YETMO

”'The Defense Rests' -- Shepherd Football Advances to Division II Quarterfinals"

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. VA.
Saturday, November 25

“Without a doubt, this has got to be about one of the biggest wins in Shepherd’s history,” Head Coach, Monte Cater, noted after his team prevailed 31 – 7 over Merrimack College (North Andover, MA) for its first Division II playoff victory since 1998.

Running backs Bryan Wright and Dervon Wallace both rushed for over 100 yards, 144 and 102, respectively. Shepherd enjoyed a considerable edge on the ground (254 yards to Merrimack’s 54) and outgained the Warriors 358 yards to 259 in total offense.

Despite the final margin, the game was closer than the score would indicate. Merrimack (8-4) connected on a 27-yard pass from Colin Temple to Chris McNeill with 1:14 left before halftime to close to 14 – 7.

The Rams (11-0) took the second half opening kick-off from their own 31 yard line and marched 69 yards in little over five minutes to increase the margin to 21-7 and seal the game’s outcome.

Shepherd’s vaunted “Department of Defense,” leading the nation (Div II) in scoring defense (5.6 ppg), was about average today, allowing Merrimack a lone touchdown. That score was fueled by two major penalties. When asked how the Defense reacted to the Warriors’ closing drive, DB Dan Peters, first-team All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) said that “we kinda gave it to them. We gave them 30 yards in penalties. We stopped them at third and 11; we were off the field, but someone just made a mistake and we had to go back out there and play.”

Perhaps the Rams’ defensive skill was best illustrated when it twice stopped Merrimack when it was on the Rams’ three yard line in the second half. First, Shepherd held the Warriors for four plays and took over on downs. The next time, DB Dan Peters hauled in his second interception of the game. That set up a spectacular 97-yard run by RB Bryan Wright with 1:34 remaining in the game.

On another defensive series, second-team All-WVAIC ILB Louis Corum pulled in one of four Shepherd interceptions of Merrimack QB Colin Temple and returned it for his first-ever touchdown. “[Honorable Mention All-WVIAC DL] Michael Spiegelberg put pressure on the quarterback at the right time and gave me the opportunity.”

Shepherd will face Bloomsburg (11-1) next Saturday, a 21-20 victor over West Chester (8-4). As the higher-seed team, the Rams would normally host the game; however, due to the turf condition at Ram Stadium, which Merrimack Coach, Jim Murphy, described as “worst ever I have seen at this level,” an alternative site may be chosen. The NCAA will decide the match's location early this week.