SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Michael Hardyway’s passing put Shepherd University football team in the fast lane, but the Rams still needed a final burst to park Gannon University.
The Rams scored twice in 17 seconds in the final 5 ½ minutes to put away the Golden Knights on Saturday for a 45-28 win at Rams Stadium. The win moves Shepherd to 2-0 for the season.
Hardyway, in his second season as Shepherd’s starting quarterback, threw for 408 yards and five touchdowns to provide the bulk of the offense, but a defensive play put the finishing touch on the win.
Gannon pulled within 31-28 when Keoke Toomer returned a fumble 100 yards for a touchdown with 10:32 remaining.
Shepherd worked to protect the lead, leading to the two quick scores. It started on the ensuing kickoff.
The Rams put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 5:03, ending with Hardyway’s fifth TD pass – a five-yard strike to Daryl Harper for his second score of the game. Max Barba added the extra point to give Shepherd breathing room at 38-28 with 5:29 remaining.
Then, after the ensuing kickoff, D’Myo Hunter picked off a pass and returned 40 yards for the touchdown with 5:12 remaining to all but put the game out of reach.
Harper finished with eight catches for 110 yards and the two touchdowns, while teammate Carrington Nickens-Yzer led Shepherd with 10 receptions for 136 yards. Hardyway connected on 30 of his 41 passes.
Gannon took the early 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Ty Hurst fired a seven-yard scoring pass to Donell Mason at the 13:56 mark.
It started a see-saw battle that ended in a 14-14 tie after the first 15 minutes of play.
The Rams answered with a 24-yard scoring strike from Hardyway to Harper at 9:55 left for his first score.
Gannon retook a 14-7 lead as NaSean Hill scored on a two-yard run at 7:36.
Shepherd scored the next 24 points of the half, starting with Hardyway finding Derrell Pierson for his first of two TD catches with a five-yard toss at the 5:15 mark to tie the game in the first quarter.
Then, the Rams added the next 17 points to pull away in the second quarter – starting with Troy Woolaston’s 5-yard scoring catch at 12:27, followed Barba converting a 30-yard field goal at 6:20 to go with his six extra points.
Pierson grabbed a 19-yard TD pass for his second score at with 1:26 remaining in the half to give the Rams a 31-14 lead.
Gannon used big plays to get back into the game.
The Golden Knights made it 31-21 at the half after Donell Mason covered 75 yards on Hurst’s pass for a touchdown 17 seconds before the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, Gannon got to within 38-31 on Toomer’s fumble return to set the scene for Shepherd’s two touchdowns.
Shepherd finished with a 563-251 edge in total offense yardage.
Shepherd’s running back Ian Mauldin led the Rams running game with 80 yards on 16 carries. Fort Hill graduate Jabril Daniels topped Gannon with 79 yards on 17 tries.
Men’s golf
Shepherd tied for fourth at Bloomsburg Invite
DANVILLE, Pa. – South Hagerstown graduate Luke Lesinger fired an 83 to support Shephard University’s score of 315 strokes, good for a tie for fourth place after the first round of the eight-team Bloomsburg Invite at the Golf Course at Frosty Valley.
Lesinger is tied for 28th after the first round. Killian Donnelly leads the Rams by firing a 74, good for sixth place.
Brady Reed (78, T-17th) and Ben Heidrick (81, T-26th) round out the Rams’ scorers.
Tyler Beard and Andrew Taylor each shot an 84 to tie for 37th place.
The final round will be played on Sunday.
