Shepherd University Athletics

C.W. POST DOWNS SHEPHERD, 28-21

Courtesy Will Prewitt - WVIAC Associate Commissioner

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. -- C.W. Post (10-2) utilized a pair of Rob Blount to Ryan Heller touchdown passes in a 28-21 NCAA Division II playoff victory at Shepherd (11-1). The defeat ended a school record 18-game win streak for the homestanding Rams.

A 58-yard bomb from Blount to Heller with 4:55 left in the third quarter accounted for the only second half points and gave the Pioneers the margin of victory.

The Pioneers quickly moved down the field on their first possession. C.W. Post took over at their own 20 yard-line following an SU punt and ripped off first downs on the initial four plays from scrimmage. The nine-play drive stalled on the Ram 10 and Andrew Kroell's field goal attempt drifted wide right.

Shepherd quickly took advantage of the missed kick and drove 80 yards on nine plays to take a 7-0 lead. Dervon Wallace's WVIAC single-season record 26th touchdown of the season from one yard away with 3:53 left in the first quarter put the Rams on top. Ricky Schmitt added the point after.

It only took five plays and 2:49 for C.W. Post to tie the game at 7-7. Blount's acrobatic scramble allowed the senior to find Jo-el Kimaiyo in the right hand corner of the end zone from four yards out.

The Rams grabbed the lead back on a wild sequence during the opening quarter's final play. Dan Chlebowski completed a short pass to Wallace. The All-WVIAC back slithered his way on a 75-yard gain to the CWP one-yard line. He fumbled into the end zone where Craig Tremel pounced on the loose ball for a Ram score. Schmitt's point after made it 14-7 after a quarter.

After an exchange of punts, the quick strike Pioneer offense went 56 yards in only five plays and 1:33. Backup fullback Adebayo Adedpapo charged five yards up the middle for the touchdown. Kroell's conversion knotted the score at 14-each midway through the second.

A good kickoff return from Dustin Dudinski followed by a 15-yard facemask penalty put the Rams in business at midfield. However, the drive was blunted when Rodney Jackson fumbled after a reception inside the Pioneer 40.

The Pioneers returned the favor with a turnover of their own only one play later. A deep pass from Blount was overthrown and picked off by Dudinski. The senior's 48-yard return set SU up at the Post 33.

Only 1:07 elapsed before the Rams capitalized on the turnover for a 21-14 edge. Wallace found paydirt for the second time as he sped around left end from 19 yards away. Schmitt's point after was true and SU led by seven with 5:48 left in the half.

Blount worked magic in the two-minute drill for a second straight week to produce a 21-21 tie at the break. The Pioneer quarterback led his team 96 yards in 10 plays during the final minute of last week's 24-20 playoff win over West Chester. This drive went 80 yards in 2:17. A five-yard pass to Ryan Heller in the left corner of the end zone accounted for the score with only 14 seconds remaining in the half.

The Pioneers dominated time of possession in the second half with a 22:13-8:47 advantage. SU's final offensive chance was spoiled when CWP defensive end Maurice Baker broke up a Chlebowski pass on fourth and 5 from the SU 46 with three minutes left.

The final nail in the coffin for the Rams came when C.W. Post converted a fourth and short on a four-yard rush from Anthony Lazarus at the two minute mark. The Pioneers were able to run out the clock against a Shepherd defense that had used all of its timeouts.

Blount completed 19 of 28 passes for 252 yards and three scores, while rushing for 74 yards on 16 carries. Lazarus gained a game-high 126 yards on 23 carries for the Pioneers.

Chlebowski threw for 196 yards by completing 14 of 26 passes. Wallace rushed for 78 yards on 20 attempts and added three receptions for 89 yards. Jackson took game honors for receptions with five.

The Pioneers held a 517-277 edge in total offense, including a 236-56 margin after the break.

C.W. Post advances to next week's regional championship versus East Stroudsburg. The time and site of that contest will be named by the NCAA Division II Football Committee on Sunday. ESU won a regular season meeting by a 66-49 margin.

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