Shepherd University running back Jordan Barnett takes to the air to avoid a tackle by Daniel Dlugos at Coach Monte Cater Field on Saturday. David Pennock

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Playoff-bound Shepherd University and last Saturday’s opponent, Mercyhurst University, were both “offensive” in the Rams’ final regular season game of the now-extended 2023 season.

The Rams (taking a 9-2 record into the NCAA Division II playoffs) amassed 619 yards of total offense and visiting Mercyhurst had its offense spit out 510 yards of offense when the Rams posted a 49-25 playoff-fetching win at Coach Monte Cater Field.

Shepherd received a NCAA Division II playoff bid with the win over the Lakers — just not the one anybody was expecting.

The Rams are actually in Super Region One — as are all the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams. Yet they were moved out of that Regional and placed in the Super Region Two playoffs, on the road against the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears at 1 p.m. at 10,000-seat Moretz Stadium in Hickory, N.C.

A made-comfortable-by-the mild-weather crowd announced at 4,879 was treated to an offensive feast by both teams.

Shepherd wide receiver backs into the end zone after a pass reception from Seth Morgan in Saturday’s home game. David Pennock

Shepherd had two running backs — Jordan Barnett and Malakai Brown — rush for over 100 yards for the second straight week.

Ram quarterback Seth Morgan completed 18-of-21 passes for four TDs and 296 yards, as Shepherd steadily improved a 28-19 halftime lead through all of the second half.

Some people say statistics are for losers, but Shepherd’s 323 yards along the ground seemed to belie that negative adage. The score-hungry Rams converted five-of-five third down situations and actually averaged 11.5 yards per play.

In the football-moving first half, Shepherd had touchdowns on all but one possession. But it had only a precarious 28-19 lead on a team that came in with a 2-8 overall record.

It was Military Appreciation/Senior Day in the regular season finale. And at times it appeared as if the teams were attempting to pile yardage high enough to reach the height of the airplanes that flew overhead in recognition of the service personnel on hand.

In playoff opponent Lenoir-Rhyne, the Rams will meet a team with a 10-1 record and has the Region’s fourth-seed while Shepherd is the No. 5 seed.

The fast-paced Bears own a win over playoff team Limestone and lost only to Wingate. They present as much team speed to the Rams as any team Shepherd has seen all season. In dispatching Mercyhurst, Shepherd was missing several of its usual starters and was being ultra conservative with some players who have seen injuries disrupt their season. Being stung for 510 yards of offense by a two-win opponent might change the Rams player rotation some against the octane-rich Bears.

Since the 2012 season, the Bears have been to seven Division II playoffs. Shepherd and Lenoir-Rhyne have only met twice in football and the Rams won both those games.

Bear running back Dwayne McGee has rushed for 1,117 yards and passer Jalen Ferguson has a 181 efficiency rating with his 108 completions on 150 throws.

The Bears averaged 428 yards a game in total offense. Jon Ross Maye led the Bears with 79 tackles and Andre Jefferson had eight sacks. Lenoir-Rhyne averages 38 points per game and yielded only 10.5 points a game.

Shepherd’s Brown rushed for 1,025 yards and Barnett totaled 616 yards. Morgan went 226-for-337 for 2,761 yards and 23 TDs. Shepherd averaged 38 points a game and its opposition scored 21 points a game.

The two teams had no common opponents. But they have one thing in common. They both rely heavily on team speed to survive.