Tyson Bagent and Ronnie Brown lead Shepherd back to NCAA D2 quarterfinals

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — Shepherd showed its playoff poise Saturday at Ram Stadium, holding off visiting Slippery Rock 37-27 to advance to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals for the second straight year and ninth time since 1998.

Senior star quarterback Tyson Bagent connected with EJ Morgan for a 17-yard touchdown with 1:43 left in the game, giving the Rams a 37-27 lead to all but seal it.

With just under a minute remaining, on first-and-goal from the Shepherd 9-yard line, linebacker Devon Lynch tipped a pass by Rock QB Noah Grover that was intercepted by Terrell Lindsey in the end zone to put the game away.

“It obviously was a great ballgame for us,” Shepherd coach Ernie McCook said. “Our kids competed the entire 60 minutes and didn’t let up. We handled adversity when it was presented to us. I’m really proud of this football team.

“If you know the history of Slippery Rock University, they pride themselves on a high-potent offense,” he added, “and our defense did a phenomenal job of creating pressure on them and putting them in a really tough spot.”

Shepherd’s stars of the game

• Bagent — The reigning Harlon Hill Trophy winner, who owns 15 NCAA Division II records, added to his storied career Saturday, passing for 372 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 36 yards and another score. His 1-yard TD run with 4:06 left in the third quarter gave the Rams the lead for good at 27-20.

• Ronnie Brown — The junior running back rushed for a game-high 205 yards on 20 carries, had two receptions for 52 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. His 21-yard TD catch gave the Rams a 7-0 lead with 10:16 left in the first quarter, and his 43-yard TD run with 3:26 left in the opening period put them back in front 14-7.

“They all come in here and game plan and scheme against me and Tyson,” Brown said. “Obviously, it didn’t work. We opened up on the passing game and the running game.”

• Jacob Haynie — The redshirt sophomore kicker connected on all three of his field-goal attempts — from 27, 20 and 28 yards — and went 4-for-4 on extra points. His second field goal, with no time left in the first half, tied the game at 20-20, and his final one put the Rams up 30-20 with 12:34 left in the game.

• Nathan Muhle — The defensive lineman, a redshirt freshman, tied for the team lead in tackles with seven (six solo), and he had a sack, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

• Kyle Smith — The defensive end, a graduate student, had a team-high two sacks, two tackles for loss and he blocked an extra point.

Joey Fisher dominates in high-profile matchup with Gene Upshaw Award Finalist

The NFL Draft stock continues to rise for Shepherd senior offensive tackle Joey Fisher, the former Clear Spring High standout.

Fisher, who’s 6-foot-5, 322 pounds, has been invited to participate in two prestigious all-star games in January — the Hula Bowl in Orlando, Fla., and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

He also is one of nine national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award.

Another finalist is Slippery Rock senior defensive end D.J. Adediwura, who faced off against Fisher on Saturday.

Adediwura, who led the Rock with 10.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss this season, was held to just four tackles against Fisher and the Rams.

“I told myself and everybody that I talked to that this was definitely a big game for me,” Fisher said. “To come out and show the separation between me and him was big for me. I felt today I was dominant. I don’t think he had any pressure or really any stats in his line. So to be able come out and hold a player like that to pretty much nothing and to keep him out of our game plan and keep him away from Tyson and Ronnie Brown, that’s definitely exciting.”

Shepherd allowed zero sacks and no tackles for loss.

“We dominated all the way up front. It wasn’t just me,” Fisher said. “(Adediwura) would switch sides a little bit too, and for the whole O-line to come out and get almost 600 yards of total offense, I’m proud of my guys.”

12th man delivers for Shepherd

The Rams also benefited from their 12th man — the 5,000-plus fans who packed the stadium and made their presence felt.

“I’d like to give a shoutout to our support,” McCook said. “The fans in the stands were awesome. They were involved from the opening kickoff to the last whistle and the celebration down on the field afterward. It was a great Ram Nation win.”

Who's up next for the Rams?

The Rams (12-1) will travel to face Indiana (Pa.) in the quarterfinals next weekend.

Indiana (10-1) handed Shepherd its lone loss of the season, 24-21, in the PSAC title game on Nov. 12.

“We’re going to celebrate this win and enjoy it with our friends and family,” McCook said, “and then we’ll come to work tomorrow and focus on our next opponent.”

Last year, Shepherd defeated Kutztown 30-28 in the quarterfinals and then fell 55-7 to Ferris State in the semifinals.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Bagent and Brown lead Shepherd back to NCAA D2 quarterfinals