By JD DAVIDSON
SHIPPENSBURG-Shippensburg (2-2, 1-0) knocked down a desperation pass from Northern York (1-3, 0-1) with no time left on the clock to preserve a 12-6 win.  In my 40 plus years of either being on the team, watching or covering never seen a finish like last night.

Northern’s first possession of each half netted a pair of field goals (35, 29 yards) from Nolan Wimbrough.  The Polar Bears first score was a 12 play 42-yard drive with Northern converting on fourth down twice.  The second was another 12-play drive that netted 66 yards.

After a Greyhound punt pined the Polars at the 10, Shippensburg defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Jaden Hines.

Shippensburg starting from the Northern 33 got to the 10 before stalling out.  Hines took a swing pass from Aiden Mentzer and scampered 25 yards to the 12, but one run for two and three incomplete passes gave the ball back to Northern.

Shippensburg tried to answer Northern’s third quarter field goal as they drove to the Polar Bear 24 but turned it over on downs.  The big play in the drive was a Brady Maciejewski pass to Mark Carothers jr. that covered 33 yards.

Shippensburg got the turning point they needed via the defense.  On fourth and two from the Shippensburg 47, Northern went for it.  The Hounds defense growled and stuffed the run for no gain.  The Offense responded with an 11 play 53 yard drive to tie the game.  Maciejewski hit Kaden Shope on a crossing pattern that went for 24 yards on third down.  Ja’nye Statum took over with four consecutive runs covering 25 yards to the Northern five.  On fourth and goal from the two Statum went left and followed Patrick Eichelberger’s lead block into the endzone to tie the game.  The PAT kick was wide right with 3:09 left in the game.

Northern with two timeouts started from their own 30.  Noah Garvin’s sack of Grady Bonin for five yards on second down and Everson Wellers stop of Bonin for two forced a fourth down punt.  With 1:14 when the play ended and the Hounds out of timeouts Northern lined up to punt.  It looked like they were going to let the play clock run down and take a timeout, but then disaster for Northern.  The snap was a bouncer back and he put a knee down to field and was ruled down at the Polar Bear 21.

With :33.2 seconds left Maciejewski hit Elijah Bailey splitting the double team in the endzone for the go-ahead score.  The two-point PAT failed, but the Hounds lead 12-6.

Northern wasn’t done.  Starting from their own 30 Bonin hooked up with Magarrin Macke for 13 and Jake Bechtel for 22 to the Hounds 35.  With less than 10 seconds left Bonin tried a desperation heave that fell incomplete, but the Hounds were guilty of pass interference moving the ball to Ship 20.  One untimed down followed, but Bonin’s pass to the endzone was batted down by Don Nori to end the contest.

Northern Cole Bartram lead all rushers with 128 yards, Statum had 77 for the Hounds.

The Hounds defense played well with Weller leading with 16 tackles (6 solo), Shope 11 (4 solo), Nori and Garvin 8 each and Nori the key broken up pass.

Up next for the Hounds is a road trip to Susquehanna Township Thursday
Shippensburg 12 Northern 6