Courtesy of Shepherd Athletics
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Junior running back Tommy Addison (Germantown, MD/Quince Orchard) rushed 16 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns to lead Shepherd University to a 28-13 win over University of Charleston in WVIAC football action at University of Charleston Stadium on Saturday.
The Rams took a 7-0 lead on a one-yard plunge by junior running back Nate Hoyte (Waldorf, MD/McDonough) with 4:45 left in the first quarter. Junior kicker Eric Dobratz (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac) added the extra point. The score was set up by a fumble recovery by junior outside linebacker Chris Patton (Mt. Airy, MD/Urbana) at the Charleston 31-yard line.
Charleston cut the lead to 7-3 when Wes Sherrill connected on a 35-yard field goal with 12:35 left in the second quarter.
Sherrill added a 25-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the half to cut the lead to 7-6.
Shepherd increased its lead to 14-6 when Addison bounced outside and raced 44 yards for a touchdown with 10:46 left in the third quarter.
Senior quarterback Kevin Clancy (Westminster, MD/Westminster) teamed with senior tight end Dominique Jones (San Diego, CA/Horizon/Liberty) who broke several tackles and outraced the Charleston defenders for an 81-yard scoring play with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
Charleston answered back when Maurice Leak teamed with Justin Nelson on a 60-yard scoring pass with 12:25 left in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 21-13.
Addison bounced off a Charleston defender, regained his balance, and scampered 15 yards for a touchdown with 2:54 remaining to give the Rams a 28-13 lead.
Chris Patton picked off a Leak pass off a breakup by sophomore linebacker A.J. Parrish (Madison Heights, VA/Amherst County) with 1:19 left in the game and returned it to the Shepherd 19-yard line to seal the win for the Rams.
Clancy completed 9-of-17 passes for 141 yards, while Leak was 19-of-31 for 276 yards for Charleston.
Junior wide receiver Robert Byrd (Alexandria, VA/Troy) had three catches for 22 yards to lead the Ram receiving corps. Andre Higgins had five receptions for 62 yards to pace Charleston.
Hoyte added 13 carries for 53 yards to lead the Shepherd. Lamonte Lattimore had seven carries for 46 yards for Charleston.
Parrish led the Ram defense with a game-high 12 tackles. Senior linebacker Brian Taylor (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) added 11 stops, while sophomore free safety Corey Washington (Alexandria, VA/Edison) had 10 tackles. Aaron Dunlap had 11 tackles to lead Charleston.
Shepherd improves to 5-0, 3-0 in WVIAC play, while Charleston falls to 2-3, 1-2.
The Rams return to action next Saturday when they host Concord for a noon contest.