JB's streak at 35

October 21, 2000|By MARK KELLER / Sports Editor

JB's streak at 35

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Things looked as if they were finally going the way of the James Buchanan football team Friday night.

Then the second quarter began.

After finishing the first quarter with an 8-6 lead and the momentum and emotion on their side, the Rockets turned the ball over five times in the second in a 38-8 loss to Shippensburg in a Mid Penn Colonial game at Rocket Field.

Shippensburg (1-7, 1-3) snapped a seven-game losing streak, while extending the Rockets' winless string to 35 games.

James Buchanan's last win came on Sept. 5, 1997 - a 15-13 victory over Smithsburg.

"We were really nervous coming in here tonight," said Shippensburg coach Mike Burket. "We didn't want to be the team that they got that first win against."

Shippensburg running back Chad McNew saw to that almost single-handedly. McNew rushed for 310 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns and added another score on a punt return to lead the way for the Greyhounds.

McNew's punt return - a 55-yarder on a line drive punt that nearly went over his head - was the first of three Shippensburg touchdowns in a span of 4 1/2 minutes in the second quarter that turned the 8-6 JB lead into a 25-8 halftime deficit.

McNew staked the Greyhounds to a 6-0 lead with 5:01 left in the first quarter on a 35-yard TD run.

The JB defense held on Shippensburg's next possession and two plays later Jason Neil took a pitch down the left sideline for a 75-yard touchdown run. Micah Hawbaker hit C.J. Gehr on the two-point conversion as the Rockets (0-8, 0-4) took a two-point lead.

But things turned sour from there. McNew's punt return put the Greyhounds ahead. Following a JB fumble, McNew rolled 43 yards for another score. With 2:41 left before halftime, Hawbaker fumbled while being sacked and Jim Jengeleski returned the loose ball 58 yards for a Shippensburg TD.

McNew scored on TD runs of 51 and 63 yards in the third quarter to complete the scoring. All told, McNew had 397 total yards.

Neil rushed for 170 yards for the Rockets. In the first seven games of the season, Neil had a total of 160 yards.

James Buchanan coach Kevin Gustafson declined comment.

"It's not like they're running a makeshift offense and drawing up defenses on the field," Burket said. "They run a good scheme. They just need to get some breaks to go their way."

Shippensburg619130-38

J. Buchanan8000-8

S - Chad McNew 35 run (pass failed)

J - Jason Neil 75 run (C.J. Gehr pass from Micah Hawbaker)

S - McNew 55 punt return (run failed)

S - McNew 43 run (kick failed)

S - Jim Jengeleski 58 fumble return (Aaron Jones kick)

S - McNew 51 run (kick blocked)

S - McNew 63 run (Jones kick)

ShippJB

First downs1014

Rushes-yards32-33643-242