offense. SU led the nation in total offense (529.92) and ranked second in scor-ing offense by averaging 46.8 points per game. As the No. 4 seed in Super Region One, Shippensburg earned the right to host No. 5 seed Bloomsburg in the opening round of the playoffs and defeated the Huskies, 58-20. SU’s season ended in the second round at the hands of No. 1 seed Winston-Salem State – who reached the national championship game. Eleven players earned All-PSAC accolades (eight First Team picks, three Second Team picks) – six of whom doubled up as Daktronics All-Super Region 1 performers. Highlighting the group was junior Zach Zulli, the PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Year, Dak-tronics All-Super Region 1 Offensive Player of the Year and Harlon Hill Trophy Winner, who led all divisions of college football with 54 touchdown passes and 4,747 passing yards – tying the NCAA single-season record for touchdown passes in a season while breaking NCAA single-season records for points responsible for in a season (344) and touchdowns responsible for in a season (57). ‘Mac’ was named the 2012 PSAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year and 2012 AFCA D-II Region 1 Coach of the Year and was also selected as one of five finalists for the 2012 Liberty Mutual D-II Coach of the Year award. Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich was hired away from Shippensburg in the offseason to serve in the same role at another school – Oklahoma State. Zulli and junior defensive end Jake Metz were named to the 2012 Associated Press (AP) Little All-America Teams, with Zulli the First Team quarterback and Metz a Second Team defensive lineman. The two Red Raiders are the first SU players honored by the AP since Brent Grimes was chosen as a First Team defensive back in 2005.
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SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University football head coach Mark 'Mac' Maciejewski '92/'96M was named the 2017 AFCA Division II Region 1 Coach of the Year on Tuesday morning – his second national coaching honor – after guiding the Red Raiders to a 10-2 record and the opening round of the NCAA playoffs.
Maciejewski, in his seventh year at the helm, instructed Shippensburg University Football to its fifth 10-win season in school history and first NCAA playoff berth in five years. The 2017 NCAA First Round berth for the Red Raiders is the sixth NCAA postseason appearance in school history.
Shippensburg leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in numerous statistical categories, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Red Raiders pace the conference in scoring defense, total defense, and third-down defense in addition to other categories. SU committed the fewest turnovers (13) of any PSAC team in 2017 and ranks second nationally with a +16 turnover margin.
Additionally, Shippensburg ranks among the Top 10 Division II teams in nine defensive categories, including the No. 1-ranked red-zone defense (.556) in the nation, the No. 3 scoring defense (13.0) and the No. 4 total defense (268.8).
This is the second time that Maciejewski has been named AFCA Division II Region 1 Coach of the Year, accompanying his first honor he received in 2012. Maciejewski is also a two-time PSAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year (2012, 2017).
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1897 - 4-0 Coach C.E. Barton
1920 - 6-2 Coach Seth Grove
1925 - 8-1 Coach Harry Newsham Bentz
1935 - 7-1 Coach Ed Gulian
1952 7-0 Coach Vinton Rambo
1957 6-0-1 Coach Jack Roddick
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1978 - 7-3 Coach Joe Mark
1988 6-4 Coach Joe Bottiglieri
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2001 - 8-3 Coach Rocky Rees
2013 - 7-4 Coach Mark Maciejewski
2021 - 9-2 Coach Mark Maciejewski
RAIDER SCORING LEADERS 1950-2015
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Hershuel Ulrich - 1953 / 54 points
Spencer Keys - 1953 / 54 points
Spencer Keys - 1954 / 48 points
