WEST HAVEN, Conn. –  Redshirt  junior quarterback Lek Powell (Carlisle, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) completed 11-of-19 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns,  while redshirt senior running back Malakai Brown (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) rushed 19 times for a game-high 163 yards and a score to lead Shepherd (1-0) to a 23-0 win over Southern Connecticut State in football action at Southern Connecticut State on Thursday evening in the season opener for both schools.

Shepherd took a 2-0 lead with 6:19 left in the first quarter as the Owls fumbled out of the end zone.

Shepherd took a 9-0 advantage when Brown raced 55 yards for a score with 13:23 left in the second quarter. Freshman kicker Keith Baker (Prince Frederick, Md./Calvert) added the extra point.

Powell connected on a 13-yard scoring strike to senior wide receiver Jeremiah Taylor (Upper Marlboro, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School/Fairmont State) with 23 seconds left in the half to give the Rams a 16-0 lead at the break.

The Rams added a fourth quarter score when Powell teamed with redshirt senior tight end Jack Rosnage (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) on a five-yard scoring pass with 4:36 left.

Shepherd had 400 yards of total offense and held Southern Connecticut State to 111 total yards. The Rams limited the Owls to 68 rushing yards.

Keith Ridley connected on 17-of-29 passes for 111 yards for the Owls.

Graduate student running back Grant Swinehart (Bridgewater, Va./Turner Ashby/VMI) added 14 carries for 88 yards for the Rams. E'Lijah Gray had 18 carries for 49 yards to lead the Owls.

Junior wide receiver Cameron Dorner (New Market, Md./Oakdale) had two grabs for 52 yards to lead Shepherd. Brown and Rosnage each added three receptions. Gray had three catches for 31 yards to lead Southern Connecticut State.

Redshirt junior defensive back Klayton Batten (Waldorf, Md./St. Charles) led the Rams with eight tackles (five solos). Sophomore defensive back Miles Greer (Springfield, Va./South County) and redshirt freshman linebacker Brodie Carroll (Catharpin, Va./Battlefield) each added six stops and a tackle-for-loss. Derek Omoregie had eight tackles to pace the Owls.

Redshirt senior punter Ryan Barrick (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) punted three times for a 46.3 average. He placed a pair of punts inside the 20-yard line and had a long punt of 50 yards.

The Rams return to action on Sept. 14 when they host Slippery Rock at noon at Ram Stadium for Family Day.