BIG GAME VIDEO!

Shippensburg 30, Brockport 26

John Owens Returns Interception 80 Yards for Touchdown!

Ziggy Steele is Ecstatic!

(1970) We had the Red Raiders beat that afternoon; lost the game in the last few minutes. Johnny had his big interception return that day. Your intrepid reporter has reached out to the big fella and gathered his recollections of that play.

John loved to play this defense. It allowed him to drop back into coverage and play DB when the play rolled away from his DE spot. He recalls that that year the defense was a tightly-knit, cohesive group that rotated well as a unit, a factor in their season long interceptions record.

As you watch the play unfold, the QB has no idea that John is back there, hiding in the weeds. Meanwhile, our boy Ziggy is getting a strong push from the right side. The pass is hurried and misdirected. John snags it and is off down the sideline.

John reports that he expected to be caught and tackled every step of the way and, after a couple of fortunate blocks thrown by our guys near the ball free him up initially, it's hard to disagree with #86 as several Raiders have a shot at him. But somehow they never get to him.  

Down the sideline our boy races...past would-be tacklers, past his excited parents - Mom had to be dragged out of harm's way as a Raider flew by after missing a tackle - and into the end zone, arms raised in triumph and relief. The Man of Steele is there to greet him.  

(Editor's Note: Some of us have a DVD with the Shippensburg Football Program game videos against us in 1970 and 1971. The production value has been compromised by the transfer of imagery from 16mm to VHS tape to DVD. What you see here is a smartphone video recording from the replay of the DVD. Clarity is obviously an issue, and I am told that perceived speed is also a victim. The game is replayed in slow motion to a degree. Still, it's nice to have these clips. I'll share one each week for awhile.)

Frank