Box Score CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shepherd University held off University of Charleston for a 24-15 victory in MEC football action at University of Charleston Stadium on Saturday.

Charleston took a 3-0 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Bret Benes with 4:21 left in the first quarter.

Shepherd answered back to tie the game on a 33-yard field goal by junior kicker Ryan Earls (Stevensville, MD/Kent Island) with 7:45 left in the second quarter.

The Rams took a 10-3 advantage when sophomore quarterback Jeff Ziemba (Wilmington Del./St. Mark's) teamed with junior wide receiver Dalton Boyd (Winchester, Va./Sherando/William & Mary) on a 29-yard scoring strike with 7:31 left in the third quarter.

Shepherd took a 17-3 lead with 12:36 left in the fourth quarter on a 13-yard scoring run by sophomore running back Jabre Lolley (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's).

Junior running back Allen Cross (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) scored on a  four-yard run by junior running back Allen Cross (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) with 11:53 left in the fourth quarter. The score was set up by an interception return by sophomore linebacker Octavius Thomas (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach)

Torie Wagner took the ensuing kickoff and raced 97 yards for a touchdown for the Golden Eagles to cut the lead to 24-9. The point after attempt by Bret Benes was no good.

Charleston cut the lead to 24-15 when the Golden Eagles blocked a field goal attempt by Earls and Logan Cox recovered and raced 67 yards for a touchdown. Benes' conversion attempt was no good after it bounced off the upright.

Ziemba completed 18-of-30 passes for 179 yards for the Rams. John Knox completed 11-of-23 passes for 107 yards for the Golden Eagles.

Senior wide receiver William McKenzie (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglass) led the Shepherd receivers with five receptions for 49 yards. Jordan Paul had six catches for 100 yards for Charleston.

Cross rushed 18 times for 68 yards to lead the Shepherd ground game. Elam had eight carries for 15 yards for the Golden Eagles.

Shepherd totaled just 262 yards of total offense with just 83 rushing yards in the defensive battle. Charleston was limited to 123 yards of total offense with only 16 rushing yards.

Senior outside linebacker Levi Barber (Alexandria, Va./Edison) and sophomore cornerback CJ Davis (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) led the Shepherd defense with seven tackles each. Matt Duncan had  a game-high 16 tackles for the Golden Eagles.

Shepherd improves to 5-0, 5-0 in conference play, while Charleston drops to 4-1, 3-1. The Rams return to action next Saturday when they host UVa-Wise for Family Day/Hall of Fame Weekend at noon.