INDIANA, Pa. – After a low-scoring first half, No. 11 Shepherd exploded for four second half touchdowns, including 20 third quarter points, as the No. 14 IUP football team lost to the Rams 37-21 at George P. Miller Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
The Crimson Hawks kept the high-scoring Rams in-check during the opening 30 minutes, giving up just 10 points in four possessions.
 
Shepherd (3-0) came out strong in the second half, scoring touchdowns on four straight possessions to take a commanding 37-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Shepherd scoring drives all went for more than 65 yards and didn't take longer than three minutes.
 
IUP (1-1) scored twice in the second half, at first slowing down the Rams with a 15-yard toss from quarterback Javon Davis to receiver Hilton Ridley to make it a 24-13 game with 5:13 left in the third. Davis also connected with receiver Irvin Charles in the back corner of the end zone on a 22-yard scoring toss with 7:04 left in the game.
 
That touchdown cut Shepherd's lead to 16 points at 37-21, but the Hawks' next possession ended in a fumble as they couldn't cut into the deficit any further.
 
Davis finished 20-of-30 for 251 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, but was sacked three times on the afternoon.
 
Charles had his biggest day as a collegian, catching six passes for 100 yards and a score. He also caught a two-point conversion after his fourth quarter touchdown.
 
Freshman safety Charles Ingram had a team-high 11 tackles. Fellow freshman safety Jaheim Howard had five tackles and picked off a fourth quarter pass in the end zone to prevent a Shepherd score.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks look to rebound with their divisional opener next Saturday as they take a trip to Erie to face Mercyhurst. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
 
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