Shepherd University Athletics

Alex Herbert rushed 23 times for 108 yards in Shepherd's win over Concord.

(Photo by Alex Torbert)

RAMS CLINCH SHARE OF CONFERENCE CROWN

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Shepherd University downed Concord University, 47-7, in WVIAC football action at Ram Stadium on Saturday. The victory clinches a share of the WVIAC title for the Rams. The conference title is the eighth for the Rams under head coach Monte Cater and their first since 1999. Cater ties former Fairmont coach Deacon Duvall for the most WVIAC football coaching titles.

Concord opened the scoring on a 13-yard run by LeBryan Patterson with 13:02 left in the second quarter.

The Rams cut the lead to 7-3 on a career-long 43-yard field goal by sophomore kicker/punter Ricky Schmitt (Virginia Beach, VA/Salem HS) with 10:18 left in the half.

Minutes later, senior running back Alex Herbert (Monrovia, MD/Urbana HS) scored on a 60-yard pass reception from senior quarterback Leonard Ferguson (Baltimore, MD/Dunbar HS) to give the Rams a 10-7 lead. Herbert shook off a pair of Concord defenders en route to the score.

Schmitt added a 23-yard field goal with 1:21 left in the second quarter to give the Rams a 13-7 halftime advantage. The score was set up by a 43-yard interception return from senior defensive back Fredy Del Villar (Germantown, MD/Seneca Valley HS).

Herbert, who rushed for a game-high 108 yards on 23 carries, scored his second touchdown of the day on a three-yard plunge with 2:02 left in the third quarter to give the Rams a 19-7 lead.

Junior cornerback Dustin Dudinski (Woodbridge, VA/Park View HS) picked off a Concord pass and weaved his way 25 yards for a score to up the Ram lead to give Shepherd a 26-7 lead.

The Rams put the game away with three fourth quarter scores.

Ferguson connected with senior wide receiver Jesse Correll (Port Republic, MD/Calvert HS) on a 34-yard scoring strike, freshman running back Demetrius Weeden (Waldorf, MD/Westlake HS) scored on a five-yard run, and senior outside linebacker Ron Frazier (Rockville, MD/Gaithersburg HS) scored on a 58-yard interception return.

Ferguson completed 6-of-22 for 160 yards for the Rams, while Ryan Pimentel was 6-of-20 for 73 yards for the Mountain Lions.

Sophomore defensive back Bobby Jarvis (Richmond, VA/ Hermitage HS) and sophomore linebacker Todd Edmondson (Finksburg, MD/Westminster HS) led the Ram defense with 12 tackles each. Senior linebacker Demar Atwood (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson HS) added 10 stops.

Ola Adams had seven tackles to pace the Mountain Lions.

Shepherd improves to 6-3 overall, 6-0 in conference play, while Concord drops to 4-6, 3-3. The Rams return to action next Saturday when they travel to WVU Tech for a 1:00 p.m. contest in the regular season finale.

Box Score

Ron Frazier is shown scoring on a 58-yard interception return.

(Photo by Alex Torbert)