Shepherd Holds off No. 16 Frostburg State

September 5th, 2026 5:30pm

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt freshman running back Ian Mauldin (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) rushed 15 times for 77 yards and three scores to lead Shepherd University to a 34-26 win over #14/16 Frostburg State in football action at Ram Stadium in the season opener for both schools.

The Bobcats stook a 3-0 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Tyler Cook with 8:15 left in the first quarter.

The Rams answered back on a one-yard plunge by Mauldin as time expired in the first quarter to take a 7-3 lead.

Mauldin added another one-yard score with 14:48 left in the second quarter to up the lead to 14-3.

Sophomore defensive back D'Myo Hunter (Culpeper, Va./Blue Ridge School) returned a punt 64 yards for a score with 12:34 left in the second quarter, and Mauldin scored on a two-yard plunge with 3:44 left in the second quarter as the Rams took a 28-3 lead into the break.

The Bobcats scored 16 straight points in the third quarter to open the second half on a one-yard run by KJ Smothers, a safety on a botched punt attempt, and a 31-yard pass from Jordan Brooks to Ray Adames to cut the lead to 28-19.

Shepherd got a five-yard scoring pass from graduate student quarterback  Michael Hardyway (Winchester, Cal./Oceanside/Bucknell) to senior wide receiver  Carrington Nickens-Yzer (Clifton, Va./Centreville) with 9:19 left in the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats closed out scoring on a 33-yard pass from Brooks to Adames with 1:52 left in the game.

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