Story and photo courtesy of Shepherd Athletics
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Freshman running back Allen Cross rushed 19 times for 118 yards and three touchdowns, while senior quarterback Bobby Cooper completed 14-of-23 passes for 198 yards and a pair of scores to lead Shepherd University to a 37-6 win over West Virginia Wesleyan in WVIAC football action at Ram Stadium on Saturday.
Shepherd took a 7-0 lead when Cooper teamed with freshman wide receiver Billy Brown (Gaithersburg, MD/Gaithersburg) on a 15-yard scoring strike in the corner of the end zone 5:45 left in the first quarter. Redshirt-freshman kicker Ryan Earls (Stevensville, MD/Kent Island) added the extra point.
West Virginia Wesleyan cut the lead to 7-6 when Brian Vukela picked off a pass and rambled 21 yards for a score with 8:06 left in the second quarter. Kasper Bernild’s point after attempt went wide right.
Shepherd took a 10-6 lead into the break when Earls connected on 26-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the first half.
Freshman running back Allen Cross (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) scored a 12-yard scamper with 11:46 left in the third quarter to give the Rams a 16-6 advantage.
Cross added a 25-yard scoring run with 6:53 left in the third quarter to extend the Shepherd lead to 23-6.
Cross scored his third touchdown of the day on a two-yard plunge with 12:57 left in the fourth quarter to up the Shepherd lead to 30-6.
Cooper teamed with junior tight end Anthony Weisenmiller (Cumberland, MD/Fort Hill) on a 28-yard score with 6:30 left in the game to complete the scoring.
Jeremy Musselman connected on 17-of-40 passes for 179 yards for West Virginia Wesleyan.
Senior wide receiver Robert Byrd (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac/Troy) led the Shepherd receiving corps with five receptions for 91 yards. Lavaughn Hughes had five catches for 71 yards to lead Wesleyan.
Junior running back Mike Haynes (Midlothian, VA/Cloverhill) added 16 carries for 36 yards for the Rams. Malcolm Yowk rushed 13 times for 41 yards for the Bobcats.
Shepherd amassed 373 yards of total offense while limiting West Virginia Wesleyan to 205. The Rams held the Bobcats to just 26 rushing yards.
Senior linebacker A.J. Parrish (Madison Heights, VA/Amherst County) had seven tackles (4 solo) to pace the Rams defense. Senior cornerback Keon Robinson (Fairfax Station, VA/Lake Braddock) had five stops (4 solo) and an interception. Vukela had 11 stops (10 solo) to pace the Bobcats.
The Rams also got interceptions from senior outside linebacker Dominic Tolson (Forestville, MD/Central) and junior safety David Carter (Winchester, VA/John Handley)
Shepherd improves to 5-1, 4-0 in WVIAC play, while West Virginia Wesleyan falls 2-4, 1-2. The Rams return to action next Saturday when they travel to West Liberty for a 1 p.m. contest.