BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – It was a tale of two halves for the Bloomsburg University football team as the Huskies fell to #12 Shepherd University, 62-18, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East action, Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Huskies dropped to 2-7 for the year and 1-5 in conference action, while the Rams improved to 8-1 for the season and 5-1 in PSAC play.
 
The Rams opened the game with a touchdown on two of their first three possessions of the first quarter as Tyson Bagent found Ryan Beach for a 67-yard score and a 5-yard TD, but Bloomsburg cut into the Rams lead with a touchdown as time expired in the first. The Huskies began the drive on their 25-yard line and 1:47 to play in the quarter after a touchback. Freshman David LePoidevin (Middlesex, N.J./Bound Brook) connected with Matthew Bowes (Somerton, Pa./La Salle College HS) for six yards before finding senior Tyshaun Pollard (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) open for a nine-yard gain and a Husky first down.
 
In what is becoming a signature move between the two freshmen, LePoidevin hit freshman Malik Langley (Chester, Pa./STEM Academy) in stride for a big play as Langley broke a couple of tackles on his way to the endzone for the score as time expired.
 
The Rams pushed their lead back to 21-6 after a touchdown on the opening drive of the second, but the Huskies answered quickly on their next drive. The kickoff from the Rams went out of bounds before getting to the endzone, so the Huskies started on their 35-yard line. Langley carried the ball for 15 yards on 1^st-and-10 to set the Huskies up at midfield. A fumble on first down on the snap was not costly as LePoidevin fell on the loose ball to keep possession with the Huskies. LePoidevin had his second splashy play as he connected with Pollard for a 50-yard touchdown and freshman Michael Baloga converted the extra point to cut the lead to 21-13.
 
The Rams were driving down the field on their next possession though they faced a 4^th-and-3 at the Bloomsburg 34 yard line. A false start backed the Rams up five yards, and Shepherd elected not to punt and go for it on fourth down. Bagnet had a man seemingly open downfield, but freshman Jake Davis (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) stepped in front and batted the ball down to break up the touchdown threat. The Rams turned the ball over on downs, and Bloomsburg took over at the Huskies' 39-yard line.
 
Graduate student Alex Gooden (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara) got an immediate first down for the Huskies with a 12-yard run to get to the Shepherd 49. Gooden got the Huskies another first down, this time on 4^th-and-1 at the Shepherd 42 as he made it to the 40. With time running down, the Huskies were forced to spike the ball to stop the clock before the Huskies were aided by a PI call against the Rams to move the ball down to the 26. LePoidevin found Pollard again for 11 yards and a Husky first down in the red zone. The Huskies were the beneficiaries of another PI call, this time on a pass intended for Langley in the deep corner of the endzone. Now at the Shepherd three but time running low, the Huskies elected to kick a field goal with seven seconds to play on second down. Baloga connected on the 20-yard FG and cut the lead to 21-16 at the half.
 
The Rams picked up right where they left off to start the third as they received the opening kickoff and marched down the field 84 yards on 12 plays and used 6:58 of the clock for their fourth touchdown of the game.
 
Senior Chris Monaco (Pocono Pines, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) returned the kickoff 63 yards to get the Huskies excellent field position to start the third at the Shepherd 32-yard line. Bloomsburg got to the 13-yard line, but a missed field goal kept the score at 28-13.
 
On their next possession, the Rams offensive continued to run like a machine as they went 86 yards on 12 plays for the touchdown. Senior AJ Simon (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) blocked the point after attempt, and Quentin Gaskill (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) grabbed the ball out of the air and returned it for two points for the Huskies.
 
The Rams broke open the game in the fourth with pix-six, a punt return TD, and a nine-yard run into the endzone on their last possession to seal the 62-18 win.
 
Pollard led the Huskies with 78 receiving yards on five catches, while Gooden rushed for 36 yards on nine carries. LePoidevin finished the day 12-for-21 with one TD and one interception.
 
Nyree Ford-Cherry (/) and Gaskill finished the day with nine tackles, while Simon had the Huskies only sack for seven yards.
 
Bagnet finished the day 31-for-37 for 364 yards while the Rams rushed for 191 yards on 31 carries.
 
Next week, Bloomsburg looks to get back into the winning column as the Huskies travel to Millersville for a 12:00 pm PSAC East contest.