Box Score
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston football team held the top scoring offense in the conference 10-points under its average, but five turnovers proved too much to overcome in a 28-13 loss to No. 25 ranked Shepherd, Saturday at UC Stadium.
Charleston’s staunch defense found itself on the field for much of the contest as turnovers doomed multiple UC drives on offense, yet the Golden Eagles allowed the Rams to accumulate just 314 total yards on the afternoon. SU came into the contest averaging 441.2 yards per game.
The Rams (5-0, 3-0) put the first points on the board as they took advantage of a short-field after a Golden Eagle fumble with a 31-yard drive capped by a Nate Hoyt one-yard plunge into the endzone.
After the first two possessions ended in fumbles for UC the Golden Eagles managed to find its offensive momentum enough to setup two field goals by senior Wes Sherrill (Charlottesville, Va./Fork Union) in the second quarter, while the Charleston defense held Shepherd tough with no points after the Hoyte TD. Sherrill split the uprights from 35-yards with 12:35 remaining and brought the Golden Eagles within one-point from 25-yards out just 17 seconds before halftime.
Shepherd came out of the break determined to continue to establish their top-ranked running game, which averages 229.8 yards per game yet found little room to run on UC in the first half. The Rams extended their lead to 14-6 as Tommy Addison scampered into the endzone from 44-yards out one SU’s first drive of the second half.
SU again took control of the contest on its last possession of the third quarter as quarterback Kevin Clancy found a soft-spot in the UC defense down the middle to connect with tight end Dom Jones for an 88-yard TD reception making the score 21-6.
Charleston responded with its next possession as Maurice Leak (Waxhaw, NC/Parkwood) found Justin Nelson (Portsmouth, Ohio/Portsmouth) for a 60-yard touchdown to narrow the gap to within one score (21-13). Leak passed for a season-high 276 yards, while Nelson led the way with 98 receiving yards on the afternoon.
Shepherd then took its time to control the clock with its run game against a fatigued UC defense as Addison again found the endzone with just 2:54 remaining to play setting the score at 28-13. The Golden Eagles comeback fight was put to rest as Leak tossed his second interception of the game on a tipped ball in the endzone with just 1:19 remaining allowing SU to run the remaining time out for a hard fought 28-13 win.
Aaron Dunlap (St. Albans, W.Va./St. Albans) led the UC defense with 11 tackles, including one for a loss.
Charleston returns to action at home against Fairmont State on Saturday, October 9 at 2:00 pm for this year's Homecoming festivities.
