District College Football Recap for Saturday, December 4th

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, December 4, 2010 | 12:00 AM

The NCAA Division II playoffs continued this weekend with a regional final in snowy Erie County. Here is a recap of that game.

NCAA Division II Super Region One Final
Shepherd 49 Mercyhurt 14
The dream season of the Mercyhurst Lakers came to an end on a frigid day at Tullio Field as the Shepherd Rams will move on to the national semifinals with the victory. The Lakers end the season at 10-3, winning the PSAC West Division and PSAC title for the first time in school history.

The Rams, the champions of the West Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Conference, scored on the opening drive of the game, on a one yard run by Tommy Addison. The Lakers tied the game in the second when Julias McCormick recovered a fumble on a punt, the next play Travis Rearick hit Terrance Coon for his eighth touchdown catch of the season, the scoring play covering 38 yards.

Shepherd answered, set up by a kick return by Deante Steele to the Rams 41. Nate Hoyte scored from 14 yards out to give Shepherd a 14-7 lead with 9:28 remaining in the half. Mercyhurst drove to the Rams 26, but Rearick was picked off by Elijah Davis at the two. Things would change quickly for Mercyhurst as four plays later Bryant Kimball snagged a Kevin Clancy pass and returned it 46 yards for a Pick Six, knotting the score at 14. The Lakers had a chance to take the lead but Steven Wakefield missed a 41 yard field goal attempt wide right on the final play of the half.

Shepherd took the lead for good in the third quarter, Hoyte scored his second touchdown on a 15 yard run and added a third on another 15 yard run early in the fourth. Addison put the game away with his second touchdown, a 69 yard run. Hoyte added a fourth score with a 3 yard run and Will Wheeler returned an interception 27 yards for the final score.

For the Rams, now 12-1, both Hoyte and Addison went over 100 yards, Addison with 135, Hoyte 109. Clancy threw for 245 yards, Robert Byrd had six catches for 103 yards.

Rearick was picked off four times for the Lakers, he threw for 191 yards on 22 of 47. Coon had eight catches for 107 yards.

Special thanks to all of the SID's and sports information departments in the NEC, PSAC, PAC, WVIAC and NCAC, plus the league representatives, without their help and hard work these previews and recaps would not be possible.