SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. — Shepherd QB, Malik Hardyway's, 20-yard touchdown pass to Malakai Brown midway through the fourth quarter lifted Shepherd to a 28–24 win over visiting West Chester on Saturday afternoon at Ram Stadium.
West Chester (3-3, 1-2 PSAC East) yielded 328 total yards of offense to Shepherd (2-4, 2-1) and couldn't hold on after taking a 24–21 lead early in the fourth. Backup QB,
Colin O'Sullivan (Fort Washington, Pa./Upper Dublin) connected with
Thatcher Miller (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) for a 9-yard touchdown to put the Golden Rams ahead, before Shepherd responded with its decisive 85-yard drive.
WCU starting QB,
Ethan Kohler (Schwenksville, PA Perkiomen Valley), and RB,
Khalil Owens (Germantown, MD Northwest), each ran for short touchdowns for West Chester, while place-kicker,
Ryan Zuk (Telford, Pa./Souderton), added a 22-yard field goal.
Owens finished with 53 rushing yards, and 62 all-purpose yards. Defensively,
Gus Ross (Phoenixville, PA Bishop Shanahan, Jimmy Wright (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) and
Connor Noble (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) each paced West Chester with seven tackles apiece; Noble added a forced fumble and an interception while Wright a pass breakup.
O'Sullivan finished the day 13-for-25 with an interception and a touchdown. He threw for 106 yards in his first college action. Kohler was 7 of 18 for 56 yards. He was sacked four times.
Shepherd RB Jordan Barnett ran for 136 yards, marking the second time in his career that he has rushed for over 100 yards in a game against West Chester.
West Chester heads to Lock Haven next Saturday for another PSAC East showdown with the Bald Eagles.
