Findlay to Battle #8 Shepherd in First Round of NCAA DII Playoffs

When talking about some of the most successful programs in NCAA Division, the Shepherd University Rams must be included in that conversation. In the last 16 seasons, the Rams have a record of 154-33 (.824) and have qualified for the NCAA Division II Playoffs 11 times, finishing as a national semifinalist in 2010 and 2016, and finishing as national runner-up in 2015.

In 2021, Shepherd won ten games and finished the regular season as the runner-up in the PSAC East behind conference champion and Super Region One top seed Kutztown University, the lone team to defeat the Rams this season. Of those ten wins, eight came by two touchdowns or more.

The recipe to Shepherd's success this season has been it's video game offense that is the best in the country in both total offense at 541.8 yards per game, and scoring at 49.4 points per game. Most of that success has come through the air thanks to the arm of PSAC Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Tyson Bagent who has thrown for almost 4,000 yards this season, the most in the country, and has completed 46 touchdown passes, also the most in the country. Through 11 games this season, Bagent has thrown for at least 300 yards in nine of them and has thrown at least four touchdown passes in nine games, as well.

Ryan Beach, the PSAC Rookie of the Year and first team all-conference performer, has been the beneficiary of Bagent's big arm as he leads the PSAC with more than six receptions per game. On the year, Beach has 70 receptions for 939 yards and 13 touchdowns. Josh Gontarek is second on the team with 41 receptions, 785 yards, and eight scores while Ronnie Brown, the team's starting tailback and first team all-conference selection, is third on the squad with 465 receiving yards, averaging 25 yards per catch. The Rams have ten players with at least one touchdown reception this season and have seven players with at least three touchdown receptions.

With all that success through the air, it would make sense if the rushing attack was fairly weak. That is not the case, however, as the Rams still manage to run for 180 yards per game. On the ground, Shepherd is led by Ronnie Brown who has 73 carries for 771 yards and seven touchdowns. The NCAA statistical minimum to be ranked in yards per carry is ten rushes per game. But for that requirement, Brown's average of 10.2 yards per carry would be the best in the country by a full yard. Brown, who rushed for a team-high 185 yards against Millersville in week seven, will split time with Chantz Swartz who has 75 carries on the year and has 494 yards and six scores. Ty Hebron is also a threat, totalling 64 rushes for 478 yards and five touchdowns.

On defense, the Rams top tackler is first team all-conference performer Chrys Lane, a 210-pound linebacker who has compiled 71 tackles including 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks. Safety Deleon Pence, also a first team all-PSAC selection, has 61 tackles from his position in the secondary while Malik Holloway has 41 stops including 4.5 TFL from his spot on the defensive line. Defensive end Kyle Smith has lived in opponent's backfields and has 14.0 TFL this season including eight sacks. One of his best games of the season was the opener against Ohio Dominican in which Smith made six solo tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks.

Should the game come down to field goals, kicker Hayden August-Scriven is 6-of-7 this year and is 25-of-29 in his career with a long of 43 yards. Because of the Rams' prolific, most of his scoring has come via the extra-points where August Scriven has made 155 PATs in his career including making 65-of-68 this season.