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JESSOPALLENGVS15SIDE
Jack Ransom
32
Grand Valley State GV 12-3
34
Winner Shepherd SHEP 13-0
Grand Valley State GV
12-3
32
Final
34
Shepherd SHEP
13-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
GV Grand Valley State 3 0 14 15 32
SHEP Shepherd 14 0 0 20 34

Game Recap: Football |

Shepherd Headed to NCAA Championship Game

Courtesy of Adam Zundell, Mountain East Conference Associate Commissioner

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- For the first time in school history, Shepherd will advance to the NCAA Championship game after defeating Grand Valley State, 34-32, on Saturday afternoon at Ram Stadium.

The Rams will play next Saturday at 4 p.m. (EST) at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Shepherd played most of the game without starting quarterback Jeff Ziemba who was injured on the first series. Connor Jessop came in and went 15-of-20 for 173 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Allen Cross had a big day on the ground with 16 carries for 156 yards and a pair of scores. Wide receiver Billy Brown was tough to stop once again with nine catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams defense came up with three interceptions and held Grand Valley State to just 66 rushing yards. C.J. Davis had a pick and nine tackles and broke up five passes on the day. Keon Robinson and Shaneil Jenkins each added a sack.

Shepherd grabbed a 14-3 lead in the first quarter after a Brown touchdown and a Cross 55-yard TD tote. The score remained that way until after halftime when the Lakers' Urston Smith hauled in a touchdown pass and Marquez Gollman took a fumble in for a touchdown to take a 17-14 lead.

Cross once again gave Shepherd the lead, this time from  36 yards out. However, the PAT was blocked and and GVSU returned it for two points to make it 20-19. After a Shepherd interception, Brown caught his second touchdown of the day, and then on Grand Valley's next possession Davis picked it off and returned it 29 yards for the score to put the Rams up 34-19.
 
The Lakers had one last surge scoring a touchdown with 4:38 to go and then got the ball back on downs deep in their own territory. Matt Williams caught a 35-yard touchdown pass with just :54 seconds left, but the two-point conversion was knocked away. Shepherd recovered the onside kick and took the knee for the win.

Grand Valley State's Bart Williams was 22-of-52 for 334 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Williams had eight catches for 161 yards and one touchdown.

Notes: Shepherd's 13 wins are the most in program history ... Billy Brown became Shepherd's all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,487 ... he surpasses the old mark of 2,372 held by Jason Dirting (1998-2001) ... Brown also tied Dirting's Shepherd all-time mark with his 11th game of 100 receiving yards or more ... The Rams improve to 11-12 all-time in postseason play with a 10-8 mark in NCAA II postseason play.

 
2505
Tyrell Hollingsworth makes the reception


 
2500
CJ Davis breaks up a would-be touchdown.


 
2502
Allen Cross runs for one of his two touchdowns on the day.


 
2499
Zachary Buffkin in action for the Rams.


 
2501
CJ Davis returns an interception for a score.


 
2504
Jaylen Johnson and Josh Kline after the game.


 
2498
Billy Brown had a pair of touchdowns on the day.


 
2503
Former Ram standout Dominique Jones shows his elation.


 
2497
Assistant athletics director Aaron Ryan congratulates defensive coordinator Josh Kline.

 
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