Shepherd University’s Keyshawn Hailey and Donnell Howard combine forces on upending Shippensburg University football player Nasai Moon. David Pennock

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — After surviving two short missed field goals in the first half, Shepherd used enough home run scoring plays after halftime to down host Shippensburg, 30-13, and carry its nationally ranked record of 5-0 into tomorrow’s Hall of Fame activities at Ram Stadium against Lock Haven (Pa.).

Field goal misses of 34- and 22-yards kept the Rams scoreless on the dank and dreary day at Seth Grove Stadium until just before the first half closed with Brian Walker taking a 26-yard TD throw from Tyson Bagent with only 26 seconds left in the second quarter. Even at that, the game was tied at 7-7 because the Red Raiders had used the Shepherd lull in emotion following Jacob Haynie’s missed field goal try from the 12 to loose Khalid Dorsey on an 80-yard run straight through the middle of the Ram defense to manage their only points of the opening half.

With the rain holding off when the third quarter opened, the Rams would accumulate most of their 456 yards of total offense after halftime.

It became a half where Shepherd mostly maintained ball control and finished with 81 offensive plays to Shippensburg’s 54 plays.

Any fragile momentum the Red Raiders had was quickly evaporated when they were in punt formation close to their end zone and the snap to the punter sailed harmfully over his head and gave Shepherd a safety and its first lead at 9-7.

Shepherd University quarterback Tyson Bagent led the Rams to another road win at Shippensburg University. David Pennock

Following Shippensburg’s free kick after the corrosive safety, Shepherd surged goalward and eventually scored with Walker’s second TD catch — this one from the two-yard line.

Shepherd led, 16-7, and had shaken much of the doubt as to its ability to move against the Red Raider defense.

A long return of an interception by the Rams’ Devon Lynch gave Bagent and company supreme field position at the Red Raider 28. Seconds later, Ronnie Brown sprinted free and made it to the left sideline where he completed a 20-yard TD run in the Shippensburg end zone. It was 23-7 with Shepherd steadying its course.

Shepherd tried using its second-team defense and saw Alex Rufe get behind the secondary to take a TD pass that carried 53 yards. Only 6:05 remained on the shrinking scoreboard clock.

Shepherd’s Walker (six catches for 56 yards and two scores) made a drive-extending reception, but then three straight incompletions gave the Red Raiders (2-3 overall after their latest loss) another possession.

Ryan Beach (9) is tripped up after a pass reception against Shippensburg University. David Pennock

With only 2:15 left, Keyshawn Hailey sailed over from the middle of the rain-soaked field to make Shepherd’s second interception in front of the cheering Ram benches.

Brown slipped past the grouped line of scrimmage — and then the linebackers and secondary — and cruised 43 yards for his second TD and the last of his 171 rushing yards as the Rams took a 30-13 lead.

Now with five games left on its PSAC East Division schedule (and six games overall), Shepherd is already the only undefeated team left on that side of the conference.

Lock Haven, winless in the conference and claiming one win overall, visits Shepherdstown tomorrow at noon.

The Rams reliance on yardage after-the-catch offense couldn’t find much traction in the wet surroundings of Seth Grove Stadium. Very few pass receptions were turned into major gains by runs from receivers, and without those yards Shepherd struggled much of the chilly and damp afternoon.

Ram wide out Marlon Cook (13) was just out of bounds, after reaching up for this pass in Shepherd University’s winning game against Shippensburg University. David Pennock

But outside of the one eye-opening TD run by Dorsey, the Red Raiders could manage only 65 more yards on the ground. They did total 342 yards of total offense, but also missed a 38-yard field goal try when the game was scoreless.

The Rams are now at home for two consecutive games (Lock Haven and Millersville) before traveling to West Chester on Oct. 22.

The rain and troubled first half at Shippensburg are behind them — thanks mostly to saving playmakers Walker, Brown, Ryan Beach (nine pass receptions), Malik Holloway and Lynch.

Shepherd University’s Keyshawn Hailey breaks up a fourth down pass late in the game, to thwart a Shippensburg University drive. David Pennock