Shepherd University defensive back Will Ennis, right, defensive line Elijah Queen, top, and defensive line Elijah Queen tackle a Seton Hill University football player, during Saturday's winning game at Ram Stadium. Photo by David Pennock

SHEPHERDSTOWN — There was a much-evident lack of urgency that clung to the surroundings of the Shepherd University versus Seton Hill University football game like an unwanted visitor. There was little or no excitement or electricity, as the season-closing football game for both teams started at Monte Cater Field at noon.

Shepherd came in with six consecutive wins, after a tattered beginning to the season that saw the Rams lose four straight times.

Seton Hill was 4-6 overall and could not salvage a winning season even if its effective defense could swallow the Rams whole.

Very little changed that mood as the first half moved to its close with the Rams trailing.

The Rams would blank the punchless Griffins in the second half. Even Seton Hill’s mostly potent defense could not carry the day, as Shepherd counted the game’s only points in those two periods to eventually post a 21-13 win that completed a 7-4 season.

Shepherd University linebacker Joseph Groves, left, and defensive line Jack Baxter wrestle for the ball with a Seton Hill University football player, during Saturday's home game. Photo by David Pennock

Shepherd’s steadily improved defense had been equally effective in comparison with Seton Hill’s as it severely limited any offensive efforts the visitors attempted. The Griffins finished the grayish afternoon with only 69 rushing yards and 59 passing yards, not nearly enough to tarnish Shepherd’s season-closing efforts.

The scant scoring began with an effective kickoff return from the Rams’ Carrington Nickens-Yzer that carried to midfield.

A Thomas Hardyway scramble earned him the final eight yards of a disjointed march to a 7-0 Ram lead that had too many penalties against the Griffins and a yardage-eating run by Grant Swinehart as its main takeaways.

A blocked Shepherd punt by a Griffins’ special team gave it the field position needed to score its first points with a very short field. Shepherd reciprocated with a block of its own when it swatted away the extra point try, leaving it ahead, 7-6.

Near the close of the half, Seton Hill scored again with a 12-yard pass and the teams ran off to the locker rooms with the Griffins claiming a 13-7 lead.

Shepherd University running back Jordan Barnett celebrates scoring on a 25-yard scamper, with 2:09 left in the third quarter, to give the Rams a 14-13 advantage in Saturday's home game against Seton Hill University. Photo by David Pennock

The Rams would sting the visitors with a 93-yard scoring drive that featured a long pass completion to Nickens-Yzer, another long completion to Jayden Ashby and finally a 25-yard scoring run from Jordan Barnett. Shepherd had the lead back at 14-13.

Before Shepherd’s last touchdown would come there was a Ram punt that backed the Griffins to their own three, a poor snap that carried far over their quarterback’s head and lost 12 yards and three penalties against the Rams that looked to make any further scoring by either offense improbable.

But the Rams and their defense had other ideas.

In the waning moments, Shepherd defender Will Ennis stole a Hayden Teska pass and ran the short distance along his sideline for a score.

The final score of 21-13 was sealed. Shepherd had reversed its early-season losing. And Seton Hill had finished with 4-7 overall record.

Shepherd University defensive back Damier Minkah reaches high to keep the ball from Seton Hill University linebacker D'Kairi Boone, during Saturday's home game. Photo by David Pennock