Powell

Oct. 19’s bright sunshine and leisurely mid-70s temperature, coupled with no wind, made the afternoon as pleasurable for the crowd as was the Rams’ 35-21 conference win over Millersville University.

Struggling early on, the Rams, now 5-2, faced a two-touchdown deficit before finding some offensive rhythm in the second period.

By halftime, the Rams had gotten even, but missed a short field goal just before the first half closed.

Finding even more offense as the second half progressed, Shepherd forged a 27-14 lead, before finally tacking on its fifth seasonal win by a 35-21 count.

Dorner

Penalties — nine in number — took some of the gloss off the victory, but running backs Jordan Barnett (19 carries for 95 yards) and Malakai Brown (12 carries for 89 yards), along with wide receiver Cam Dorner (eight receptions for two TDs and 138 yards), were effective during the much-watched, come-from-behind team effort.

Lek Powell contributed three TD passes, as his patchwork offensive line (several injuries to usual starters) protected him well enough.

Despite the rash of penalties and ever-changing offensive line, Shepherd had 195 rushing yards.

After its troublesome first quarter where Millersville made its usual early-game scores, the Shepherd defense eventually forced eight punts.

Shepherd specialist Ryan Barrick was a force from the beginning, placing four of his five punts inside the Millersville 20 and averaging 43.2 per punt.

Brown

This week, Shepherd travels to play sixth-ranked Kutztown University, now unbeaten at 7-0 with a defense that has allowed only seven points per game.

The nothing-exotic-or-fancy Golden Bears lead the PSAC’s East Division with their stern defense and error-free style of play, taking firm control of nearly every win they have stacked high.

Shepherd’s finishing schedule also includes once-beaten East Stroudsburg, as well as Bloomsburg and Seton Hill. Only the Bloomsburg game is at home.

Homecoming had been a rare temperature-proof afternoon in late October.

The Rams had dissolved the early-game problems and done enough to survive against the winless Marauders.

Barrick

Kutztown is a completely different kind of opponent — being a confident, talented and used-to-winning outfit — that is looking for another run through the NCAA Division II playoffs like it enjoyed in 2023.

Barnett