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Last-seconds score gets Rams past Southern Connecticut

By Bob Madison - For the Chronicle | Sep 8, 2023

Shepherd University football newcomer Jeremiah Taylor made the most acrobatic of pass receptions to get to the three-yard line in Saturday's game. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — It was a steamy football afternoon for everybody in the full-house at Ram Stadium.

The relentless sun poured down on the 5,200 fans in attendance and the Shepherd Rams and visiting Southern Connecticut State Owls were about even, as they made their season opener so close that a TD pass from first-year quarterback Seth Morgan to receiver Dustin Fisher with only 23 seconds to play gave the home side a rousing 27-26 win.

Even though it had a one-point lead and the scoreboard clock was all but exhausted, Shepherd’s tiny advantage was still in jeopardy.

Two penalties had given the upstart Owls possession at midfield. And the same 23 seconds was still on the clock.

Shepherd’s sometimes leaning defense held, batting away a desperate end zone pass on the game’s final play.

The Rams had prevailed because they didn’t have a turnover, were only penalized 38 yards and scored themselves every time the Owls took scant leads throughout the broiling afternoon.

When Southern Connecticut had a 14-7 lead, freshman punt returner Miles Greer went 86 along-the-sidelines for a score that brought a 14-14 tie.

When the ready-to-play Owls took a 20-14 lead, Shepherd had newcomer Jeremiah Taylor make the most acrobatic of pass receptions to get to the three-yard line. From there, Malakai Brown scored, and then James Bozek added the extra point to provide the Rams with their first lead at 21-20.

Back came the Owls.

A long completion from Keith Ridley, moving in the pocket and giving himself generous time to find an open receiver, had Shepherd facing another deficit when a short run lifted the visitors to a 26-21 lead with only 1:28 to play.

Shepherd, which flooded both sides of the football with new starters, wasn’t ready to concede a seldom-seen loss in its opener.

From its own 39, the still surging Rams reached the Owls’ 12 on a nifty sideline reception by Barry Hill that was vital to their chances of breathing winning life into their struggle.

Morgan threw to tight end Fisher from the 12 . . . and the Rams had again erased another Owl lead that continually threatened to disappoint the many thousands who had come to judge the 2023 edition of Shepherd football.

Ever without much of a pass rush, the Rams still limited the Owls to 117 rushing yards and had Kouame-Yao with 12 tackles. With Morgan’s losses against the visitor’s pass rush, Shepherd could manage only a total of 67 yards rushing — even though Brown had 94 yards on 22 rushes.

Shepherd’s 13 first downs were part of its 300 yards of total offense. The Owls finished with 383 yards of total offense.