SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Sophomore running back Allen Cross scored on a 29-yard run with 4:06 left in the third quarter to lead Shepherd to a 7-0 win against Winston-Salem State on Saturday in second-round action of the Division II Football Championship at Ram Stadium.
Shepherd had a seven-play, 69-yard scoring drive with a 21-yard completion from quarterback Jeff Ziemba to wide receiver Kevin Cook on a third-and-7 at the 50-yard line keying the drive.
Both teams combined for a little more than 116 yards of total offense in the first half. Shepherd had a scoring opportunity in the first quarter, but was unable to connect on a field goal.
Running back Jabre Lolley rushed 22 times for a game-high 89 yards to lead the Rams. Cross added 60 yards on 14 attempts. Maurice Lewis rushed 13 times for 42 yards to lead Winston Salem State.
Ziemba completed 12 of 21 passes for 112 yards for Shepherd. DeShean Townsend, who replaced injured starter Rudy Johnson in the first quarter, hit on 12 of 39 passes for 139 yards for Winston-Salem State.
Wide receiver Justin Fordpaced the Rams with four receptions for 62 yards. Lewis had four catches for 60 yards and Eric Williams added four grabs for 51 yards to lead Winston-Salem.
Shepherd gained 247 yards of total offense, while Winston Salem had 159. Shepherd limited the Rams to just 10 rushing yards.
Outside linebacker De’Ontre Johnson led the Shepherd defense with nine tackles (five solo), with three tackles for loss and a sack. Inside linebacker Dominique Dixon added eight tackles, free safety Corey Washington added seven, while linebacker Octavius Thomas contributed six stops, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. Carlos Fields had a game-high 14 tackles (nine solo) and an interception to lead Winston-Salem State.
Shepherd improved to 11-0, while Winston-Salem State fell to 10-2. Shepherd will host West Chester, a 40-38 winner against Bloomsburg, next Saturday in quarterfinal action.
Cross (1,038) surpassed 1,000 rushing yards on the season. He is the first Ram to rush for 1,000 yards or more since Tommy Addison rushed for 1,670 yards in 2010.
Shepherd recorded its third shutout of the season. The shutout is a postseason first.
