BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Shepherd University hit Bloomsburg like a cold front.
That’s because Jordan Barnett strike like thunder, while Klayton Batten flashed like lightening as the Rams stormed past Bloomsburg 37-17 on Saturday in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East matchup.
Barnett ran for three touchdowns, and Batten collected two turnovers and scored a defensive touchdown as Shepherd (3-4, 3-1) cruised to its third straight win after opening the season with four straight losses.
The Rams built a 23-0 halftime lead and never looked back.
Barnett rushed for 90 yards and powered for scores from 1,3 and 1 yards in a 24-minute time span to help the Rams pull away.
The third score, coming at the 10:19 mark of the third quarter was set up by a Batten interception. The defensive back later put the exclamation point on the win by forcing fumble and scooping up the loose ball for a 20-yard return for a touchdown to give Shepherd a 37-7 lead with 9:05 remaining.
Batten was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East special teams player of the week after last week’s win over West Chester.
Shepherd’s defense forced five turnovers to keep the Huskies (1-6, 0-4) at bay.
The Rams took a 7-0 just 16 seconds into the game. Quarterback Michael Hardyway connected with Carrington Nickens-Yzer on a 63-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage. Keith Baker added the extra point.
An interception by defensive back Will Johnson set up Shepherd’s second score of the quarter, a 24-yard field goal by Baker, for a 10-0 at the 9:57 mark of the first quarter
Barnett provide the next three scores.
His first 1-yard plunge into the end zone came with 1:42 to give Shepherd a 16-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Barnett got scored the only points in the second period, scoring from the 3 with 6:41 remaining in the half for the 23-0 halftime lead.
He capped his three-score day with another 1-yard run at 10:29 of the third quarter, coming on the heels of Batten’s interception, to go up 30-0
Bloomsburg avoided the shutout when quarterback K.J. Riley teamed for Jerry Griffen-Batchler for a 20-yard touchdown pass with :15 remaining in the third quarter to make it 30-7.
After Batten’s fumble return score, Bloomburg scored on another Riley touchdown pass, this one to Mike Conway with 2:42 remaining for close the scoring.
Hardyway completed 12-of-24 passes for 150 yards, while Nickens=Yzer topped the receivers with two catches for 68 yards.
Shepherd amassed 313 yards of total offense and Bloomsburg had 307 yards.
Tyrin Chinn-Thompson had eight tackles (five solos) to lead the Shepherd defense.
FLAG FOOTBALL
South Hagerstown drops a pair of games
Quarterback Kaelynn Kunkle threw for 166 yards and a touchdown along with rushing for 26 yards on seven carries on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in South Hagerstown’s 7-6 loss to Brunswick.
Aniyah Freeman caught four passes for 119 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown. Trinity Savage rushed for 19 yards on five carries for the Rebels.
On Wednesday, Oct. 15, Kunkle passed for 83 yards and rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown in South’s 33-6 loss to Williamsport.
Savage set South school records with receptions (nine) and targets (14) for 69 yards.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Shepherd Sweeps Millersville; gives Hoekstra 200th win
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University Coach Alex Hoekstra collected his 200th career victory in the Rams’ sweep over Millersville on Friday, Oct. 17, in a PSAC East match.
Shepherd (14-5, 4-2) swept 25-13, 25-15, 25-20 over the Marauders Millersville (5-14, 1-5).
Outside hitter Ada McCoy led the Rams with 10 kills. Outside hitter Amya Davis and middle hitter/right side Sophia Ryan each had eight kills. Ryan added five blocks and a pair of aces.
Setter Macy Buso posted a match-high 30 assists, eight digs, and a pair of aces. Libero/defensive specialist Madigan Faircloth (added 11 digs and a pair of aces.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Shepherd shuts out Lock Haven
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Josie Beezel scored a goal and assisted on another to lead Shepherd University to a 4-0 win over Lock Haven in PSAC East women’s soccer action at Lock Haven on Saturday evening.
Annabelle Wunderlich scored on assists from Beezel and Adrianna Morales at the 3:49 mark to give the Rams (6-1-5, 5-1-5) a 1-0 advantage at the break.
Merritt Delk opened the second-half scoring with an unassisted goal at the 54:39 mark.
Beezel found the back of the net on a feed from Reagan Ackermann at the 60:02 mark to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.
Sarah Peternel added an unassisted tally at the 85:44 mark to cap the scoring.
Goalkeeper Hannah Wilt recorded three saves in a shutout effort for the Rams
On Wednesday,Oct. 15, Shepherd scored four second-half goals enroute to a 4-0 win over Shippensburg.
Delk opened the scoring on a pass from Reagan at the 76:26 mark.
Lydia Gable scored on a feed from Peternel minutes later to give the Rams a two-goal advantage.
Ackermann scored on a pass from Peternel at the 83:25 mark to up the lead to 3-0.
Anaya Lozano scored on a pass from Beezel at 88:49 mark to complete the scoring.
Shepherd had a 28-1 shots advantage with a 13-0 edge in shots on goal. The Rams had a 3-2 margin in corner kicks.
COLLEGE GOLF
Shepherd men sitting in fifth at PSAC Championship
LEBANON, Pa. – The Shepherd University men’s golf team completed second-round are in fifth place in a nine-team field at the PSAC Championship at Iron Valley Golf Club on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Shepherd was tied for the tournament lead after the first round.
Senior Trey Rios fired a 144 and is tied for second place to lead the Rams. He is followed by Boonsboro graduate Morgan Dehoff (146, 5th), Campbell Koegler (154, T-25th), Killian Donnelly (156, T-29th) and South Hagerstown graduate Joey Leisinger (158, 36th).
MEN’S SOCCER
Shepherd Falls to #13 Bloomsburg
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University dropped a 3-1 decision to #13 Bloomsburg in PSAC East match on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Bloomsburg (6-0-5, 2-0-3) took a 1-0 lead at the 2:10 mark with an unassisted goal by Connor Fiadino.
The Huskies took a 2-0 lead at the 6:44 mark when Zayd DeVeaux scored on an assist from Owen Peri.
Shepherd (5-7, 2-3) cut the lead to 2-1 when Boonsboro graduate Mac Long scored on an assist by sophomore forward Josh Petty at the 46:11 mark.
Bloomsburg capped the scoring on a goal by Caleb Sitler on an assist from Kody Besser at the 75:25 mark.
Goalkeeper Aidan Houck posted one save for the Rams.
