Box Score SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Senior quarterback Jeff Ziemba (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) completed 19-of-30 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns to lead Shepherd University (11-0)  to a 48-31 win over Assumption College (9-3) in first round action of the NCAA II Football Championship at Ram Stadium on Saturday. 

Shepherd took a 7-0 lead when Ziemba scored on an eight-yard run with 14:40 left in the first quarter. Junior kicker Zachary Wise (Berkeley Springs, W.Va./Berkeley Springs) added the extra point.

The score was setup a by an 89-yard return by senior CJ Davis (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) on the opening kickoff.

The Rams increased their lead to 14-0 when Ziemba fired a 10-yard scoring strike to senior wide receiver Billy Brown (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) with 11:46 left in the first quarter.

Deonte Harris took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for Assumption for a score to cut the lead to 14-7 with 11:33 left in the first quarter.

The Greyhounds cut the lead to 14-10 when Cole Tracy connected on a 24-yard field goal with 6:52 left in the first quarter.
Shepherd upped its lead to 21-10 when to redshirt-freshman running back Deonte Glover (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman/WVU) scored on a three-yard run with 4:22 left in the first quarter.

The Greyhounds cut the lead to 21-16 when Marc Monks dashed 37 yards for a touchdown with 6:52 left in the second quarter. Tracy's point after attempt was unsuccessful as it hit the middle of the line.

Shepherd took a 28-16 advantage Ziemba and Brown teamed on a seven-yard scoring pass with 2:01 left in the second quarter.
The Rams increased their lead to 34-16 when Davis took a pass from Ziemba and raced 67 yards for a score with 13:25 left in the third quarter. Wise's extra point attempt caromed off the upright and was no good.

Assumption cut the lead to 34-22 when Dylan Oxsen scored on a two-yard run with 8:05 left in the third quarter. Junior defensive line man James King (Thurmont, Md./Catoctin) blocked the extra point attempt.

Tracy hit on a 40-yard field goal with 5:31 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 34-24.

Kaleb Silva recovered an onside kick on the Shepherd 42-yard line to help set up the score.

Shepherd scored on a three-yard run by while freshman running back Brandon Hlavach (Baltimore, Md./Eastern Tech) with 1:24 left in the third quarter to up the lead to 41-25.

A blocked punt by senior defensive back Tre Sullivan (Accokeek, Md./Gwynn Park) which resulted in Shepherd gaining possession at the Assumption 14-yard line preceded the score.

Marc Monks teamed with Oxsen on a 58-yard scoring pass with 11:52 left in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 41-31.
Ziemba teamed with Brown on a 12-yard score with 9:58 left in the game to complete the scoring.

Brown had a career-high 12 receptions for 193 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Shepherd receivers. Davis added four grabs for 94 yards. Oxsen had three receptions for 81 yards and Harris added seven catches for 41 yards to lead the Greyhounds.

Hlavach had 13 carries for 48 yards to lead the Shepherd ground attack. Doug Santos had nine carries for 54 yards for Assumption.

Monks completed 19-of-47 passes for 187 yards for Assumption.

Shepherd gained 421 yards of total offense, while Assumption totaled 340.

Senior linebacker Octavius Thomas (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach) lead the Rams' defense with nine tackles (eight solo).  The Rams recorded six sacks on the day with senior defensive lineman Marshall-Lee Mundin (Richmond, Va./John Marshall/Hampton) recording a pair.  Junior linebacker James Gupton (Waldorf, Md./North Point) added eight stops (six solo).  Andrew Benson had six tackles (four solo) and Bakari Blunt added five stops (all solo) to pace the Greyhounds.

The Rams to action next Saturday when they travel to LIU Post for second round action of the NCAA II Football Championship.

Notes:  Brown's 12 receptions tie a Shepherd single game mark shared by Jason Dirting (2001) and John Fotta (1985) … Shepherd is now 11-9 all-time in NCAA II postseason play with an 8-3 mark all-time postseason record at Ram Stadium  … CJ Davis went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season.