CHARLESTON, W.Va.  – Freshman quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) completed 20-of-31 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns to lead Shepherd (7-2, 7-2 MEC) to a 25-20 win over Charleston (5-5, 5-4 MEC) in MEC football action at Charleston on Saturday.

Mason Olszewski weaved his way through the Shepherd defense for a 14-yard touchdown run to give Charleston a 7-0 lead with 9:13 left in the second quarter.

Shepherd answered back when Bagent teamed with senior wide receiver Ryan Feiss (Forest Hill, Md./North Harford) on a 33-yard scoring play with 3:20 left in the second quarter to cut the lead to 7-6. The point after attempt was blocked.

Bagent fired a four-yard scoring toss to with 11:34 left in the second quarter to senior wide receiver Wanya Allen (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls) with 43 seconds left in the half to give Shepherd a 13-7 lead. Sophomore kicker Hayden August-Scriven (North Potomac, Md./Quince Orchard) added the extra point.

The score was set up when freshman defensive back Lawrence Tucker (Bowie, Md./ St. Vincent Pallotti) forced a Charleston fumble on the kickoff and sophomore linebacker Delonte Berry (Charles Town, W.Va./Jefferson) recovered at the Charleston 31-yard line.

CJ Bagwell picked off a Bagent pass and ran 34 yards for a score to give Charleston a 14-13 lead with 14:16 left in the third quarter.

August-Scriven connected on a 29-yard field goal with 5:22 left in the third quarter to give the Rams a 16-14 advantage.

August-Scriven added a 26-yard field goal with 14 seconds left in the quarter to give Shepherd a 19-14 lead. 

The score was preceded by a Charleston turnover when sophomore defensive back Ponce DeLeon (Greenbelt, Md./Montgomery Blair) forced a fumble that was recovered by freshman linebacker Ahmad Jones (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) at the UC 34-yard line.

Olszewski teamed with Michael Strachan on a 75-yard scoring strike to give the Golden Eagles a 20-19 lead with four seconds left in the third quarter. The extra point was blocked by junior defensive back Tim Womack (Upper Marlboro, Md./Forestville).

Bagent fired a 12-yard touchdown pass to freshman running back Antwan Squire (Clinton, Md./Suitland) with 12:36 left in the fourth quarter to give Shepherd a 25-20 advantage. The extra point was blocked.

Charleston drove to the Shepherd 15-yard line in the game's final minute and faced a fourth-and-one when Damion May was stopped shy of a first down by senior cornerback DeJuan Neal (Shady Side, Md./Southern) and DeLeon as Shepherd held on for the win.

Olszewski was 9-of-18 for 197 yards for the Golden Eagles.

Feiss had seven catches for 79 yards to lead the Shepherd receivers.  Allen added five grabs for 56 yards. Strachan had two catches for 84 yards for the Golden Eagles.

Squire rushed 26 times for 68 yards to lead the Shepherd ground attack. Jimmy Wheeler rushed 15 times for 41 yards for Charleston.

Shepherd had 284 yards of total offense, while Charleston totaled 229.

Sophomore defensive line Ricky Robinson (Matthias, W.Va./East Hardy) and sophomore linebacker Chrys Lane (Baltimore, Md./Dundalk) each had eight tackles to lead the Rams. Robinson also added 2.5 sacks. Bagwell recorded 14 tackles (six solos) for the Golden Eagles.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host UVa-Wise at noon.