September 19th, 2026 2:00pm
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University (3-0) scored 21 unanswered points en route to a 28-7 win over California (Pa.) (2-1) in football action at Ram Stadium on Saturday,
Cal capped a four-play, 65-yard drive with a five-yard scoring run by Bobbie Boyd Jr. with 12:59 left in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead.
Shepherd tied the game when graduate student quarterback Michael Hardyway (Winchester, Cal./Oceanside/Bucknell) teamed with senior wide receiver Daryl Harper (Frederick, Md./Northwest) on a 45-yard scoring pass with 12:01 left in the first quarter.
The Rams took the lead for good when Hardway and Harper combined on a 21-yard scoring strike with 33 seconds left in the third quarter.
Shepherd added a pair of fourth-quarter scores to seal the victory.
Sophomore defensive back Amarian Manuel (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) blocked a Cal punt and freshman outside linebacker Corey Lawrence (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) returned it 11 yards for a score with 9:36 remaining. Freshman running back Noah Mitchell (Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie) added a two-yard plunge with 2:14 left to complete the scoring.
Hardyway completed 14-of-25 passes for 182 yards and a pair of scores. Eric Gibson connected on 25-of-38 passes for 165 yards for the Vulcans.
Harper added four grabs for 100 yards to lead the Shepherd receivers. Kenny Lewis IV had 10 receptions for 87 yards for Cal.