MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - A 10-point swing in the final minute of the first half swung the game's momentum in Shepherd's favor, and the Rams slowly ground its way to a 38-23 win over Millersville Saturday at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium. 

Millersville led 17-14 after Thad Shaw's second touchdown catch in as many possessions, but Shepherd answered with an 83-yard drive in fewer than two minutes, and a Millersville misplay on the ensuing kickoff eventually led to a Shepherd short field and 26-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter. That three-drive sequence put the Rams in front 24-17 at the half, and they went on to outscore Millersville 14-7 in the second half with a steady running game and chunk plays in the passing game. 

"We didn't finish the first half strong," said Millersville head coach J.C. Morgan. "We gave up the touchdown and the mishap on special teams resulted in 10 points at the end of the half. Defensively, there was a lot of good football, but the explosive plays are doing us in right now. That makes it look bad. But across the board the guys are playing hard and having a good week of preparation. We've got to eliminate those few breakdowns."

Millersville had ample opportunities to score. The Marauders reached Shepherd territory on each of the first six drives of the game but came away with just three scores. The first four drives included 40 points and more than 150 yards of offense but netted three points.

"When you go back and look at it, it's always going to be a little thing here and a little thing here," said Morgan. "If we finish those drives, it's a different ball game...We moved the ball well. We hit some big plays in the second quarter, but we have to close drives...We missed a couple of opportunities in the second half. We just have to better job executing."

The Marauders dominated time of possession early, holding the ball for more than 21 minutes in the first half, but that changed drastically in the second half as Shepherd held the ball for more than 18 minutes, chewing up clock with Jordan Barnett (125 yards rushing on 14 carries) and Michael Hardyway moving the chains by connecting with Kordell Batten (eight catches for 113 yards) and Caysen Lanza (six catches for 126). Shepherd went 4 of 6 on third down conversions in the second half after converting on 1 of 5 in the first. 

"Shepherd shortened up the time of possession to benefit their defense and stabilized things in the third quarter, and the offense didn't stay on the field long enough," said Morgan. "We always say it is a collective team loss. We all have to come together as players and coaches and prevent those breakdowns, because if we do that we can be in a good position."

Shepherd's ability to play keep away resulted in Millersville totaling just four second half possessions. One resulted in a JQ Brown rushing TD with 57 seconds remaining in the third quarter that pulled Millersville to within one score. But Shepherd answered right back to start the fourth quarter, and Lanza's 55-yard reception set up a Grant Swinehart touchdown run, putting Millersville down 15. The Marauders' final two drives both reached Shepherd territory, but both were snuffed out on an interceptions--one in the end zone and the other at the 43. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Millersville's offense continues to churn up yards, finishing with 171 rushing yards on a season-high 106 from Isaiah Emmanuel, and 292 passing yards with Ryan Zeltt completing 29 of 52. Millersville has rushed for more than 100 yards in four of five games and passed for at least 261 three times. 
• Shaw's two touchdown catches, one from 29 yards and one from 38, were the first two catches of his Millersville career. 
• Turnovers also continue to be an issue for Millersville's quarterbacks. Zeltt has thrown seven TD passes in four games, but has also thrown at least one INT in each game. As a team, Millersville finished even in the turnover battle Saturday with Terry Amos Jr. recording the first interception of his career and Christopher Pierce forcing a fourth quarter fumble that was recovered by Zach Jones. 
• Millersville's defense saw two freshmen start, including Nino DiMichele, who made the first start of his career. A total of six first and second year freshmen took snaps on defense. 
• Kai Stiansen and Ryan Aument led Millersville with nine stops each. Max Hostetter recorded a sack. Shepherd dropped Zeltt three times and was also credited with seven QB hurries. 

UP NEXT

• Millersville travels to Shippensburg on Saturday, Oct. 11 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.