This weekend in Shippensburg was expected to be nothing short of a shootout. Shippensburg leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in scoring offense at 52 points per game with Bloomsburg third averaging 40 points per contest. This battle of unbeaten teams was set to be a showdown not only for the PSAC East Title, but one for the ages.
The first half was literally half of what you would have expected. While Shippensburg’s offense seemed primed and ready, Bloomsburg quarterback Tim Kelly and the Husky offense just couldn’t find the scoring success they knew all too well so far this season. Shippensburg’s Zach Zulli seemed ready for a game of this caliber, and took the Raiders into the locker room at the half up 35-7. Although Shippensburg appeared unbeatable, Bloomsburg came out pounding the rock and showing why they were in this game in the first place.
Bloomsburg’s first possession of the second half yielded a long scoring run for Franklyn Quiteh of 67 yards. In Shippensburg’s very next possession, the once invincible Zach Zulli threw a pick-six, and suddenly the game was a two score affair. The scoring slowed until late in the 3rd when Zulli just couldn’t be stopped, completing a 45-yard strike and seemingly creating a tough 21-point deficit going into the 4th quarter.
Bloomsburg continued to attack on the ground, following the lead of Quiteh. Queith scored the next two Husky touchdowns. In the team’s final drive of the 4th quarter, the Husky Quarterback drove 73 yards to tie it up with just a little over two minutes remaining in the game. Just as you hear of certain players, the time remaining on the clock would be too much to give a player of Zulli’s talent, and the personal around him. Shippensburg took 14 plays and gained 83 yards to score the winning touchdown in the last moments of the title clinching game. This capped off not only a tremendous game for the team, but Zulli who threw for 496 yards and even 91 yards on the ground. To go along with the nearly 500 yards in the air was seven touchdown passes collected by the team leader.
Still, the effort of the Husky Football coaches and players was not in doubt. The second half looked like a refocused squad, and Quiteh was a big part of it. His 270 yards on the ground was a testament to the Bloomsburg offense, and their attitudes when facing adversity. Bloomsburg doesn’t have long to sit and sulk, as they have to welcome a very good West Chester team next weekend.
As for the Raiders, this gives them more momentum going into the final two games of the PSAC football season, and possibly a leap in the Division 2 standings. Shippensburg plays a struggling 1-8 Cheyney squad next weekend. The following Saturday could feature a showdown between the conference’s top offense and its stingiest defense. Until then, the Raiders can enjoy their PSAC EAST Title, and focus on the task at hand.
Shippensburg 49 – Bloomsburg 42
(4) Bloomsburg 5-1 8-1
(10) Shippensburg 6-0 9-0
Photo Credits: Shippensburg
