SHEPHERDSTOWN, Pa. - For the second week in a row, Millersville dominated the first quarter, building a two touchdown lead. But for the second week in a row, Millersville faded in the second half. This week, Shepherd stormed from behind to top the Marauders, 35-21.
Shepherd scored 27 unanswered points in the second and third quarters as Millersville punted on seven consecutive possessions. Still, Millersville had a chance late, closing the gap to 27-21 following a
Jaheim Morris touchdown run with 8:56 to play. But the Marauders could not make the stop they needed as Shepherd answered with a six-play, 66-yard drive that culminated in a Jordan Barnett 22-yard TD scamper.
With fewer than four minutes remaining and trailing by 14, Millersville pushed to the Shepherd 17 before stalling. Shepherd's efficient rushing attack closed out the win from there.
"It's really about us being consistent," said Millersville head coach
J.C. Morgan. "You see throughout the season the good that is within us and the what-could-have-been. I know they have it in them, but it's a matter of doing it consistently and avoid the breakdowns. You see guys step up and make plays and players shine through, but we have to put it all together at the same time. That's what solid team football is all about. We are still striving for that. We feel like we can play against everyone. To go against Shepherd in a hostile environment today, come out the way we did says a lot of about the program. The expectation is that we'll go out these last four weeks and get some wins."
Shepherd's run game, which totaled 195 yards on 48 attempts, wore down the Marauders, and 96 of those yards came in the final quarter as the Rams salted away the victory. But it was big plays through the air that gave the Rams life. They passed for 150 yards in the second quarter alone. Lek Powell found Cameron Dorner for 39 yards to set up the Rams' first touchdown, and Powell and Dorner connected eight minutes later on a 57-yard strike that tied the game at 14-14.
Powell, Dorner and the Rams broke the tie on the first series of the second half as the QR-wide receiver combo connected from one yard out capping a 13-play, 65-yard drive. Dorner finished with eight catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Powell went 15-for-24 for 225 yards and three touchdowns a week after throwing four interceptions at West Chester.
Millersville quarterback
Ryan Zeltt was sharp early in leading Millersville to its first quarter lead. He hit
Hakim Melvin in stride for a 43-yard touchdown connection on the opening drive of the game and completed three more passes on Millersville's second scoring drive that heavily featured
Jose Lopez. Lopez rushed for 24 yards on the drive and ended it with a two-yard score. Zeltt finished 17-of-27 for 184 yards before exiting the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.
Millersville was inches away from taking a 21-0 lead on two occasions. Early in the second quarter, backed up on their own 1, the Marauders dialed up a play-action pass.
Kam Taylor ran by his defender and the pass from Zeltt glanced just off Taylor's fingertips. Two plays later, Melvin broke wide open, but again, the big play narrowly missed connection.
"We are not too far from making those plays," said Morgan. "You think what could have been, but it didn't work out like that for us. It's unfortunate because that could have made it a different game."
Millersville has held a lead or stood tied at halftime in three of the last four games, and despite positive moments in each game, the complete game performance has remained elusive.
"Since the beginning of the year I've said this group has something to them," said Morgan. "I saw it when watching them compete and train and get themselves ready for the season. We have our deficiencies, and that's why we are where we are. But to be able to come out and prepare, open the game each week the way they have says a lot. I have a lot of pride in them for the way they keep working. We will keep working to put them in the best position to succeed. We'll keep working to get wins as we see the players start to find themselves. You see it, and I truly believe these next four weeks there are some wins to be had."
Millersville travels to West Chester on Saturday, Oct. 26 for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
