Lanza

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. — Fending off Millersville University of Pennsylvania’s early-game offensive momentum, Shepherd University gradually assumed control of its PSAC Eastern Division game. The winless Marauders had 57 offensive plays to Shepherd’s 27 in the opening half. Even then, the Rams had scored late in the second period to carry a lead into the intermission.

The interlude between the halves must have changed the Rams’ strategies or areas of focus because, beginning in the third period, the game’s flow moved into Shepherd’s corner. Outscoring the hosts, who were celebrating Homecoming, in the second half, Shepherd was able to post a 38-23 win.

It was Shepherd’s initial win of the 2025 season, giving it a 1-4 record to carry into this week’s home game against West Chester.

Millersville’s heavy load of problems continued. The loss was the Marauders’ fifth straight to begin the season. Added to last season’s 1-10 record and 2023’s 3-8 mark, Millersville has found little recent success. Shepherd has won the last eight games between the two teams and the last Marauder win at home versus the Rams was back in 1999.

This week, West Chester comes to Ram Stadium with a 3-2 overall record after losing, 45-14, last Saturday to East Stroudsburg. East Stroudsburg trailed at the half before exploding in the second half where it outscored the Golden Rams, 35-0, to win going away.

Hardyway

Against Millersville, the Rams amassed 513 yards of total offense as compared with the host’s 463 yards. Ram quarterback Michael Hardyway connected with favorite receivers Kordell Batten (eight receptions for 113 yards and two scores) and Caysen Lanza (six catches for 126 yards) throughout the sun-splashed afternoon. Given near-flawless protection by his offensive line, Hardyway completed 20 of his 29 throws for some 332 yards.

Shepherd moved quickly to a 14-3 lead on a Hardyway-to-Malakai Brown pass and 67-yard run by Jordan Barnett. Millersville already had a field goal when it counted the first of two TD passes from Ryan Zeitt to Thad Shaw. Trailing, 17-14, the Rams countered with a Hardyway-to-Batten TD and field goal by Max Barta, to take a 24-17 lead into the intermission.

Batten’s second scoring catch lifted the Rams to a 31-17 lead before the Marauders notched their last points of the day to draw within eight points of the Ram lead.

The only points of the fourth quarter came when the Rams moved goalward behind Hardyway’s pass completions before scoring on a short run.

Once the score went to 38-23, there would be no more points by either team.

Batten

Millersville had controlled the football in the opening half, yet still trailed. Shepherd grabbed control of everything in the closing half . . . and effectively closed out its first win in the 2025 season.