SHIPPENSBURG >> On its first two offensive drives, Shippensburg’s football team looked poised to fall victim to an upset loss to Greencastle-Antrim.

But after a pair of turnovers to start the game, the Greyhounds looked like the team the reeled off four wins to start the season, and they dominated the Blue Devils for a 26-14 Mid Penn Colonial Division victory on Homecoming night.

Adam Houser got back on track for Ship (5-1, 2-1 Mid Penn Colonial Division) rushing 22 times for 188 yards, but it was the passing game, specifically Nick Gustafson, that helped the Hound offense take off.

After Greencastle (2-4, 0-3 MPC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead on a four-yard run by quarterback Max McDowell, Shippensburg used a short field to take a 7-6 lead after a two-yard plunge by Jacob Loy.

After a punt by the Blue Devils, Shippensburg capped off a four-play scoring drive on a 28-yard catch and run from Zack Manning to Gustafson with less than a minute until halftime.

On the Greyhounds first possession of the third quarter with the ball on the 16-yard line, Manning threw a jump ball to Gustafson, who tipped the pass to himself for a score and a 19-6 lead for the Hounds.

“We knew we were getting the ball coming out of the second half, and we needed to make a play,” Gustafson said. “I just saw the ball tip up in the air, I kept my eyes on it and made a play.”

Said Ship coach Eric Foust, “He’s a weapon for us, and he’s a guy that we can throw the ball to and tell him to go get it.”

Early in the fourth quarter, Greencastle used a no-huddle attack to pull within a score. McDowell hit Antwoine Carter for a 17-yard completion, followed by a 23-yard strike to Ethan Murr before running for a touchdown from five yards out.

But as Ship has done all season late in games, it answered right back. The Hounds went on an 11-play, 67-yard drive to score the game-sealing touchdown with just under three minutes to play. Houser ran eight times for 69 yards on the drive.

“This game was a tough, physical grind,” Houser said. “We had a rough start with the two turnovers, but we just kept playing hard and we wore them down. Our line played great, and Jacob Loy did a great job leading the way for me.”

Loy, making his first start in the backfield, carried 15 times for 54 yards. Manning finished 4 of 7 for 74 yards and two touchdowns.

“Jacob did a great job finding holes, and he was awesome blocking,” Foust said. “We’ve relied on the big play a lot this season, but tonight we just seemed to get four yards, four yards and four yards. And I like that. We just overpowered them down the stretch.”

For Greencastle, McDowell finished 7-for-14 for 133 yards, and he added 12 rushes for 13 yards and two scores. Carter had three catches for 44 yards, and Thomas Hebert added two for 42.

Ship was happy to get a win on homecoming night, but its biggest test of the season so far will come next week against West Perry (6-0, 2-0 MPC).

“We’re 0-0 starting next week. Just take it one game at a time,” Gustafson said.

Said Houser, “I think it’s going to be a great challenge for us and for them. I think we may be able to shell shock them a little bit, but it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to.”

Shippensburg opened the game with an interception out of the wildcat formation and followed with a fumble on its next drive. Alex Sharrow was injured in the third quarter on what looked to be a shoulder or collarbone injury. He finished with three rushes for 23 yards.

SHIPPENSBURG 26, GREENCASTLE-ANTRIM 14

Greencastle   0 – 6 – 0 – 8   —   14

Shippensburg   0 – 13 – 6 – 7   —   26

Second Quarter

GA — Max McDowell 4 run (kick failed), 11:25

S — Jacob Loy 2 run (Rob West kick), 3:43

S — Nick Gustafson 28 pass from Zack Manning (kick failed), 0:49

Third Quarter

S — Gustafson 16 pass from Manning (2-pt try failed), 9:47

Fourth Quarter

GA — McDowell 5 run (McDowell run), 8:38

S — Adam Houser 2 run (West kick), 2:57

TEAM STATISTICS

First Downs: GA 6; S 16. Rushes-yards: GA 35-112; S 47-266. Passing: GA 7-14-1; S 4-8-1. Passing Yards: GA ;133 S 74. Penalties-yards: GA 5-55; S 8-77. Punts-yards: GA 6-32.5; S 2-24.5. Fumbles-lost: GA 0-0; S 1-1.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Greencastle, Ethan Murr 4-42, Thomas Hebert 9-41, McDowell 12-13, Isaiah Toney-Mayhugh 9-13, Ryan Marconi 1-3; Shippensburg, Houser 22-188, Loy 15-54, Alex Sharrow 3-23, Manning 5-(-1).

Passing: Greencastle, McDowell 7-14-1, 133 yards; Shippensburg, Manning 4-7-0, 74 yards, Houser 0-1-1, 0 yards. Receiving: Greencastle, Antwoine Carter 3-44, Hebert 2-42, Murr 2-33; Shippensburg, Gustafson 2-44, Houser 1-15, Isaiah Houser 1-15.