SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University spent Saturday honoring and saying goodbye to its senior class.
The Rams followed by giving them all a going-away gift.
Shepherd exploded for 505 yards of offense and six touchdowns – featuring a number of big yardage plays – in a 41-3 victory over Lackawanna during Senior Day, making sure every graduating player, cheerleader and band member had something to remember.
Graduate student quarterback Michael Hardyway led a contingent of Shepherd quarterbacks with 109 passing and two touchdowns. The Rams (7-3) freely substituted four quarterbacks throughout the game, giving them all time behind center.
And, in keeping with the senior theme, Hardyway’s two scoring passes went to senior Brian Jester and grad student Chase Soper.
The rest of the scoring highlights went to the underclassmen as freshmen Ian Mauldin, Tijuan Reed and Noah Mitchell, as well as sophomore Derrell Pierson, combined for the other four scores.
Shepherd started quickly before Lackawanna (0-10) could get its bearings against the bigger, quicker Rams. In fact, the outcome could have been larger as the Rams lost two fumbles in the red zone and missed a field goal.
Mauldin greeted the Falcons by breaking a 65-yard touchdown run down the right side on the second play of the game to give the lead in the first 25 seconds of the game. Max Barba hit his first of five extra points to stake the Rams to the early 7-0 lead.
Shepherd took a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter when Hardyway hit Jester, who rolled out to the left flat, for a 2-yard score with 6:45 remaining in the quarter.
Lackawanna put together a drive late in the first quarter, but it stalled early in the second. The Falcons settled for a 32-yard field goal by Isiah Rodriguez to move within 14-3.
Shepherd was in control for the rest of the game.
The Rams went up 21-3 with 12:13 remaining in the half when quarterback Ezra Bagent found Pierson for a 21-yard touchdown for a 21-3 lead at the intermission.
Shepherd continued to move the ball in the second half.
Hardyway hit Soper for a 4-yard TD at the 12:30 mark of the third quarter, just before Reed bolted down the left sideline 69 yards for a score with 8:48 left to give the Rams a 35-3 lead.
Mitchell capped the game with an 18-yard touchdown run with 3:50 remaining.
Shepherd’s stats were spread out but impressive.
Hardyway connected on 11 of 15 passes for 106 yards and the two scores.
The Rams rolled up 300 yards rushing led by Reed with 137 on seven carries while Mauldin had 96 yards on five tries to go with the touchdowns for each.
Pierson had five catches for 101 yards and the touchdown. Senior Carrington Nickens-Yzer added five grabs for 57 yards.
Shepherd’s defense held Lackawanna to 168 yards of offense.
Sophomore Malachi Barnes led the Rams with 10 tackles, while two other sophomores – D’Myo Hunter and Chase Loftis – added seven stops each.
