Courtesy of Will Prewitt - WVIAC Associate Commissioner
(SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va.)---An old school approach featuring a pounding ground game and solid defense has long been a mainstay of Shepherd University football. A pair of 100-yard rushers and a host of big defensive plays made that formula pay off for the Rams (11-0) in a 31-7 NCAA Division II football playoff victory over Merrimack (8-4).
The Shepherd defense posted a pair of key goal line stands, while safety Dan Peters intercepted a pair of passes. Bryan Wright's provided the offense with 144 rush yards, and West Virginia Conference Offensive Player of the Year Dervon Wallace added 102 yards on the ground.
A Peters interception set up the game's first score. The senior safety picked off a Colin Temple pass deep in Warrior territory that set the stage for a short nine-yard scoring drive. Wallace took it in from five yards out and Shepherd led 7-0 following a Ricky Schmitt point after with 11:08 remaining in the second quarter.
The Rams used the same template for their second touchdown. A booming 60-yard Schmitt punt pinned the Warriors back in their own territory. Temple was then picked off for the third time in the opening half. This time, Louis Corum did the honors and returned it 23 yards for a Ram defensive score. Schmitt again added the PAT to increase the Shepherd lead to 14-0 late in the first half.
The Warriors got on the board just before the break thanks to some help in the form of a pair of 15-yard Shepherd penalties. Temple found a sliding Chris McNeill from 25 yards to slice the lead to 14-7 with only 1:14 left in the opening half.
Both teams were limited to less than 75 yards each in the opening half, but Shepherd mounted a consistent offensive attack to begin the third quarter. Backup quarterback Tyler Lazear, who replaced injured starter Dan Chlebowski, ended a 9-play, 69-yard drive with an 11-yard pass to Mark Springirth to give the Rams a bit of breathing room a 21-7.
Merrimack, who was making their first trip below the Mason-Dixon Line in program history, saw things start to go south early in the fourth quarter. The Warriors moved to the Ram two-yard line and were set up with a first-and-goal following a pass interference penalty.
J.D. Wild rushed for no gain on first, while Richard Johnson was blasted by Shepherd linebacker Todd Edmondson at the one on second down. Wild was stopped just short of paydirt on third. Defensive lineman Frank Herrera completed the stand by nailing Johnson in the backfield at the three yard-line for a loss of two.
The Rams then used a steady diet of Wallace on the game-clinching drive. Seven straight carries by the junior moved the ball deep into Merrimack territory, capped by a 45-yard effort. The drive stalled, but Schmitt made it a three-score game with a 32-yard field goal with 3:13 left.
The Warriors didn't intend to go away quietly as three quick Temple completions put Merrimack in business at the Ram three. The Rams again turned away the red zone as threat as Peters tied the WVIAC and Shepherd career record with his 29th pick.
Shepherd didn't waste any time in establishing another school record. Wright took the first play following the turnover 97 yards down the left sideline for the longest rush in Ram history. Schmitt closed out the scoring at 31-7 by tacking on the point after.
Temple led Merrimack with a game-high 205 passing yards, but he was intercepted four times. McNeill had four catches for 99 yards, while Chris Laham caught six passes for 41 yards. MC's Jordan Rankine took game honors with a dozen tackles and also contributed an interception. The Warriors, who tied a school record with eight victories, return 20 starters next season.
Shepherd held a 254-54 edge on the ground thanks to the efforts of Wright and Wallace. The strong rushing attack allowed the fifth ranked Rams to possess the ball for over 33 minutes and own a 358-259 advantage in total offense.
The Rams will face 11-1 Bloomsburg in next week's national quarterfinal. The game time and site will be announced on Sunday, but the top-seeded Rams are hopeful about hosting the regional title contest.
Game Notes:
---Shepherd's win is the first for a WVIAC school in the NCAA football playoffs since a 9-6 Ram win over Indiana (PA) in 1998.
---Ram kicker Ricky Schmitt became the conference's all-time leader in extra points with 148.
---Shepherd is only the fifth WVIAC team to win 11 games in a season...The Rams seek to become the first with a dozen next week versus Bloomsburg.
---Merrimack's roster only included six seniors.
---Opponents have only scored seven times in 21 trips to the red zone versus the Shepherd defense in 2006.
---Shepherd has allowed a touchdown or less nine times in a dozen games this season.
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