Brown runs away from Edinboro as Rams prevail

Shepherd’s Kyle Smith and (11) and Sidrick Ofori (32) combine to bring down the Edinboro running back in last Saturday’s game. David Pennock
SHEPHERDSTOWN — In past years, when newspapers were flourishing, Shepherd running back Ronnie Brown would have been called “Downtown” Ronnie Brown for his penchant for finding the end zone.
However, his quickness and straight-ahead speed would earn him the nickname “Greyhound” Ronnie Brown in today’s world, so lithe and quick he is at 170 pounds.
Brown literally ruined visiting Edinboro with his race-car speed last Saturday at mostly-filled Ram Stadium when he bolted past startled defenders on scoring runs of 39, 73 and 50 yards in Shepherd’s 41-7 win over the Fighting Scots.
On all three long-distance sprints defenders had angles on Brown as he glided along toward them. Not only didn’t they stop him, they didn’t even touch him.
On his stellar-performance afternoon, Brown eventually rushed for 278 yards on 15 carries.

Shepherd running back Ronnie Brown (30) breaks loose on a run to the endzone against Edinboro in last Saturday’s game. David Pennock
The Ram Stadium crowd of about 4,500 for the home opener saw Shepherd open a 21-0 lead after just one period.
When Brown wasn’t running away from his pursuit, the Rams fared well enough through the air as the offensive line generally provided quarterback Tyson Bagent with ample time to find his roster of receivers.
Bagent would throw 28 times and had 19 completions on a variety of short throws. His 189 passing yards included scoring passes to Kenny Edelin and Mike McCook.
Defensive end Kyle Smith provided Shepherd’s other points when he scored on a pass interception he made inside the Edinboro 10.
The Rams, now 2-0, were always in control, even though three Edinboro offensive drives ended inside the Shepherd 10. Twice the Fighting Scotts missed short field goal tries, leaving their placekicker with a 1-for-5 showing in their two games.

Defensive end Kyle Smith (11) gets a hand up to knock down a pass in Shepherd’s game against Edinboro. David Pennock
Edinboro mostly controlled the clock in the second half, melting away minutes before bogging to a halt and either missing a field goal or throwing an incompletion in the Rams’ end zone.
Smith’s pass interception score and Malik Holloway’s causing two fumbles and recording seven tackles were the Rams’ most important defensive contributions. Holloway also had 2.5 sacks, indicative of the pressure Shepherd’s defensive rush exerted. Shepherd either hurried or pressured Edinboro quarterback Isaac Bernard (28-for-51 passes for 338 yards and two interceptions) so often that he was only comfortable on one long, second half drive that couldn’t produce points but reduced the clock. Bernard was sacked four times.
Edinboro had 354 yards of total offense and Shepherd accounted for 546 yards of offense, including Brown’s 42 yards on three catches.
The clearest picture of Shepherd’s 34-point win was of Brown using his race car (Aston Martin, Bugatti, Ferrari or Lamborghini) speed to fly down the sidelines to three long-distance scores.
Tomorrow at Ram Stadium, historically impressive California from western Pennsylvania gives the Rams another Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival to deal with at noon.
The Vulcans mostly bring fire and sinew with them in any season and should present the Rams with the best football personnel they have seen so far.
- Shepherd’s Kyle Smith and (11) and Sidrick Ofori (32) combine to bring down the Edinboro running back in last Saturday’s game. David Pennock
- Shepherd running back Ronnie Brown (30) breaks loose on a run to the endzone against Edinboro in last Saturday’s game. David Pennock
- Defensive end Kyle Smith (11) gets a hand up to knock down a pass in Shepherd’s game against Edinboro. David Pennock