WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Freshman quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) completed 18-of-31 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns to lead Shepherd (4-1, 4-1 MEC) to a 26-14 win over West Liberty (2-4, 2-4 MEC) in MEC football action at West Liberty on Saturday.

Shepherd took a 6-0 lead when Bagent fired a 16-yard scoring strike to senior wide receiver Ryan Feiss (Forest Hill, Md./North Harford) with 5:20 remaining in the second quarter. The extra point attempt was blocked.

West Liberty took a 7-6 lead when Quamaezius Mosby scored on an 11-yard run with 2:23 left in the second quarter. Owen Rozanc added the extra point.

Bagent teamed with senior wide receiver Wanya Allen (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) on a five-yard scoring pass with 22 seconds left in the half to give the Rams a 12-7 lead at the break.  An errant snap prevented Shepherd from attempting a two-point conversion.

Bagent connected with Allen on a 17-yard scoring pass on the opening drive of the second half as Shepherd took a 19-7 advantage with 11:40 left in the third quarter.  Sophomore kicker Hayden August-Scriven (North Potomac, Md./Quince Orchard) added the extra point.

Charles Westbrook scored on a one-yard plunge for the Hilltoppers with 5:04 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 19-14.

Bagent tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Greg Leonard (Lusby, Md./Patuxent/Clarion) with 3:02 left in the game to seal the win.

The score was set up by an interception by sophomore defensive back Ponce DeLeon (Greenbelt, Md./Montgomery Blair).

Brenton Colabella completed 17-of-29 passes for 173 yards for the Hilltoppers.

Freshman running back Zyan Sturdivant (North Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie County) had 16 carries for a game-high 73 yards for the Rams. Westbrook had 15 carries for 47 yards to pace the Hilltoppers.

Allen led the Shepherd receivers with five catches for 127 yards.  Michael McLean had five receptions for 61 yards to pace the Hilltoppers.

Shepherd had 397 yards of total offense, while West Liberty totaled 272.

Sophomore linebacker Chrys Lane (Baltimore, Md./Dundalk) recorded eight tackles (all solos) to pace the Rams. Cliff Clark recorded a game-high 18 tackles (15 solos) for the Hilltoppers.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host Fairmont State for a noon contest.

Notes: Bagent is now 133-of-204 for 1,831 yards and 16 touchdowns through five games … Bagent's four touchdown passes tied a career high …  Feiss (198) in closing in on 200 career receptions ...Allen's 100-yard receiving effort was the fourth of his career.