Pioneers’ 31-14 Victory Ends Losing Streak
By: Matthew Saur
Staff Writer
The Pioneers snapped a two game losing streak along with picking up their first PSAC East division win in a 31-14 victory over the Shippensburg University Raiders in Pennsylvania.
The game’s first quarter started with both defenses playing tight and getting the best of the offense. Pioneer linebacker Ronnie Modik intercepted a throw by Raiders quarterback Steve Adams at the Pioneers nine yard line to break up a possible Raiders score. Following the interception the Post offense marched down the field but left with the score still at zero after a missed 30-yard field goal.
It took until 3:06 in the second quarter for the Pioneers to finally get on the board scoring a touchdown when quarterback Erik Anderwkavich found an open Darnell Williams for the 21-yard score to give the Pioneers a 7-0 lead. The Pioneers lead would dwindle as the Raiders drove right back down the field and scored with 2:29 left in the first half. With the way both teams were playing it looked as if they would go into the half tied. But after a handoff to Post running back Thomas Beverly that all changed when his 50-yard was good enough to put the Pioneers back on top by seven by the end of the half.
The Raiders would tie the score at 7:49 following an eight play 51-yard drive that ended with a Kevin Marshall rushing touchdown. The Pioneers would respond with their own drive that went for 62 yards and a score again putting Post in the lead. Anderwkavich once again found Williams in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown; the Pioneers never looked back after this drive.
After stopping Shippensburg’s offensive drive, Post had another long drive that ended in a 32-yard field goal to add to the lead.
Solidifying the victory was the Pioneer defense in the second half. Sophmore defensive back Ciwan McCoy intercepted a pass late in the fourth that would lead to Anderwkavich icing the game, running it himself for a one-yard score. Linebacker Billy O’Connor again led the Pioneers in tackles with nine while senior defensive end Xavier Brown recorded two sacks for a loss of 14 yards along with junior Abrom Shepard who recorded one for a loss of seven.
The Pioneers offense once again gained over 400 yards, which included 258 yards on the ground from Beverly, Anderwkvach and Anthony Brunetti who all rushed for over 75 yards.
The Pioneers look to build on this win next week when they travel to West.
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