Swinehart

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherd University plays its home opener next Saturday at Ram Stadium against high-scoring Slippery Rock University, a western Pennsylvania NCAA Division II power that averaged 40 points a game last season, when it generated a 12-2 overall record. “The Rock” lost only twice, and both of those defeats were to Kutztown — once during the regular season and then again in the NCAA Division II national playoffs.

Head coach Shawn Lutz will be in his ninth season as the school’s head man and has a 70-19 overall record.

Brayden Long is the team’s experienced quarterback and generally commands the field, at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. With his offense is running back Isaiah Edwards, while the defense is often led by Josh Stokes.

Even in national pre-season guessing, Slippery Rock is held in the highest regard and painted as the PSAC’s West Division winner — again. It was Slippery Rock that dropped its first game of its 2023 season, when beaten by Kutztown in the league’s championship game.

Kutztown also defeated Shepherd in 2023 — one of two regular season losses the Rams took.

Overall, the Rams were 9-3, losing in the national playoffs to Lenoir-Rhyne University.

The Rams will present statistical leaders in wide receivers Jeremiah Taylor and Malakai Brown, with its running backs usually being Jordan Barnett and transfer Grant Swinehart. Experienced offensive linemen are Ty Lucas, James Bell, Brandon Carr and Wyatt Pelicano.

Slippery Rock presents a generally reliable offense and will probably score with some regularity.

Can a Shepherd defense that returns 2023 starters in JT Kouame-Yao, Harold O’Neal, Jack Baxter, Matt Bednarski and Miles Greer do enough disruptive work to keep Long from having a game-deciding day? It’s possible Long will be the best player on the field, and the best player on the field in Division II games will often give his team enough plays to win the game.

Slippery Rock or Kutztown University will be the best team on Shepherd’s schedule. With few penalties and fewer turnovers, Shepherd could be the best team on Slippery Rock’s schedule.

A day without rain could mean a high-scoring game. And a high-scoring game would mean a get-a-grip-on-your-seat day for the clear-day expected crowd of at least 5,000 patrons.

Slippery Rock doesn’t often lose. Long could pass for 3,000 or more yards this season.

Shepherd doesn’t often lose at home.

It’s only the second game of the 2024 season for both. The Rams played at Southern Connecticut State University last evening and Slippery Rock plays the University of New Haven tomorrow.

It’s a noon kickoff next Saturday. And then let the scoring begin.