2016 Shepherd Rams football team
2016 Shepherd Rams football | |
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MEC champion | |
NCAA Division II Semifinal, L 13–23 vs. North Alabama | |
Conference | Mountain East Conference |
Ranking | |
AFCA | No. 3 |
Record | 13–1 (10–0 MEC) |
Head coach |
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Home stadium | Ram Stadium (capacity: 5,000) |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 3 Shepherd $^ | 10 | – | 0 | 13 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 23 Fairmont State ^ | 9 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notre Dame (OH) | 8 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia–Wise | 5 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Glenville State | 5 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Liberty | 4 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Virginia Wesleyan | 4 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charleston (WV) | 3 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Virginia State | 3 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Urbana | 2 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concord | 2 | – | 8 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2016 Shepherd Rams football team represented Shepherd University during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC). They were led by head coach Monte Cater, in his 30th season at Shepherd, and finished the season 13–1. With a conference record of 10–0, they were named MEC champions and advanced to the Division II Playoffs, losing in the semifinals to North Alabama. The Rams played their home games at Ram Stadium in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Preseason
After finishing the 2015 season with a record of 13–1, with the only loss coming in the national championship game to Northwest Missouri State, the Rams were ranked #4 in the preseason poll.[1]
Regular season
The 2016 regular season for the Rams consisted of 10 games against Mountain East Conference foes. The Rams went undefeated in the regular season and were given the third seed in Super Region I in the 2016 NCAA Division II football playoffs.[2]
Playoffs
Despite going undefeated and being ranked #3 in the nation, the Rams had to play in an opening round game of the playoffs. The Rams defeated #25 Assumption College in the game, 48–31, to advance to the Round of 16.[3]
The Rams then went on the road and were able to defeat LIU Post, 40–21, to improve to 12–0 and continue their playoff run.[4]
In the national quarterfinals the following week, the Rams again went on the road. This time, the Rams were able to defeat California (Pa.), 41–30.[5]
The Rams hosted a national semifinal game for the second consecutive year, losing to North Alabama, 23–13.[6]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 3 | 12:00 p.m | West Virginia Wesleyan | No. 4 | W 27–12 | 4,987 | |||
September 8 | 7:30 p.m. | at Charleston (WV) | No. 4 | W 38–22 | 1,111 | |||
September 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Virginia–Wise | No. 4 |
| W 64–13 | 4,472 | ||
September 24 | 12:00 p.m. | at Notre Dame (OH) | No. 4 | W 38–17 | 1,080 | |||
October 8 | 12:00 p.m. | Glenville State | No. 3 |
| ESPN3 | W 38–7 | 4,189 | |
October 15 | 1:00 p.m. | at West Virginia State | No. 3 | W 70–24 | 311 | |||
October 22 | 12:00 p.m. | Concord![]() | No. 3 |
| W 21–7 | 5,211 | ||
October 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at West Liberty | No. 3 | W 38–27 | 498 | [7] | ||
November 5 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 17 Fairmont State | No. 3 |
| W 27–17 | 6,751 | ||
November 12 | 1:00 p.m. | at Urbana | No. 3 | W 38–14 | 1,058 | |||
November 19 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 25 Assumption* | No. 3 |
| W 48–31 | 4,571 | [8] | |
November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 10 LIU Post* | No. 3 |
| W 40–21 | 3,684 | ||
December 3 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 6 California (PA)* | No. 3 |
| W 41–30 | 5,113 | [5][9] | |
December 10 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 7 North Alabama* | No. 3 |
| ESPN3 | L 13–23 | 7,017 | [6][10][11] |
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References
- ^ "Shepherd ranked fourth in AFCA poll". The Journal. August 16, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ Kozlowski, Rick (November 14, 2016). "Shepherd given third seed in region". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ Kozlowski, Rick (November 20, 2016). "Quick Start: Rams defeat Assumption in NCAA DII playoff". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ Kozlowski, Rick (November 27, 2016). "Brown helps lead Shepherd past LIU-Post". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ a b Kozlowski, Rick (December 5, 2016). "Shepherd offense figures out Vulcans". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ a b Kozlowski, Rick (December 10, 2016). "Shepherd set to host national semifinal game". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ Rine, Shawn (October 30, 2016). "West Liberty Football Gives No. 3 Shepherd Run For Money". The Intelligencer.
- ^ "Shepherd Wins Playoff Opener". Talk Radio WRNR. November 19, 2016.
- ^ "Vulcans lose to Shepherd in quarterfinals, 41-30". Herald-Standard (Uniontown, PA). December 4, 2016.(787 words, available for fee at NewsLibrary.com)
- ^ "Shepherd ousted by North Alabama in Division II football semifinals". Charleston Gazette-Mail. December 10, 2016.
- ^ John Lowe (December 11, 2016). "UNA advances to Division II final". Pensacola News-Journal. Associcated Press. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.