Golden Eagles fall at Shepherd
SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherd used a bruising ground game and plenty of big plays to blow past the University of Charleston 49-13 in a West Virginia Conference showdown in front of a crowd of 4,815 Saturday at Ram Stadium.
UC (5-2 overall, 3-1 WVC), which was riding a four-game winning streak, was one of two schools still undefeated in conference play and off to its best start since reviving its dormant program five years ago. West Liberty (5-1, 3-0) remained atop the league standings Saturday with a 20-0 shutout of Fairmont State.
Three-time defending league champion Shepherd (5-1, 3-1) was defeated by Glenville State on Sept. 15, ending the Rams’ 23-game WVC winning streak and a 30-game regular-season winning streak.
UC pulled within 14-13 with 3:44 remaining in the first half on a 61-yard touchdown strike from DeRante Hunter to Terrance Spencer. Spencer finished with 158 yards on six receptions.
However, Shepherd hit on a pair of long scoring plays in the waning moments of the first half to open a 28-13 halftime advantage.
Shepherd quarterback Tyler Lazear connected on a 44-yard scoring pass to Nikkolai Norrell at the 2:45 mark of the second quarter and Deante Steele then added a 68-yard punt return with just 54 seconds left in the half. Lazear hit Mark Springirth with a 70-yard TD pass a little more than two minutes into the third quarter for a 35-13 edge.
Lazear completed 11-of-14 passes for 218 yards and three TDs. Rams tailback Dervon Wallace gained 138 yards on 25 attempts and Mark Springirth accounted for 95 receiving yards on only two catches.
Hunter, the Golden Eagles’ top rusher and passer, finished with 7-of-14 completions for 157 yards and two interceptions while gaining 49 yards on 13 rushes. Hunter’s 2-yard TD run in the first quarter gave UC a 6-0 lead.
The Rams amassed 517 yards of total offense, including 290 on the ground, and converted 60 percent (6-of-10) of their third downs. UC entered Saturday’s game tops in the WVC and 10th in Division II in rush defense, yielding just 71 yards per game.
Shepherd’s defense stifled UC for just 278 yards of total offense, forcing two interceptions and six punts. The Golden Eagles were successful on just 2-of-11 third-down conversion attempts.
UC will travel to Fairmont State this Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
UC (5-2 overall, 3-1 WVC), which was riding a four-game winning streak, was one of two schools still undefeated in conference play and off to its best start since reviving its dormant program five years ago. West Liberty (5-1, 3-0) remained atop the league standings Saturday with a 20-0 shutout of Fairmont State.
Three-time defending league champion Shepherd (5-1, 3-1) was defeated by Glenville State on Sept. 15, ending the Rams’ 23-game WVC winning streak and a 30-game regular-season winning streak.
UC pulled within 14-13 with 3:44 remaining in the first half on a 61-yard touchdown strike from DeRante Hunter to Terrance Spencer. Spencer finished with 158 yards on six receptions.
However, Shepherd hit on a pair of long scoring plays in the waning moments of the first half to open a 28-13 halftime advantage.
Shepherd quarterback Tyler Lazear connected on a 44-yard scoring pass to Nikkolai Norrell at the 2:45 mark of the second quarter and Deante Steele then added a 68-yard punt return with just 54 seconds left in the half. Lazear hit Mark Springirth with a 70-yard TD pass a little more than two minutes into the third quarter for a 35-13 edge.
Lazear completed 11-of-14 passes for 218 yards and three TDs. Rams tailback Dervon Wallace gained 138 yards on 25 attempts and Mark Springirth accounted for 95 receiving yards on only two catches.
Hunter, the Golden Eagles’ top rusher and passer, finished with 7-of-14 completions for 157 yards and two interceptions while gaining 49 yards on 13 rushes. Hunter’s 2-yard TD run in the first quarter gave UC a 6-0 lead.
The Rams amassed 517 yards of total offense, including 290 on the ground, and converted 60 percent (6-of-10) of their third downs. UC entered Saturday’s game tops in the WVC and 10th in Division II in rush defense, yielding just 71 yards per game.
Shepherd’s defense stifled UC for just 278 yards of total offense, forcing two interceptions and six punts. The Golden Eagles were successful on just 2-of-11 third-down conversion attempts.
UC will travel to Fairmont State this Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.