Box Score
WISE, Va. – Sophomore running back Allen Cross (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) rushed 22 times for 137 yards and a touchdown to lead Shepherd University to a 42-17 win over UVa-Wise in MEC football action at Carl Smith Stadium on Saturday.
Shepherd took a 3-0 lead with 9:38 left in the first quarter when the ball was snapped out of the end zone on a would-be punt attempt.
The Rams increased their lead to 5-0 on a 24-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Ryan Earls (Stevensville, MD/Kent Island) with 5:47 left in the first quarter.
Redshirt-freshman CJ Davis (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown with 7:40 left in the half to give the Rams a 19-0 lead.
Vernon Payne picked off a Shepherd pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown with 1:41 left in the half to cut the lead to 19-7.
Earls connected on a 35-yard field goal with two seconds left in the half to give the Rams a 22-7 advantage at the break.
Earls nailed a 36-yard field goal with 12:15 remaining in the third quarter to increase the lead to 25-7. Junior outside linebacker De'Ontre Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise) picked off a pass to set up the score.
Paul Melshen connected on a 33-yard field goal with 10:03 left in the third quarter to make it 25-10.
The Cavaliers cut the lead to 25-17 when Cullen LeVoi teamed with James Long on a six-yard scoring pass.
Cross rambled 21 yards for a touchdown with 45 seconds left in the third quarter.
Earls tacked on a 29-yard field goal with 12:34 left in the fourth quarter to increase the lead to 35-17.
Sophomore defensive back Phillip Rhoden (Columbia, MD/Long Reach) picked off A UVa-Wise pass and returned it 25 yards for a score with 6:50 left in the fourth quarter.
Junior quarterback Trae Tinsman (Winchester, Va./James Wood) connected on 11-of-19 passes for 135 yards for the Rams. Leak completed 10-of-21 passes for 158 yards for the Cavaliers.
Senior wide receiver Mitchell Pollard (Germantown, Md./Springbrook/Monmouth) had four receptions for 39 yards to pace the Rams, while Long had seven catches for 140 yards to lead Wise.
Shepherd gained 346 yards of total offense, while UVa-Wise had 219. Shepherd limited UVa-Wise to minus 35 yards on the ground.
Shepherd improves to 6-0, 5-0 in MEC action, while UVa-Wise drops to 0-6, 0-3. The Rams return to action next Saturday when they host Notre Dame College for a noon conference matchup.
Box Score
Mitchell Pollard makes the reception. (Photo courtesy of Richard Meade- UVa-Wise Sports Information)
Phillip Rhoden and Levi Barber on defense for the Rams. (Photo courtesy of Richard Meade- UVa-Wise Sports Information)
Allen Cross rushed for 137 yards.
CJ Davis returned this punt for a touchdown.
Ryan Earls connected on four field goals on the day.
The view from the UVa-Wise press box.
Xavier Tyler and Howard Jones pressure the UVa-Wise quarterback.
