Following last year’s strong season, the Shepherd University Rams football team showed why they could play just as well following a 38-13 victory on the road versus the West Liberty Hilltoppers.
The Rams jumped out to a 31-0 lead through three quarters thanks to a strong run game and a suffocating defense. The running game, which totaled 219 yards, showcased a total of four running backs led by junior Allen Cross, who gained 87 yards on 15 carries. Sophomore Jabre Lolley received 14 carries and rushed for 53 yards with two touchdowns. Redshirt-freshman Malik Harleston recorded the ground attack’s third touchdown while also recording 22 yards and freshman Trenton Cannon added 54 yards on eight rushes.
Sophomore cornerback CJ Davis gave the Hilltoppers fits on the defensive side of the ball. He came away with the only two interceptions of the game. One of them saved a touchdown, as he picked off a Dakota Conwell pass in the end zone. West Liberty ended up using four different quarterbacks throughout the game and only recorded 172 yards of total offense to Shepherd’s 423.
The Rams were also able to get into the backfield and not only harass the quarterback, but the running backs as well. Sophomore linebacker Octavius Thomas recorded 1.5 sacks for a loss of six yards. The sack he split was shared by Demetrius Dixon. Thomas also recorded a team high eight tackles. The other sack for the Rams was recorded by Bernard Wolley, which resulted in a three yard loss. The team was able to record 11 tackles for loss.
Shepherd sophomore quarterback Jeff Ziemba was under center for the entire game for the Rams and put on a nice display. He ended the game completing 17 of 25 passes with 204 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He recorded the team’s first touchdown of the year when he connected with sophomore receiver Tony Squirewell on a 23 yard strike. His other touchdown came on an eight yard pass to senior wideout William McKenzie with less than a minute remaining in the first half.
Ziemba spread the ball around, connecting on passes to nine different players. Squirewell led the team with four receptions and added 45 yards. Sophomore Billy Brown hauled in three passes and had a team high 81 yards.
West Liberty started to come alive in the fourth quarter, but it was too late. Backup quarterback Dan Leonard connected with Dylan Potts on a two yard score to record the team’s first score of the year. The point-after attempt was no good. Later on in the quarter following Malik Harleston’s touchdown for the Rams, Anton McCallum, who used to be with Shepherd, returned the kickoff 93 yards for the score. No team would score after that.
Up next on the schedule for the Rams will be the Fighting Falcons of Fairmont State. The game will be at Shepherd at noon on Saturday, September 13.
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