John Connor - 1956 / 80 points
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Bill Lewis - 1961 / 54 points
Joe Nagy - 1964 / 55 points
Ed Hammers - 1967 / 73 points
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Al Bowman - 1970 / 48 points
Ricky Diggs - 1974 / 78 points
Averell Harris - 1975 / 54 points
Fred Glasgow - 1976 / 60 points
Fred Glasgow - 1977 / 74 points
Fred Glasgow - 1978 / 50 points
Jeff Auker - 1980 / 52 points
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Dave Friese - 1981 / 94 points
Ed Noon - 1982 / 54 points
Frank VanBuren - 1985 / 54 points
Bob Plummer - 1987 / 48 points
Howie Guarini - 1989 / 53 points
Howie Guarini - 1990 / 65 points
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Bill Pettyjohn - 1991 / 96 points
Joel Yohn - 1992 / 50 points
Joel Yohn - 1995 / 53 points
Jamie Ware - 1998 / 90 points
Mike Erlandson - 1999 / 72 points
Melvin Scott - 2000 / 60 points
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Dave Brown - 2001 / 84 points
John Kuhn - 2002 / 100 points
John Kuhn - 2003 / 132 points
John Kuhn - 2004 / 84 points
Jamie Reder - 2005 / 71 points
Jamie Reder - 2006 / 52 points
Aaron Dykes - 2007 / 66 points
Mike Harris - 2008 / 60 points
Kyle Ford - 2009 / 77 points
Kevin Marhsall - 2010 / 66 points
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Drew Newcomer - 2011 / 79 points
Trevor Harmon - 2012 / 114 points
Trevor Harmon 2013 / 132 points
Sheldon Mayer - 2014 / 72 points
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Trevor Harmon - 370 points 2011-14
John Kuhn - 322 points 2001-04
Jamie Reder - 249 points 2004-07
Howie Guarini - 230 points 1988-91
Mike Frenette - 222 points 2009-12
Drew Newcomer - 208 points 2010-13
Craig Lough - 203 points 1998-02
Joel Yohn - 194 points 1992-95
Fred Glasgow - 184 points 1976-78
Jeff Auker - 177 points 1980-83
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Trevor Harmon 132 points 2013
John Kuhn - 132 points 2003
Trevor Harmon 114 points 2012
John Kuhn 100 points 2002
Bill Pettyjohn 96 points 1991
Dave Friese 94 points 1981
Jack Green 90 points 1931
CAPTAINS & COACHES 1960-PRESENT
Click to expand
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1960 Wayne Burg, Ivan Sload, George Mitchell 2-7
1961 Bob Orndorff, Bill McMillan 0-8
1962 Vanel Perry, Anthony Zvonar 4-4
1963 Jim Hunter, Bill Fry 3-5
Overall Record 9-24
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1964 Ron Wilsbach, Ralph Freeland 4-4
1965 Steve Ecker, Joe Nag 2-6
1966 Marv Bager, Frank Basehoar 4-5
1967 John Monsell, Dick Weaver 4-5
1968 Nick Dellaquila, Steve Bumgarner 5-3
1969 Bill Lemanshi, Chuck Hickes 1-7
1970 Al Bowman, Don Deitz 3-5
1971 Bob Hickes, Roger Berkheimer 2-6
Overall 25-41
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1972 Bob Anderson, Jesse Mroczka, Steve Johnston 2-7
1973 Rich Kelly, Brad Shover 2-7
1974 Rick Diggs, Al Seagraves, Dan Searer 7-4
1975 Game Captains 6-5
Overall 17-23
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1976 Tom Henn, Tony Winter 8-211 PSAC Co-Champs
1977 Jerome Kater, Bob Nelson 6-4
1978 Fred Glasgow, John Morabito 7-3
Overall 21-9-1
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1979 Todd Chronister, Brian Clement, Joe Kachnoskie, John Wertz 4-6
1980 Steve Cramer, Bob Potts, Ken Schaeffer, Dave Weaver 5-4-1
1981 Dave Calvario, Tim Ebersole, Rich Pryor, Joe Puzycki 12-1 PSAC Champ NCAA 2nd Rd
1982 Ed Brown, Tim Ebersole, Greg Keller, Rich Pryor 7-3
1983 Chip Dimmick, Glenn Herd, Pat Silva, Jeff Zubia 4-6
1984 Mark Brezitski, Chip Dimmick, Mike Houseal, Dave Hurdle 4-6
1985 Mike Brady, Dan Carey, Dave Hurdle, Dave Szlchetka 5-5
Overall Record 41-31-1
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1986 Scott Duke, Dave Szlachetka 3-7
1987 Mick Chorister, Don Craine, Pat Fahie, Frank Ban Buren 4-6
1988 Kelly Kramer, Charles Parker, Mike Swope, Bill Twohig 6-4
1989 Steve Hladio, Dave Russell, Mike Swope 5-5-1
Overall 18-22-1
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1990 Mike George, Clyde Tinner, Mike Williams 5-6
