Box Score WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Sophomore quarterback Jeff Ziemba (Wilmington Del./St. Mark's) completed 17-of-25 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore running back Jabre Lolley (Wilmington Del./St. Mark's) rushed 14 times for 53 yards and a pair of scores to lead Shepherd University to a 38-13 win over West Liberty in MEC football action at West Family Stadium on Saturday in the season opener for both schools.

Shepherd took a 7-0 lead with 11:23 left in the first quarter when Ziemba teamed with sophomore wide receiver Tony Squirewell (Cheltenham, Md./Bishop McNamara)on a 23-yard scoring pass. Junior kicker Ryan Earls (Stevensville, MD/Kent Island) added the extra point.

The Rams extended their lead to 10-0 on a 31-yard field goal by Earls with 1:36 left in the third quarter. An interception in the end zone by sophomore cornerback CJ Davis (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) helped set up the score.

Shepherd took a 17-0 advantage with 4:52 left in the second quarter when Lolley scored on a five-yard run.

Ziemba teamed with senior wide receiver William McKenzie (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglass) on an eight-yard scoring play with 44 seconds left in the half to give Shepherd a 24-0 lead at the break.

Lolley scored on an eight-yard scamper with 6:41 left in the third quarter to up the lead to 31-0.

West Liberty got on the scoreboard with 10:53 left in the fourth when Dylan Potts teamed with Dan Leonard on a two-yard scoring toss to cut the lead to 31-6.

Shepherd added a score on a three-yard run by redshirt-freshman Malik Harleston (Washington, D.C./McKinley Tech) with 2:44 remaining.

Former Ram Anton McCallum raced 93 yards with the ensuing kickoff with 2:30 left in the game to cut the lead to 38-13 to complete the scoring.

Cross rushed 15 times for 87 yards and freshman running back Trenton Cannon (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan)  added 54 yards on eight carries.

Sophomore wide receiver Billy Brown (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) had three catches for 81 yards to pace the Rams. Daree Goodwin had two receptions for 74 yards for the Hilltoppers.

Shepherd amassed 423 yards of total offense (219 rushing yards), while West Liberty had 172 total offensive yards (29 rushing yards).

Sophomore linebacker Octavius Thomas (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach) led the Shepherd defense with eight tackles (four solo). Marc Schumacher had nine stops (six solo) for West Liberty.

Shepherd improves to 1-0, while West Liberty falls to 0-1. The Rams return to action next Saturday when the host Fairmont State at noon at Ram Stadium for Ram Nation/Ram Gridiron Club Day.

Box Score