Box Score
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore running back
Allen Cross rushed 25 times for 156 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt-freshman running back
Jabre Lolley added 17 carries for 104 yards and two scores to lead Shepherd University to a 28-9 win over University of Charleston in MEC football action at Ram Stadium on Saturday.
Charleston took a 3-0 lead on a 45-yard field goal by Puma Nuredini (Naples, FL) with 8:56 left in the first quarter.
Shepherd took a 7-3 lead when redshirt-freshman C.J. Davis fielded a punt and raced 62 yards to the Charleston one-yard line where he was stripped by Nathaniel Berry (Miami, FL). Davis recovered the fumble in the end zone for a score with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.
Charleston took a 9-7 lead with 9:36 left in the third quarter when John Knox (Salisbury,NC) teamed with freshman Joey Augustin (Christiansburg, VA) on a six-yard scoring pass. Nuredini's point after attempt was blocked.
Shepherd scored on a one-yard run by Lolley with 3:58 left in the third quarter to take a 14-9 advantage.
The Rams took a 21-9 lead when Cross scored on a five-yard run with one second left in the third quarter.
Lolley added a four-yard scoring run with 9:14 left in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
Junior quarterback Trae Tinsman connected on 6-of-14 passes for 53 yards for the Rams. Maurice Leak (Waxhax, NC) completed 21-of-31 passes for 154 yards for the Golden Eagles.
Senior wide receiver Robert Byrd had four receptions for 32 yards to pace the Rams, while Augustin had five catches for 49 yards to lead UC.
Leighton Settle (Madison, WI) had 11 carries for 71 yards to lead the Charleston ground game.
Shepherd outgained the Golden Eagles for the game, accumulating 327 yards of total offense, while Charleston finished the afternoon with 240. UC would gain 86 yards on the ground. Coming into the game Shepherd was just allowing 28 yards/game by rush to their previous four opponents.
Justin Avery had a game-high 10 tackles for the Golden Eagles to lead the Charleston defense.
Shepherd improves to 5-0, 4-0 in MEC action, while Charleston drops to 2-3, 2-1. The Golden Eagles return to action next Saturday when they host Glenville State on Homecoming. UC will be celebrating 10 years of football since bringing it back to the campus in 2003.
