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Game Highlights

BLOOMSBURG – In recent seasons Shippensburg has been the Achilles heel of the Bloomsburg University football team, winning three straight meetings between the PSAC East rivals.
 
The Huskies erased the memories of those recent editions of the rivalry, on Saturday afternoon, however, racing ahead to an 18-point lead and holding off a late rally for a 38-30 victory in front of 3,188 fans at Redman Stadium.
 
The win moves the No. 13 Huskies to 4-0 overall on the season and 3-0 in the PSAC while Shippensburg falls to 2-2, 1-2.
 
For the fourth straight week it was the Huskies' defense that got the ball rolling after an early 3-0 deficit. Following a 22-yard field goal from Shippensburg's Michael Lloyd midway through the first quarter for the first scoring of the game, middle linebacker Justin Shirk (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) made an emphatic return to the lineup. The senior tri-captain forced Raiders running back Blair Brooks to fumble behind the line, allowing Dylan Stair (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg) to pick up the ball and race 17 yards for the score and a 7-3 lead.
 
Bloomsburg never trailed again.
 
The Huskies used the new combination of Tim Kelly (Camp Hill/Cedar Cliff) to DJ McFadden to ignite its next scoring drive as a 44-yard pitch and catch, the longest pass of the year for BU to that point, set up the Huskies with goal to go. Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) finished by pushing forward for five yards over three carries, finishing with a one yard touchdown plunge for a 14-3 less than two minutes into the second quarter.
 
Shippensburg responded, marching 81 yards in nine plays to cut the deficit to four following a 12-yard scoring pass from quarterback Chris Lawshe to Sheldon Mayer.
 
The Huskies quickly counter-punched, finding the end zone on a four yard run by Mateo to cap a seven-play, 65-yard drive for a 21-10 lead.
 
Bloomsburg seized complete control of the game after a defensive stop. The Huskies began their drive at their own 17-yard line, but quickly moved out of the shadow of their own end zone with a 28-yard reception by McFadden. Two plays later, Kelly found Connor Gades (West Chester/Unionville) wide open behind the Shippensburg defense for a 50-yard touchdown and a 28-10 lead at halftime.
 
Defense held strong throughout the third as the score held before Shippensburg began a fourth quarter rally attempt. Facing 4th-and-2 from the Huskies' 48, Lawshe exploded up the middle on a quarterback keeper, scampering all the way to the end zone to draw within 28-17.
 
Bloomsburg, though, dialed up another long pass to McFadden from Kelly – this time 49 yards to the Raiders 9-yard line two plays later. Eddie Mateo (Bethlehem/Freedom) then forced his way in for his third score of the day and a 35-17 advantage.
 
Shippensburg had one last fight left, scoring on a 63-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown catch by Mayer. The Raiders attempted an on-side kick, but Chad Hoffman (Drums/Hazleton) recovered and ran 45 yards to the Shippensburg 13-yard line to set up a 19-yard field goal from Braden Drexler (Bethlehem/Nazareth) and a 38-23 lead with just 1:02 left to play.
 
The Raiders tried to make things interesting in the waning seconds as Andrew Smith brought the Huskies' kickoff 86 yards down the far sideline for the score to draw within eight at 38-30. Another on-side kick attempt again fell into the hands of Hoffman, however, allowing the Huskies to ice the game.
 
Bloomsburg's passing game came alive as Kelly finished 14 of 21 for 252 yards and a touchdown with his favorite receiver being McFadden who easily had his best day in maroon and gold with 127 yards on four catches.
 
Shirk led the way defensively, finishing with 15 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Donovan Morris (Philadelphia/George Washington) made nine stops while Gary Postell (Philadelphia/Bishop McDevitt) and Ezra Ranco (Collegeville/Perkiomen Valley) each had seven tackles. Joe Wetty (Downingtown/Downingtown East) also had a big day, recording 2.5 sacks.
 
Lawshe finished with 347 yards passing, completing 33 of 47 attempts for two touchdowns. Mayer caught 12 passes for 160 yards and two scores. Senior Trevor Harman hauled in nine catches for 60 yards and in the process set the PSAC all-time career record for receptions (263).
 
Bloomsburg will look to add to its winning streak with a trip to Cheyney next Saturday.
 
GAME NOTES: It was the second straight week the Huskies defense scored a touchdown after scoring twice in last week's win at Mercyhurst … The Huskies entered the day leading the nation in turnovers caused (15) … McFadden finished with the most yards by a Huskies receiver since Glenn Hutton Jr. (Sicklerville, NJ/Paul VI) finished with 100 yards at West Chester on Nov. 9, 2013 … Dai'Shon Munger (Westampton, NJ/Holy Cross) had 14 carries for 56 yards … Mateo moved into a tie for sixth all-time in Huskies career rushing touchdowns (27) ...The Huskies honored Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors on Saturday, accepting donations to go toward support of the organization ... Shirk was one off his career high of 16 tackles set at West Chester last year.