CLARION, Pa. – Sophomore quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W,Va./Martinsburg) completed 30-of-44 passes for 394 yards and five touchdowns to lead Shepherd (2-1) to a 40-24 win over Clarion (2-1) in football action at Clarion on Saturday.
Clarion took a 7-0 lead when Jeff Clemens recovered a fumble by Ross Greece in the end zone for a score with 4:01 left in the first quarter.
Shepherd answered back when sophomore quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W,Va./Martinsburg) teamed with senior wide receiver Dylan Brewer (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg)on a 61-yard scoring pass with3:49 left in the quarter. The extra point attempt was blocked.
James Metzgar added a 42-yard field goal to give Clarion a 10-6 advantage with 14:09 left in the second quarter.
Bagent completed a two-yard scoring pass to junior tight end Alex Wetzel (Keedysville, Md./Boonsboro) with 7:31 left in the half to give the Rams a 13-10 lead as junior kicker Hayden August-Scriven (North Potomac, Md./Quince Orchard) added the extra point.
The score was set up by a turnover senior linebacker Hassan Marshall (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) made an interception off a tipped pass by sophomore defensive back Donnell Howard (Temple Hills, Md./Potomac) to give the Rams possession at the Clarion 23-yard line. The drive was extended on an off side call on Clarion after a successful field goal by the Rams.
Shepherd took a 20-10 lead when Bagent found junior running back Deonte Glover (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman/WVU) in the left side for the end zone for a score with 3:46 left in the half.
August-Scriven connected on a 38-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Rams a 23-10 lead at the break.
Bagent tossed a 25-yard scoring pass to Glover with 7:14 left in the third quarter to up the lead to 30-10.
August-Scriven added a 37-yard field goal with 11:30 left in the fourth quarter to make it a 33-10 lead.
Bagent fired his fifth touchdown pass of the day when he tossed a 40-yard scoring strike to senior wide receiver Devin Phelps (Baltimore, Md./St. Frances) with 9:20 remaining.
Clemens teamed with Kahliq Muhammad on a five-yard scoring pass with 5:50 left in the game to cut the lead to 40-17.
Clemens added a 43-yard scoring strike to Dana Jackson with 46 seconds left for the Golden Eagles to complete the scoring.
Clemens completed 11-of-18 yards and two scores, while Michael Proios was 5-of-10 for 36 yards for the Golden Eagles.
Brewer had nine catches for 164 yards, while Glover added five catches for 75 yards to pace the Shepherd receivers. Quinn Zinobile had four catches for 88 yards to lead the Golden Eagles.
Junior running back Deonte Glover (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman/WVU) had eight carries for 25 yards to lead the ground game. Mylique McGriff had 17 carries for 54 yards to pace Clarion.
Shepherd had 472 yards of total offense, while limiting Clarion to 306 yards.
Junior linebacker Chrys Lane (Baltimore, Md./Dundalk) paced the Rams with 12 tackles (three solos). Sophomore defensive back Antonio Fox (Germantown, Md/Seneca Valley) led the secondary with two interceptions as the Rams picked off four passes on the day. Sam Faferi recorded nine tackles (five solos) for the Golden Eagles.
The Rams return to action next Saturday when they host Kutztown for Homecoming at 1 p.m. at Ram Stadium.
