SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Ian Mauldin helped the Shepherd University football team make short work of Frostburg State with his short work.
The redshirt freshman from Annapolis, Md. plowed in for three touchdowns – two from 1 yard and a third from 2 – on Saturday to help the Rams to a season-opening 34-26 victory over nationally ranked Frostburg State at Rams Stadium.
It was the second year of the regional rivalry with each team claiming one win.
Mauldin, who carried 15 times for 77 yards, scored once in the first quarter and twice in the second period as Shepherd built a 28-3 halftime lead. Frostburg outscored Shepherd 16-0 in the third quarter to tighten the score.
Frostburg entered the game ranked 14th and 16th in a pair of Division II polls.
The Bobcats got the first points of the game on a 37-yard field goal by Tyler Cook at the 8:15 mark of the first quarter.
The rest of the half was Shepherd’s.
Mauldin scored from the 1 as the clock expired in the first quarter and added his other 1-yard TD with 14:48 remaining in the first half to take a 14-3 lead.
Hunter D’Myo intercepted a pass by Frostburg quarterback Jordan Brooks and returned it 36 yards on the first play of the second quarter to set up Mauldin’s second score.
D’Myo did the scoring honors to put the Rams up 21-3 with a 64-yard punt return at 12:34 of the second quarter.
Shepherd’s fourth score of the half came on a 48-yard drive, culminated with Mauldin going in from the two out of the shotgun formation. Kicker Maxwell Barba connected on all four extra points to solidify the 25-point halftime lead.
The Bobcats scored 16 straight points in the third quarter to open the second half on a one-yard run by KJ Smothers, a safety on a botched punt attempt, and a 31-yard pass from Brooks to Ray Adames to cut the lead to 28-19.
The Rams took back the momentum.
Shepherd made the move when Brooks fumbled while being sacked for an 11-yard loss. Will Johnson covered the loose ball, giving Shepherd possession on the Bobcats 41 with 13:23 remaining.
It resulted in a six-play drive, culminated with returning quarterback Michael Hardyway connecting with Corrington Nickers-Yzer for a 5-yard TD pass for a 34-19 lead with 9:19 remaining.
The Bobcats closed out scoring on a 33-yard pass from Brooks to Ray Adames with 1:52 left in the game.
Hardyway went 11 of 23 passing for 91 yards, while Brooks hit on 30-of-45 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception, one of three Frostburg turnovers.
Nicken-Yzer had seven catches for 60 yards for the Rams, while Adames had six receptions for 125 yards to pace the Bobcats.
Sophomore linebacker Tyvon Callaway-Toles led the Shepherd defense with eight stops (four solos). Sophomore linebacker Noel Norman-Williams and Hunter each added seven tackles.
