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(CLARION,PA): Shippensburg tight end Brian Sekel fought off two Clarion defenders and scored the game winning touchdown on an 18-yard pass from Tyler Novak with 6:47 left in the game giving the Red Raiders a 20-19 victory over Clarion at Memorial Stadium.
The win moves Shippensburg to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC-Western Division while Clarion slips to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC-West.
Novak delivered his game-winning touchdown pass on fourth and 8 at the Clarion 18. The pass was tipped in the air by a Clarion defender, and Sekel leaped for the ball at the Clarion 6, then dragged two defenders into the endzone for the touchdown.
Clarion drove the ball to the Shippensburg 46 with three-minurtes left, but lost possession on a fumble and the Raiders ran out the clock.
Shippensburg opened the scoring on a 7-yard run by John Kuhn with 10:16 left in the first quarter. Craig Lough's kick made it 7-0.
Clarion came right back and scored on a 74-yard touchdown pass from QB Adam Almashy to Ed Rivers. The Eagles missed the PAT and Ship was ahead 7-6 with 8:32 left in the first.
Clarion took its first lead when Glenn Lovelace scored on a 4-yard run. Chris Carlton's PAT gave the Eagles a 13-7 lead with 5:265 left in the first.
Shippensburg jumped back in front 14-13 when Jarrod Dech caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Novak at 6:48 of the second.
Clarion took the lead back right before halftime as Almashy hooked up with Ben Culver on a crossing pattern that turned into an 88-yard touchdown play. Walker's run for two failed, but the Eagles held a 19-14 lead with 57-seconds left before intermission. Clarion maintained that lead until Sekel's heroic touchdown grab.
Clarion outgained Shippensburg 307-258 on the afternoon. The Golden Eagles, who were fifth in the nation in rushing yards coming into the game, were held to 60 yards on 34 carries. Eagle QB Adam Almashy hit on 10 of 21 passes for 247 yards and 2 td's, while Culver caught two passes for 97 yards and 1 td, and Rivers grabbed 2 aerials for 83 yard and a td.
Shipp running back John Kuhn led both teams with 184 yards and 1 td on 31 carries. Novak completed 10 of 23 for 73 yards and 2 td's.
Shippensburg hosts IUP next Saturday, while Clarion returns to Memorial Stadium to host California.