1991 Jeff Fickes, Ken Pickett, Corey Bornmann, Rob Davis 10-3 PSAC Champ NCAA 2nd Rd
1992 Corey Bornmann, Rob Davis, Shayne Mains 3-7-1
1993 Winston Horshaw, Doug Seidenstricker, Bian High, Mike Lazusky 6-5
1994 Joe Topichak, Doug Seidenstricker 5-6
1995 Tom Coleman, Martin Pepe, Dwaine Schultz 3-8
1996 Steve McTaggart, Mike Buglia, Andre Pelletier 3-8
1997 Andre Pelletier, Kevin Washington 6-4
1998 Kevin Washington, Dave Klingerman, Chopper Schlauch 7-4
1999 Phil Galiano, Jason Heckendorn, Brad Schamach 8-3
2000 Chris Gicking, Ryan Hartley, Gary McChalicher 5-6
2001 Chad Oberholzer, Lanorde Wheeler 8-3
2002 Ron Johnson, Tony Johnson, Eric Ranieri, Chris Ward, Jon Saba 6-5
2003 Clint Inch, Greg Hutchinson, John Kuhn, Dan Walsh 8-3
2004 Dan Walsh, John Kuhn 10-2 PSAC Champs NCAA 1st Rd
2005 Frank Duffy, Patrick Ferguson, Tony Gomez 4-7
2006 Frank Duffy, Patrick Ferguson, Aaron Dykes 5-6
2007 Bill Morrison 3-8
2008 Josh Oswalt, Matt Olecki, Bill Morrison, Mike Harris 4-7
2009 Andy Casale, Mike Harris, Dave Fremont, Riley Brown 9-3 PSAC Champ NCAA 1st Rd
2010 Riley Bowen, Drew Gallardy 5-6
Overall 123-110-1
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2011 Vinnie Ranauto, Brian Heitz 7-4
2012 Mike Frenette, Corey Hunt, Mark Kahlil Smith, Jeff Tomasetti 11-2 PSAC East Champ NCAA 2nd Rd
2013 Jason Brady, Daniel Green, Trevor Harman, Jake Metz, Zach Zulli 7-4 PSAC Co-Champs
2014 Trevor Harmon, Doug Randall, Brian Sourber 6-5
2015 Allen Holman, Hayden Rigo, Sheldon Mayer, Kurt Walker 8-3
2016 Information neeeded 7-4
2017 Information Needed 10-2 PSAC Champ NCAA 1st Rd
2018 Tyler Emge, Josh Lister, Richard Nace, Mike Palmer 6-5
2019 4-7
2021 9-2
2022 5-6
Overal Record 80-44
DEFENSE - SACKS, TFL & INT LEADERS
Click category below to expand
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Jake Metz - 30.5 2010-2013
Ed Brown - 24 1979 - 1982
John Wertz - 23 1976-1979
Mark Maciejewski - 23 1989-1992
Dave Hurdle - 21 1982-1985
Dainen Green - 20.5 2010-2013
Jason Heckendorn - 20 1995-1999
Ron Johnson - 18 1999-2002
Ron Reinhart - 16 1983-1986
Walter Davis - 15 1988-1989
Most sacks in a season - 41 1981
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Jake Metz - 55 2010-2013
Cody Fleming - 52.5 2009-2012
Mark Maciejewski -51 1989-1992
Rob Davis - 48 1988-1992
Chris WIllingham - 42.5 1992-1995
Ed Brown - 42 1979-1982
Mike Swope - 42 1985-1988
Chris Heilman - 42 1995-1998
Dave Hurdle - 41 1982-1985
Shayne Mains - 40 1989-1992
Most TFLs in a season - 93 2006
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Brent Grimes - 27 2002-2005
Jeff Fickes - 16 1988-1991
Brian Clement - 12 1978-1979
Gene Butterfield - 11 1975
Chuck Hickes - 10 1967-1969
Kevin Mylet - 9 1985-1986
Steve Cramer - 7 1979-1980
Ken Pickett - 7 1990
Doug Seidenstricker - 7 1994
Most INT’s in a season - 35 1991
TOP RECEIVERS AT SHIPPENSBURG THROUGH 2013
Jamie Ware - 3,442 1996 - 1999
Mike Harris - 3,000 2005 - 2007, ‘09
Mike Buglia - 2,358 1993 - 1996
Jeff Zubia - 2,246 1980 - 1983
Jacob Baskerville - 2,169 2009 - 2012
Al Bowmn - 1,972 1968 - 1970
Patrick Ferguson - 1,900 2002 - 2006
Melvin Scott - 1,899 1997 - 2000
Tadd Pribula - 1,883 1988 - 1991
Trevor Harmon - 1,881 2011 - 2013
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Ed Noon 1980-1982
Averell Harris 1975-1976
Todd Chronister 1976-1979
Ed Minogue 1992
Joe Nagy 1964-1965
TOP TACKLERS AT SHIPPENSBURG THROUGH 2013
Shayne Mains - 568 1989-1992
Chris Willingham - 484 1992-1995
Ken Picket - 455 1988-1991
Martin Pepe - 408 1992-1995
Tony Winter - 401 1974-1976
Josh Goodman - 379 1998-2001
Mike Vnuk - 377 1994-1997
Rich Pryor - 362 1979-1982
Rob Davis - 353 1988-1992
Doug Seidenstricker - 352 1991-1994
Pat Fahie - 329 1984-1987
Don Epley - 316 1972-1975
Chris Potter - 311 1980-1983
TOP RAIDER QUARTERBACKS
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Threw for 2,247 yards and 18 touchdowns on 306 attempts. Threw for 398 yards vs. Hillsdale in 1964. First Raider to ever pass for more than 1,000 yards in a single season. 1987 Hall of Fame inductee.
