SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. -- Ninth-ranked Shepherd University limited Fairmont State University to 180 yards of total offense en route to a 20-0 win in WVIAC football action at Ram Stadium on Saturday.
Senior kicker/punter Ricky Schmitt (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem) opened the scoring when he connected on a 23-yard field goal with 5:12 left in the first quarter to cap an eight-play, 72-yard drive.
The Rams took a 10-0 lead into halftime when junior running back Dervon Wallace (Lusby, MD/Calvert) scored on a five-yard plunge with 12:07 remaining in the second quarter.
Shepherd extended its lead to 17-0 on the final play of the third quarter when sophomore quarterback Tyler Lazear (Bethesda, MD/Walt Whitman) connected with sophomore wide receiver John Sheehan (Round Hill, VA/Loudoun Valley) on a 20-yard scoring play. Lazear came off the bench to complete 4-of-4 passes for 48 yards in the scoring drive.
Schmitt nailed a 23-yard field goal with 7:14 left in the game for the game's final score.
Ram quarterback Dan Chlebowski (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle-Antrim) completed 15-of-23 passes for 154 yards, while John Rahl connected on 11-of-27 passes for 107 yards for the Falcons. Rahl was picked off three times by the Rams.
Junior wide receiver Mark Springirth (Germantown, MD/ Watkins Mill) led the Ram receivers with five catches for 80 yards. Wallace added four receptions for 51 yards and senior wide receiver Rodney Jackson (Severn, MD/Meade) had four catches for 20 yards.
Pat McClintic had a game-high six catches for 73 yards to pace Fairmont State.
Senior running back Bryan Wright (Augusta, WV/Hampshire) rushed 12 times for 54 yard to pace the Ram ground game. Wallace added 29 yards on 17 carries.
Wendell Johnson rushed for a game-high 96 yards on 23 carries for the Falcons.
Senior linebacker Todd Edmondson (Finksburg, MD/Westminster) led the Ram defense with 10 tackles, including six solos. Junior outside linebacker Joey Hooks (Montgomery Village, MD/Watkins Mill) and senior All-American free safety Dan Peters (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria) each added six tackles. Hooks , senior cornerback Terrance Jenkins (Lorton, VA/Hayfield), and junior strong safety Jerome Quinata (Woodbridge, VA/C. D. Hylton) each recorded an interception. Peters added a pair of pass breakups.
Andre Pope had 10 tackles with eight solo stop to lead the Falcon defense.
Shepherd improves to 5-0, 2-0 in conference play, while Fairmont State drops to 1-4, 1-2. The Rams return to action on October 14 when they travel to University of Charleston for a 1:00 p.m. contest.
NOTES: The win was the 23rd consecutive regular season victory for the Rams.
