SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Junior quarterback Seth Morgan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon/VMI) fired a 12-yard scoring strike to redshirt-junior tight end Dustin Fisher (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Spring) with 23 seconds left in regulation to lift Shepherd (1-0) to a 27-26 win over Southern Connecticut State (0-1) in football action at Ram Stadium on Saturday.
The Owls took a 7-0 when E'Lijah Gray ran for a one-yard score with 4:05 left in the first quarter.
Shepherd tied the game when Morgan teamed with junior wide receiver Jeremiah Taylor (Upper Marlboro, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School/Fairmont State) on a 14-yard scoring pass. Sophomore kicker James Bozek (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) added the extra point.
Southern Connecticut State took a 14-7 lead when Shawn Martin scored on a one-yard plunge with 5:42 left in the second quarter.
Shepherd opened the second half scoring when freshman return specialist Miles Greer (Springfield, Va./South County) fielded a punt and raced 86 yards down the home sideline for a score with 8:40 left in the third quarter to tie the game.
Ridley fired a 16-yard scoring pass to Martin with 38 seconds left in the quarter to give the Owls a 20-14 advantage as the extra point attempt went awry.
Malakai Brown (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) scored on a three-yard run with 11:24 left in the fourth quarter to give the Rams a 21-20 advantage.
John Amaning scored on a two-yard plunge with 1:28 remaining in regulation to give Southern Connecticut State a 26-21 lead and set the stage for the Morgan-to-Fisher game-winner.
Shepherd totaled 264 yards of total offense while Southern Connecticut totaled 357.
Morgan connected on 16-of-27 yards for 233 yards and a pair of scores. Ridley completed 17-of-27 passes for 229 yards and a score for the Owls.
Brown had 21 carries for 87 yards for the Rams. Martin had 14 carries for 86 yards for the Owls.
Taylor had seven receptions for 113 yards to lead Shepherd. Martin had seven catches for 71 yards and Gadson added two grabs for 71 yards for Southern Connecticut State.
Sophomore linebacker JT Kouame-Yao (Centreville, Va./Westfield) recorded 12 tackles (eight solos) with two tackles-for-loss (-5 yards) to lead the Rams. Joenel Figueroa had eight tackles (six solos) to lead the Owls.
The Rams return to action on Saturday when they travel to Edinboro for a noon contest.
