Shepherd wide receiver Jeremiah Taylor makes a catch during Saturday’s home opener against Slippery Rock University on Saturday. Elle Colbert

SHEPHERDSTOWN — A first-seen clear plastic container policy at Shepherd University football games was not intended to effect the Ram team.

In the aftermath of visiting Slippery Rock University’s 20-10 win over the Rams at mostly hushed Coach Monte Cater Field, that sealed clear bag policy could have been pointed at Shepherd’s offense, which was kept under wraps and off the field by Slippery Rock’s game-long ability to maintain ball control to the “nth degree.”

Slippery Rock had 67 offensive plays to Shepherd’s 44 plays. “The Rock” offense controlled the football for 39:18 of time and the Rams had control for only 20:42 on the sultry and temperature-trying afternoon in front of an announced crowd of 5,119.

The bright and summery afternoon had the large crowd reaching for their sun glasses, sun shade lotion and small clear plastic food containers, but there had been no harbingers of a need for patience and more patience as Shepherd struggled to get its offense on the field and to somehow get Slippery Rock’s back to the sidelines.

So scattered were Shepherd’s offensive chances that the Rams could attempt only 14 running plays against the PSAC West team. Fourteen rushes for 26 total yards. Not exactly “Shepherd football.”

Ram quarterback Lek Powell did throw 30 times and completed 22 of them for 240 yards and a 17-yard scoring throw to Malakai Brown. However, two of his passes that were either dropped or bounced off his receiver and was intercepted played telling roles in any Shepherd thoughts of reversing an early 10-0 deficit.

The quality of Shepherd’s depth was also important in the outcome on the draining afternoon. Usual offensive line starters Ty Lucas and Josh Crummitt didn’t play, adding to the Rams’ problems.

And the Rams lost three turnovers while Slippery Rock did not lose any.

Third down plays were often converted by Slippery Rock and it took full advantage of Shepherd’s three-man pass rush when in possible trouble.

The Rams had no sacks, and after the first period Slippery Rock had few losses on running plays.

Despite its mostly kept-to-the-sidelines offense, Shepherd trailed only 13-7 at halftime.

Shepherd’s points came after an ill-fated Slippery Rock fake punt from well inside its own territory. The Rams quickly scored, after dousing the trick play on a Slippery Rock fourth down, when Malakai Brown took a shot pass some 17 yards for a much-needed score.

Trailing, 13-7, the Rams received the second-half kickoff and, aided by three Slippery Rock penalties, moved within field goal range, where Keith Baker booted a 29-yard field goal that temporarily brought a 13-10 score that still favored the purposeful visitors.

Shepherd never scored again after notching points with its first possession of the second half.

The most crucial play of the last half came with the Rams still trailing by the three points, when Slippery Rock quarterback Brayden Long attempted to sneak for first down yardage from the Ram 17. At first, the officials ruled he had been stopped short of the required distance, but after a long pause, changed their minds and ruled the inches-long run had made the first down.

Long then connected with tight end Xander McClure on a six-yard scoring throw that bounced the lead back to 20-10. On Shepherd’s final two possessions, a pass to an open receiver was mishandled and subsequently intercepted and another pass was completed and then fumbled away to Slippery Rock.

Shepherd’s spritely defense had provided glimpses of what its quickness and generally disruptive play can provide . . . and its offense showed it needs an intact offensive line and many more plays than the 44 it could muster against a probable playoff team.