By JD Davidson
The Shippensburg Greyhounds rallied for two late scores to turn back Mechanicsburg 14-10 in a tightly contested Colonial contest on Homecoming night.

The Hounds offense suffered some lingering effects from the previous game as once again they had chances to score, but came up empty in the first three quarters.  Shippensburg’s defense bent, but kept the Wildcats for the most part out of the endzone.

After a missed field goal attempt of 27 yards by the Wildcats, Shippensburg went on a drive.  Tucker Chamberlin to Trae Kater for seven to jump started the drive.  Amari Kerr ripped off a 17 yard run to mid field, kater followed with 15 and a 15 yard penalty against Mechicsburg moved it to the 15.  The Wildcats defense rose up and stopped Kerr on fourth and one from the six.

Mechanicsburg went on a nine play 94 yard scoring drive.  On third an 11 from their own five Jeffrey Lougee hit Seth Brubaker for 24 yards and a first down.  Lougee then ran for 16 and Parker Sample added another 16 yarder with 15 being tacked on for face masking.  On third and goal Lougee on a keeper rambled in from nine yards out.

The Hounds came right back and again got the Mechanicsburg six, but again were stopped.  The big play a 46 yard Chamberlin to Kater pass down to the nine.  The Hounds set up for a 23 yard field goal, but a bad snap and incomplete pass turned the ball over on downs.

With two minutes left in the half the Wildcats drove to the Hounds two, but missed a 19 yard field goal.  The big play was a Sage Thomas 61 yard run, but credit Kaden Shope with the TD saving tackle and a 7-0 game at the half.

After not much happening in the third, fireworks in the fourth.  Shippensburg punted to start the quarte and nine yard return by Mechanicsburg to the 50.  On the play however the Hounds were guilty of a 15 yard face mask and a dead ball unsportsmanlike for 15 setting up the visitors at the Shippensburg 20.  Those two penalties woke up the Hounds as they had their best defensive stand of the night.  After a Lougee 10 yard run for a first down, Kerr thru Sample for a yard loss and on third down Diesel Koser brought him down for a three yard loss and forced the field goal.  Niko Ledenbohm drilled the 27 yard for a 10-0 lead with 7:39 left.

The Hounds offense finally dented the endzone after six scoreless quarters.  A 8 play 65 yard drive cut it to three point deficit.  Chamberlin hooked up with Kerr for 31 and 11 yards to the Mechanicsburg 25.  It came down to a crucial fourth and nine where Chamberlin hit Erby Weller on a slant for the 13 yard score with 4:10 left.

The Hounds D continued their strong play forcing a three and out.  Mechanicsburg starting at their own ten after a penalty went backwards.  Lougee was brought down for a five yard loss by Julian Naju.  Lougee was stopped by the interior d line for a loss of one and Sample lost one when Shope and Kater teamed up to bring him down.

After the punt the Hounds started at their own 49 with 3:04 left, three plays later paydirt.  Chamberlin got the drive started with a nine yard scramble and the hit Kater for eight.  Chamberlin then was flushed out of the pocket to his right, but spotted a wide open Kerr on the left for 34 yards and the score.

The Shippensburg defense forced three incomplete pass and only gave up four rushing yards on Mechanicsburg’s last possession.  Shope had two pass breakups.

Chamberlin completed 10 passes for 177 yards and two scores.  Kater hauled in 4 for 68 and Kerr 3 for 76 and a score.

Another close week in the stats.  Each team had 15 first downs, Mechanicsburg 251 total yards and Shippensburg 293.  On the defensive side Shope and Naju led with 8 tackles each and Pat Reed seven and one forced fumble.  Naju had three tackles for losses totaling 15 yards.  Shope had two pass breakups and Cody Wenner one pass break up and fumble recovery.

Shippensburg will host East Pennsboro this Friday.  Then Panthers are coming of a double overtime loss to Northern 28-27.