Ty Hebron (22) looks for yardage against Kutztown. David Pennock

SHEPHERDSTOWN — In this financial world, where commerce and the system of capitalism are often the ruling factors, there is a prevailing rule of thumb — “time is money.” In college football, time is yardage, time is points and time is victory.

Last Saturday at Ram Stadium before a crowd swelled to over 5,300, visiting Kutztown pushed host Shepherd out of the unbeaten ranks with a 37-29 win that measured “time” in the seconds its offensive line gave Golden Bear quarterback Eric Nickel to find his flock of receivers, who often found themselves with no defender close by.

Using a spread field, players in motion and late movement to new places, the Golden Bears constantly were rewarded with single coverage or more receivers in an area than the Rams had defenders.

Nickel was never sacked and only rarely had be bothered by a Shepherd pass rusher. Not only did the once-beaten Golden Bears starve the Ram pass defense but they also rushed for 231 yards, outgaining Shepherd by 161 yards along the ground.

Shepherd had all its lucky charms and past memories in place, what with long-time fan Charlie Kave’s three-wheel bicycle and “JC” the live ram stationed at one of the entrance ways, and the perfect football weather, first home game of the four-game season and prevailing big-game atmosphere were all factors in the Rams’ favor.

Ram receiver Josh Gontarek (19) pulls down a pass in the Rams’ first home game of the season. David Pennock

Zealously using his protection, Nickel marched the Golden Bears 47 yards with their first possession before settling for a 37-yard field goal from Dean Krcic.

Trailing, 3-0, before it ever ran an offensive play, Shepherd raced downfield for a go-ahead score. An acrobatic catch from Ryan Beach of one of Tyson Bagent’s 42 completions, and a third down holding call against Kutztown led to Bagent’s four-yard TD throw to Greg Leonard.

With Shepherd’s 7-3 lead in place, the teams traded offensive yardage in chunks for most of the game’s last three quarters.

That ball-movement theme was disrupted only once — and that play actually decided the game’s outcome.

Down, 10-7, Shepherd had driven again, finding itself with a fourth-and-goal at the Kutztown five. It was decided to attempt a field goal. The snap came to the Shepherd holder about 4 1/2-feet off the ground. The attempt was then blocked, scooped up by Antuan Lloyd and carried about 88 yards to a Kutztown TD. Instead of the score being tied by a would-be 22-yard field goal, Kutztown had a 17-7 lead it would never cede.

Zane Lewis (86) is pushed out of bounds, after a first down reception for the Rams in the first home game of the season. David Pennock

The remainder of the sun-washed afternoon had a combined 42 points, all coming courtesy of the offenses.

Kutztown claimed a 24-14 lead at halftime.

Taking the first possession of the second half, Shepherd scored in 1:30. A 45-yard pass to Josh Gontarek jump-started the quick-strike move. Bagent threw to Ty Hebron for 15 yards and in three blinks of an eye Shephard only trailed, 24-21.

No rush by the Ram defense against the accurate throws of Nickel had the Golden Bears ready to increase their suddenly shaky lead.

Finally, it was third-and-goal at the Ram seven. Nickel surveyed the field. He started as if to run, but instead threw to a uncovered Jake Novak. And Kutztown led, 31-21.

For once, Shepherd couldn’t answer. Bagent suffered his only interception.

Draining the fourth-quarter clock became a Kutztown objective that it reached by running for first downs and keeping Shepherd’s offense idling on the sideline.

With little time remaining, Bagent threw his fourth TD pass, this one to Jonathan Moss. A two-point conversion left the Golden Bears still holding a 37-29 lead.

The all-but-drained clock showed less than two minutes were left when Shepherd’s on-side kick was confidently fielded in the air by a Golden Bear. And Kutztown quickly ran out the clock, preserving its PSAC road victory.

Both sides could show fancy offensive numbers (Kutztown with 481 yards of total offense and Shepherd with 467 total yards). And plenty of points, but only Kutztown could claim the victory “time” for its quarterback had given it.