SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) completed 21-of-32 passes for 413 yards and three touchdowns to lead Shepherd (5-2, 3-1 PSAC East) to a 35-23 win over 12th-ranked West Chester (6-1, 3-1 PSAC East) in PSAC East football action at Ram Stadium on Saturday.

Shepherd took a 7-0 lead when Bagent teamed with senior wide receiver Devin Phelps (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances) on a 25-yard scoring play with 1:51 left in the first quarter. Junior kicker Hayden August-Scriven (North Potomac, Md./Quince Orchard) added the extra point.

After a West Chester turnover, the pair combined on a 50-yard scoring pass 1:36 left in the quarter to increase the lead to 14-0.

Mike Piperno tossed an 18-yard scoring pass to Dan Neuhaus with 9:03 left in the second quarter for the Golden Rams to cut the lead to 14-7.

Shepherd took a 21-7 lead when Bagent and sophomore running back Ty Hebron (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) teamed up on a 70-yard scoring strike with 8:08 left in the second quarter.

Andrew Chegia for the Golden Rams connected on a 22-yard field goal with 5:28 left in the half as the Rams took a 21-10 lead into the break.

The Golden Rams cut the deficit to 21-17 when Ja'Den McKenzie scored on a two-yard run with 11:31 left in the third quarter.

Shepherd upped its lead to 28-17 when senior running back Deonte Glover (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman/WVU) scored on a 24-yard jaunt with 2:25 left in the third quarter.

West Chester cut the lead to 28-23 when McKenzie ran in from a yard out with 9:25 left in the fourth quarter. McKenzie's two-point run attempt was unsuccessful.

Hebron scored on a four-yard plunge with 8:42 left in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Piperno completed 11-of-22 passes for 121 yards for the Golden Rams.

Glover rushed seven times for 99 yards to pace the Rams. McKenzie rushed 33 times for a game-high 179 yards for the Golden Rams.

Senior wide receiver Dylan Brewer (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) had seven catches for 99 yards  and Phelps added four grabs for 109 yards to pace the Shepherd receivers. Kenny Edelin had three receptions for 63 yards to pace West Chester.

Shepherd had 529 yards of total offense, while West Chester totaled 303 yards.

Junior linebacker Chrys Lane (Baltimore, Md./Dundalk), junior defensive lineman Ricky Robinson (Matthias, W.Va./East Hardy), and junior defensive back Ponce DeLeon (Greenbelt, Md./Montgomery Blair) each had a team-high eight tackles to lead the Shepherd defense.  Sophomore defensive end David Wilson (Baltimore, Md/Archbishop Curley) had three of Shepherd's six sacks on the day. Lane, senior defensive back Tim Womack (Upper Marlboro, Md./Forestville), and sophomore defensive back Donnell Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Potomac) each recorded interceptions for the Rams. Jarey Elder had a game-high nine tackles with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to lead West Chester.

The Rams return to action next Saturday when they travel to Millersville for a 2 p.m. game.