SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore running back Allen Cross (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) scored on a 29-yard run with 4:06 left in the third quarter to lead Shepherd University to a 7-0 win over Winston-Salem State in second round action of the NCAA II Football Championships at Ram Stadium on Saturday.
Shepherd had seven-play, 69-yard scoring drive with a 21-yard completion from redshirt-freshman quarterback Jeff Ziemba (Newark, Del./St. Marks) to redshirt-freshman wide receiver Kevin Cook (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) on a 3rd-and-7 at the 50-yard line keying the drive.
Both teams combined for just over 116 yards of total offense in the first half. Shepherd had a scoring opportunity in the first quarter, but was unable to connect on a field goal.
Redshirt-freshman running back Jabre Lolley (Wilmington, Del./St. Marks) rushed 22 times for a game-high 89 yards to lead the Rams. Cross added 60 yards on 14 attempts. Maurice Lewis rushed for 13 times for 42 yards to lead Winston Salem State.
Redshirt-freshman quarterback Jeff Ziemba (Newark, Del./St. Marks) completed 12-of-21 passes for 112 yards for Shepherd. DeShean Townsend, who replaced injured starter Rudy Johnson in the first quarter, hit on 12-of-39 passes for 139 yards for Winston-Salem State.
Junior wide receiver Justin Ford (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) paced the Rams with four receptions for 62 yards. Lewis had four catches for 60 yards and Eric Williams added four grabs for 51 yards to lead Winston-Salem.
Shepherd gained 247 yards of total offense, while Winston Salem had 159. Shepherd limited the Rams to just 10 rushing yards.
Junior outside linebacker De'Ontre Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise) led the Shepherd defense with nine tackles (five solo) with three tackles-for-loss and a sack. Senior inside linebacker Dominique Dixon (Westover, WV/University) added eight tackles, senior free safety Corey Washington (Alexandria, Va./Edison) added seven, while freshman linebacker Octavius Thomas (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach) contributed six stops, two tackles-for-loss, a sack and an interception. Carlos Fields had a game-high 14 tackles (nine solo) and an interception to lead Winston-Salem State.
Shepherd improves to 11-0, while Winston-Salem State falls to 10-2. Shepherd will host West Chester, a 40-38 winner over Bloomsburg, next Saturday at noon in quarterfinal action.
Notes: Allen Cross (1,038) went over 1,000 rushing yards on the season. He is the first Ram to rush for 1,000 yards or more since Tommy Addison rushed for 1,670 yards in 2010. Shepherd recorded its third shutout of the season. The shutout is a postseason first.
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Xavier Tyler leads the Rams onto the field.
Corey Washington had seven tackles on the day.
Allen Cross scored the game's only touchdown.
Isaiah Shelton in action against Winston-Salem State.
Octavius Thomas returns an interception.
Shaneil Jenkins makes the sack.
De'Ontre Johnson led the Rams with nine tackles.
Jeff Ziemba in action for the Rams. (Photos by William Ransom)
