SHIPPENSBURG >> The legend of Adam Houser continues.
The Shippensburg senior running back followed up two strong games to start the season with his most impressive performance yet, leading the Greyhounds to a 37-17 non league win over Bermudian Springs on Friday night.
Houser, who came into the game with 315 yards in two games, ran for 233 more on just 18 carries with two touchdowns for the Greyhounds (3-0). He also caught two passes for six yards, had a couple of big punt returns and threw for a two-point conversion. Yet none of that stood out most to Ship coach Eric Foust.
“The fastest he ran on all night was on Isaiah (Houser’s) touchdown catch,” said Foust of Adam, who watched his brother score his first varsity touchdown. “That’s something you don’t get to see all the time as a coach. And it was great to sit back and enjoy that. He is a great leader for this team.”
Houser got things started with a 64-yard touchdown run on Ship’s first drive. After the Eagles (2-1) kicked a field goal to make it 7-3 in the second quarter, Houser exploded for a 51-yard run on the next drive to set up a Kyler Brown touchdown run. And while Houser built on what was already an impressive start to the season, Ship quarterback Zack Manning had a coming out of sorts.
Later in the second quarter after a three and out by Bermudian, Manning hit Nick Gustafson for a 42-yard pass up the seam, which ultimately set up Manning’s first varsity score on a one-yard keeper. Then late in the third quarter, Manning hit Isaiah Houser on a deep post for a 38-yard score. Manning finished 6 of 9 with 105 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing). He did have one fumble.
“I knew I had to come back after that fumble and turn it around,” Manning said. “I was just trying to make a play and held on to the ball for too long. My offensive line was great tonight, and Isaiah ran a great route to get wide open for me.”
Said Foust, “He’s really getting comfortable back there for us. He tried to do a little too much on the fumble, but he came back and made some great throws.”
Defensively, Ship easily had its best game of the season. After giving up several big plays throughout the first two weeks, The Eagles’ longest play of the night was just 21 yards. In all, Bermudian Springs ran 36 times for 115 yards and mustered just 185 yards of total offense. The Greyhound secondary grabbed one interception and forced one fumble.
“I think our secondary played a great game tonight,” Foust said. “There are some things we can still improve on, but we did a lot of things well.”
Now, after a perfect start, Shippensburg turns its attention to the Mid Penn Colonial Division, where it will face off against Waynesboro next week. The Indians beat Gettysburg 21-16 Friday night.
“We just have to take each week as it comes,” Manning said. “We’re 0-0 again this week coming in. We need to watch film and get ready for Waynesboro.”
“It’s definitely nice to get back home and play a divisional opponent,” Houser said. “We’re going to be excited and ready to play.”
And if Houser keeps the pace he’s had so far this season, Ship will continue to be a tough test inside the Colonial Division.
SHIPPENSBURG 37, BERMUDIAN SPRINGS 17
Bermudian Springs – 0 – 3 – 6 – 8 — 17
Shippensburg – 7 – 14 – 10 – 6 — 37
First Quarter
S — Adam Houser 64 run (Rob West kick) 10:32
Second Quarter
BS — Kolt Byers 35 field goal, 11:47
S — Kyler Brown 5 run (Kick failed), 5:56
S — Manning 1 run (Nick Gustafson pass from Houser), 1:02
Third Quarter
S — West 25 field goal, 9:22
BS — Savauri Shelton 5 pass from Jay Martinez (Kick failed), 2:14
S — Isaiah Houser 38 pass from Manning (West kick), 0:12
Fourth Quarter
BS — Domenic Florea 3 run (Florea pass from Martinez), 8:13
S — Adam Houser 16 run (Kick failed), 5:15
TEAM STATISTICS
First Downs: BS 10; S 11. Rushes-yards: BS 36-115; S 39-276. Passing: BS 7-15-1; S 6-9-0. Passing Yards: BS 70; S 105. Penalties-yards: BS 2-15; S 5-54. Punts-yards: BS 5-32.2; S 3-32.2. Fumbles-lost: BS 1-1; S 1-1.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Bermudian, Domenic Florea 20-83, Trace Grim 10-22, Chase Dull 3-8, Aaron Dupler 1-3, Martinez 1-0, Mike Tolbert 1-(-1); Shippensburg, Houser 18-233, Nick Weltz 4-30, Brown 7-10, Alex Sharrow 4-4, Trevor Diehl 1-2, Delonte Wilson 1-0, Manning 4-(-3).
Passing: Bermudian, Dull 4-10-1, 39 yards, Martinez 3-5-0, 31 yards; Shippensburg, Manning 6-9-0, 105.
Receiving: Bermudian, Byers 4-51, Florea 2-14, Shelton 1-5; Shippensburg, Nick Gustafson 1-42, Isaiah Houser 1-39, Andrew Hoch 1-10, Christian Melendez 1-8, Houser 2-6