SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. – Shepherd quarterback Jeff Ziemba threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to receiver Billy Brown with 2:03 left in the game, proving to be the winning score as IUP lost to the Rams 17-13 in the second round of the NCAA Division II football playoffs.
 
The Crimson Hawks had one more possession, moving the ball down to the Shepherd 38 yard line before calling a timeout on fourth and six with 44 seconds left to play. Redshirt freshman quarterback Lenny Williams (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) had a good look at receiver Devin Altland (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) up the left seam, but the pass went just over Altland's outstretched hands and fell incomplete, clinching the Shepherd victory.
 
The Crimson Hawks end their season with a 9-3 overall record, clinching a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division title. They earned the fifth seed in Super Region One, defeating Charleston 47-21 last week in West Virginia in the opening round of the playoffs. Shepherd improved to 11-0 with the win and will host Slippery Rock (12-1) for the regional title next Saturday.
 
It was a defensive battle for all 60 minutes, as neither team cracked 300 yards of total offense. The Crimson Hawks were held to season-lows of 274 total and 148 rushing yards. The IUP defense also limited Shepherd to season-lows of 264 total and 175 passing yards.
 
Ziemba, a Harlon Hill candidate, finished 14-of-27 through the air for a 175 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Ziemba had only thrown two picks coming into the game, and 10 over his three-year career.
 
The interception came at the end of the first half, with the Rams driving into IUP territory. On third-and-11 from the 18, Ziemba threw a pass that was picked off by sophomore cornerback Jay Watkins (Chester, Pa. /Hyde School), his fourth of the season.
 
Watkins' interception helped the Crimson Hawks take a 6-3 lead into halftime.
 
IUP got the first touchdown of the game on its opening possession of the third quarter on an odd series of events. First, Williams hit Walt Pegues (Philadelphia, Pa. /Central) down the middle of the field for a 51-yard pass play, giving the Crimson Hawks first and goal from the Shepherd one. IUP was stuffed for two straight plays before a Williams' pass for senior receiver Sean McVay (Miami, Fla./Miramar) in the corner of the end zone fell incomplete.
 
On fourth down, IUP's 20-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Stewart (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) was blocked by Shepherd. The Crimson Hawks recovered the ball around a host of players from both teams. The ball was then fumbled before IUP left guard Ethan Cooper (Steelton, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) picked it up and took it into the end zone for a touchdown. After referee deliberation, the Crimson Hawks were awarded the touchdown and Stewart's extra point gave IUP a 13-3 lead.
 
Neither team was able to gain much traction, until Shepherd scored a five-yard touchdown out of the Wildcat at the beginning of the fourth quarter after a 10-play, 51-yard drive. The kick made it a 13-10 ballgame with over 12 minutes to play.
 
Shepherd's game-winning drive started with 6:46 to play at its own 33-yard line. The Rams converted a fourth-and-one from the IUP 33 right before the go-ahead touchdown pass.
 
Williams was the leading ground gainer for the Crimson Hawks, finishing with 84 yards on 18 carries. Sophomore running back Chris Temple (Malvern, Pa. /Great Valley) was held to 66 yards on 25 carries before coming out with an injury.
 
Williams finished 8-of-19 through the air for 126 yards. Pegues caught three passes for 58 yards and redshirt freshman receive Swahneek Brown (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) caught two for 36. McVay finished with two receptions for 25 yards and redshirt freshman receiver Jordan Brown (Chambersburg, Pa. /Chambersburg Area) had one catch for seven.
 
Defensively, Watkins had five tackles and that one interception. Junior linebacker Kevin Clarke (West Mifflin, Pa. /West Mifflin) also finished with five tackles to go along with a sack. Senior lineman Jeff Palmer (Cranberry Twp., Pa. /Seneca Valley) returned to action with three tackles and 1.5 sacks, combining with linebacker Myles Catlin (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Obama) on a stop of Ziemba. Junior safety Steve Franco (Tyrone, Pa. /Tyrone ) finished with three tackles, one for loss, and a pass breakup.
 
Stewart made two field goals in the opening half, both from more than 40 yards. He made a 42-yarder to tie the game at 3-3 early in the first quarter and gave the Crimson Hawks the 6-3 lead with a 41-yarder at the beginning of the second.
 
The Crimson Hawks were picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West in the preseason coaches' poll at the beginning of the year. Playing 42 sophomores and freshmen, IUP surpassed expectations to win a share of the division and advance to the playoffs.
 
IUP head coach Curt Cignetti ends his fifth year at IUP with a 43-15 record, including a 4-2 record in PSAC Championship and NCAA postseason play.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP football on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPfootball.