(THE PICKET)—The Shepherd Rams improve to 9-0, secure a spot in the playoffs and the regular season Mountain East Conference title with a dominating 41-14 victory over the Fairmont State Falcons.
The Rams received the opening kickoff and methodically drove 77 yards in 5:50, topping the drive off with a run by Jabre Lolley from 6 yards out and giving Shepherd a 7-0 lead.
After an Interception by the Rams, Adam Coles returned 83 yards to the 3-yard line. Jabre Lolley then found the end-zone from a yard out to give Shepherd a 13-0 lead with just under 4 minutes to play in the first quarter. An extra point was missed by Ryan Earles.
Fairmont State drew the lead to 6 momentarily in the second quarter when Cooper Higgs found Brandon Boyd from 27 yards out, making the score 13-7.
However, a 15-yard pass from Jeff Ziemba to Angelo Jean-Louis extended the lead again to 13. The Rams’ next drive lasted for 13 seconds with Allen Cross breaking several tackles on his way to a season high 72-yard touchdown run extending the Rams’ lead to 27-7.
The Rams blocked a punt for a touchdown this week by Tre Sullivan, giving Shepherd a 34-7 lead heading into halftime.
The third quarter was a defensive battle until the final minute when Ziemba found Billy Brown from 23 yards out, capping off the 28-0 scoring run making the score 41-7.
The Falcons added a score in the fourth quarter, but the score was a moot point by then; the Rams had already sealed the dominant victory with a final score of 41-14.
Jeff Ziemba turned in another impressive performance, finishing the game 14-21 with 217 yards and two touchdowns.
Billy Brown was Ziemba’s favorite target, finishing the game with seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Allen Cross, who wore number 2 today in honor of injured teammate Philip Rhoden, finished the game with 118 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, Jabre Lolley added two touchdowns on six carries for 49 yards.
The Rams defense was impressive, keeping the Falcons to under 50 rushing yards and under 21 for the sixth time this season. The rams were led by Keon Robinson, who finished the game with five tackles and a forced fumble.
Shepherd looks to finish off an undefeated season Saturday, Nov. 14, when they take on Urbana in the season finale at Ram Stadium at noon.