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He was the first Raider quarterback to ever complete more than 100 passes in a single season. He completed 105 passes in 230 attempts for 1,339 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1970. 1991 SU Hall of Fame inductee.
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In 1978 he led the conference in passing yardage. He was named to the All-PSAC first team and voted Most Valuable Player by conference coaches. Knudson also received honorable mention in the All-America balloting.
In 1978 Knudson completed 140 passes in 260 attempts for 1,906 yards and 13 touchdowns. He set school single season records for pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdown passes. He also set the career record for passing yards with 3, 524 yards. 1999 Hall of Fame inductee.
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Ebersole broke or tied 31 total offense and passing school records. His 1981 59.9 completion percentage and NCAA rating of 156.1, still university records, nationally ranked him third in passing efficiency.
For his career Ebersole completed 345 passes in 623 attempts (55.4 percent) for 4658 yards and 45 touchdowns. He also rushed for an additional 531 yards and 12 touchdowns to raise his total offense figure to 5,189.
During 1981 he completed 10 of 12 passes in a 26-3 win at Indiana and he ran for one touchdown and passed for five TDs in Shippensburg’s 49-28 win at C.W.Post. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 238 yards in the 33-27 win over James Madison. In NCAA quarterfinals he ran for two TDs and passed for two in Shippensburg’s 40-27 win over Virginia Union. He had 270 yards in that game. 1996 Hall of Fame inductee.
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Gilbert has 6,205 career passing yards and threw for 33 touchdowns in his career.
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Chris Gicking is the 1999 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division Offensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-PSAC performer who starred at quarterback for the Red Raiders under head football coach Rocky Rees from 1998-2000. Gicking spent his freshman season at Villanova before transferring to Shippensburg.
Gicking re-wrote the passing record books at Shippensburg. At the time of graduation, Gicking held more than 10 school records, including career passing yards (6,365), career passing touchdowns (65), career total offensive yards/game (189.4) and single-season total offense (2,631 in 1999).
His banner season came as a junior in 1999. As the Western Division Player of the Year, Gicking set single-season school records with 2,832 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns. His passing efficiency rating of 161.36 also set a school record and paced the PSAC Western Division. He completed 56 percent of his passes and threw just five interceptions over 294 attempts.
The Red Raiders set multiple team offensive records in 1999 with Gicking under center, including 450.1 offensive yards per game, 6.3 yards per play, and 398 total points. Gicking earned All-PSAC Western Division First Team honors in 1999 – he was selected to the Second Team in 1998 and 2000. 2019 Hall of Fame inductee.
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2018 PSAC Eastern Division Freshman of the Year
2018 Red Raider "Impact" Player of the Year
2020 (R-Junior): No season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 (R-Sophomore): Appeared in all 11 games at quarterback in his second full season with the Red Raiders…missed one start due to injury…ranked fourth in the PSAC in pass completions (211), fifth in the PSAC in passing yards (2,646), sixth in passing touchdowns (20) and seventh in the PSAC in completion percentage (61.3)…tied for second in the PSAC for fewest interceptions (8) among starting quarterbacks…threw for at least 200 passing yards in eight games, including three games of at least 300 passing yards and a season-high 409 passing yards at Shepherd…completed at least 20 passes in six games, including a season-high 29 against Lock Haven…had at least one passing touchdown in eight games, including three or more passing touchdowns in four games and a season-high four passing touchdowns against Lock Haven…contributed to the team’s longest pass play of the season with a 76-yard touchdown pass at Shepherd…compiled a pass efficiency rating of 140.5.
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Steve Baumgarner 1968 - Threw for 31 TDs in his career.
Mark Beans 1983 - Completed 39 passes for 423 yards vs. Edinboro.
Rob Klock 1986 - 353 yds passing & 5 TDs vs Edinboro.
Steve Muchowski 1988 - Threw for 2,629 yards and 9 touchdowns over two seasons.
Mike Carver 1997 - 93 yard TD pass to Mike Buglia vs Edinboro. Threw for over 4,000 yds and 26 TDs in career.
