Shepherd Outlasts Urbana, 28-21

9/21/2013 2:37:00 PM

Box Score

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore running back Allen Cross (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) rushed 25 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner on a two-yard run with 4:30 left in regulation, to lead Shepherd University to a 28-21 win over Urbana in Mountain East Conference football action at Ram Stadium on Saturday.

Shepherd took a 7-0 lead with 11:07 left in the first quarter when Cross galloped in from 17 yards out. Sophomore kicker Ryan Earls (Stevensville, MD/Kent Island) added the extra point.

An interception by sophomore cornerback Philip Rhoden (Columbia, Md./Long Reach) helped set up the score.

The Rams increased their lead to 14-0 when junior quarterback Trae Tinsman (Winchester, Va./James Wood) teamed with senior wide receiver Robert Byrd (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac) on a 17-yard scoring strike with 5:39 left in the first quarter.

Urbana got on the board with 5:17 left in the second quarter when D.J. Mendenhall connected with Joe Webb on a 20-yard scoring pass. Alvin Busbee's two-point rushing attempt failed.

Tinsman fired a 44-yard scoring strike to junior wide receiver Justin Ford (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) on a 44-yard scoring play to give the Rams a 21-6 lead at the break.

The Blue Knights opened the scoring on the second half when Mendenhall hit Webb for a 10-yard score. Busbee passed to Sanders Sius for the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 21-14.

Mendenhall teamed with Suis on a five-yard scoring play with 5:00 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 21-21.

Shepherd drove 70 yards on five plays to score the game-winner on two-yard plunge by Cross with 4:30 remaining. The score was setup by 54-yard pass from Tinsman to senior wide receiver Mitchell Pollard (Germantown, Md./Springbrook/Monmouth) which gave the Rams a first down at the Urbana 16-yard line.

Redshirt-freshman running back Jabre Lolley (Wilmington, Del./St. Marks) added 73 yards on 15 carries. David Hill had 23 yards on nine carries to lead the Blue Knights.

Tinsman completed 19-of-28 passes for 267 yards and a pair of scores. Mendenhall connected on 27-of-54 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns.

Pollard had five receptions for 104 yards to lead the Rams. Nate Wilburn-Ogletree had game-highs of seven catches and 199 receiving yards for the Blue Knights.

Shepherd amassed 497 yards of total offense, while Urbana had 349. The Rams limited Urbana to 20 rushing yards.

Junior cornerback Dontrewell Kelley (District Heights, Md./Suitland) led the Rams with seven tackles (six solo). D'Gary Wallace had a game-high 13 tackles (12 solo) for the Blue Knights.

Shepherd improves to 3-0, 2-0 in MEC action, while Urbana drops to 1-2, 1-1. The Rams return to action next Saturday when they travel to West Virginia Wesleyan for a 1 p.m. game.