Tony Gomez 2006 - 104 consecutive passes without an interception. 27 career TD passes.
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Threw for 4,597 yards in his career. Threw an 84 yard touchdown pass to Mike Harris vs. East Strousburg. Threw for 27 touchdowns in the 2009 season and a total of 45 touchdowns for his career.
Completed his junior season as the team’s primary signal caller…started all 11 games…finished season with 1,966 passing yards and 18 touchdowns…earned an efficiency rating of 121.5…averaged 178.7 yards per game…posted a completion percentage of 45.6…amassed at least 114 passing yards in 10 of the team’s 11 games…threw for a career-high 321 yards and completed a career-high 19 passes against Millersville…aired it out for a career-high four touchdowns to complement 186 passing yards against Cheyney…recorded at least one passing touchdown in 10 of the team’s 11 games…connected with brother Chase for an 81-yard touchdown pass against C.W. Post, SU’s longest play from scrimmage in 14 years…registered at least 100 passing yards in nine games…had four games in which he threw for 200 or more yards.
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Won the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II’s top football player during his third full season with the Red Raiders…named to the AP All-American Team and was chosen as the Offensive Player of the Year by Daktronics (SID) and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette among a multitude of postseason plaudits…broke 25 school records, seven conference records and four national records during a historic season…set or tied NCAA single-season marks for passing touchdowns (54), total offense touchdowns (56), touchdowns responsible for (57) and points responsible for (344)…surpassed previous PSAC single-season records with 342 completions, 544 pass attempts and 4,747 passing yards…led all divisions of college football in passing yards…established multiple new single-game standards with a 46-of-61 day at Kutztown in which he threw for 581 yards and nine touchdowns…furthered his single-game total offense record with 576 yards in the regular season versus Bloomsburg…toppled previous school marks with a 62.9 completion percentage, 365 passing yards per game, 4,971 total offense yards and a 165.2 quarterback efficiency rating…extended his consecutive games streak with a passing touchdown to 21…went 200 consecutive passes during the regular season without throwing an interception…cut down six SU career records, including touchdown passes, yards, total offense touchdowns and rushing yards by a quarterback…selected five times as a PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Week and once as NCAA.com’s Division II Offensive Player of the Week…quarterbacked the No. 1 total offense (529.92 ypg) and No. 2 passing offense in Division II (387.69)…individually ranked No. 3 in Division II for total offense and No. 5 in passing efficiency…surpassed 200 yards through the air and had at least 17 completions in all 13 games of the season…notched a career long 89-yard touchdown pass at Lock Haven…recorded four or more passing touchdowns in 10 of the first 11 games of the season…ended up with eight 300+-yard passing games and four 400+-yard passing games in addition to his 581-yard effort at Kutztown…ran for touchdowns against LIU Post and Bloomsburg…caught a four-yard touchdown pass against Slippery Rock…played in all 13 games but started 12, yielding his regular post to Jeff Tomasetti on Senior Day…kicked three punts, averaging 33 yards per boot, with one touchback.
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A semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, Zapoticky finished his career with a 23-7 record as a starter. Zapoticky ranks second all-time at Shippensburg in career passing yards (7,102) and career total offense (8,361). He is SU's all-time leader for rushing yards as a quarterback (1,259), a total that ranks seventh in PSAC history.
A biology major concentrating in pre-med, Zapoticky graduated magna cum laude in December with a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.69. Zapoticky was named an Academic All-America Second team selection, earned a spot on the PSAC Fall Top 10 squad, and was recently named to the 2018 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.
John Sell, Offensive Line 1981
We received news that former Red Raider offensive lineman and RR4L Committee member John Sell is experiencing some challenging health problems. We are asking the Red Raider nation to reach out to John and show him support in this challenging time. John is a 2016 Hall of Fame inductee and played from 1977-1981. If you ever played or coached with John you know what a great teammate and player he was. Show him your support in the coming days. We will update John’s condition on this website as we receive word. Use the link below to send John a note of support and encouragement.
TOP SU FOOTBALL RUNNING BACKS
Click on image for Hall of Fame bio if available
Statistics and background information provided by retired SU SID John Alosi. Thanks John!
FRED GLASGOW 1978
ED HAMMERS 1970
DAVE FRIESE 1981
JOHN KUHN 2004
RICKY DIGGS 1974
BILL PETTYJOHN 1991
MIKE FRENETTE 2012
JOHN BAY 1939
SPENCER KEYS 1955
JACK GREEN 1933
BLAIR BROOKS 2014