SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – A dominant defensive effort, three interceptions and a relentless rushing attack propelled the Bloomsburg football team to a 27-21 victory over nationally ranked Shepherd in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East action Saturday afternoon at Ram Stadium.
The Huskies (5-2, 2-1 PSAC East) limited the Rams (5-2, 2-2) to just 214 yards of total offense, including 37 yards on the ground, while forcing three turnovers and controlling possession for 42:43. Shepherd entered the contest ranked No. 24 in the D2Football.com Top 25 and receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) national poll.
Bloomsburg's defense set the tone early and delivered throughout the afternoon, holding Shepherd to nine first downs and a 2-for-7 mark on third down. The Rams managed just two offensive touchdowns, both in the first half, as their lone second-half score came on a blocked field goal return.
The Huskies entered Saturday ranked 17th nationally in total defense (273.2 yards per game) and 15th in rushing defense (99.3 yards per game). Bloomsburg also led the PSAC and ranked 13th nationally in tackles for loss per game (7.7), while leading the conference in third-down defense (32.6%).
Facing a Shepherd offense averaging 355.0 yards and 31.3 points per game entering the weekend, the Huskies held the Rams 141 yards below their season average and limited the offense to just 14 points.
Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) led the offensive effort with 134 rushing yards on 37 carries, just one yard shy of tying his career high, while
Zayd Etheridge (Bridgeport, Pa./Upper Merion) completed 9-of-14 passes for 90 yards and added 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) rushed for 31 yards and a score, while
Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) hauled in four receptions for 45 yards.
Bloomsburg finished with 201 rushing yards against a Shepherd defense that entered the weekend ranked 23rd nationally against the run, allowing just 106.0 yards per game. The Huskies converted 13-of-20 third-down attempts, collected 21 first downs and ran 77 offensive plays compared to just 36 for the Rams.
The Huskies wasted little time making an impact defensively as
Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) provided the game's opening points with a 16-yard interception return for a touchdown. It was the first pick-six of Turner's career and his second interception of the season. The pick-six was the first for the Huskies since Aaron Trumino returned an inception for a touchdown against Stonehill on September 7, 2019.
After Bloomsburg's opening possession ended with a 53-yard punt from
Cole Richards (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) that pinned Shepherd at its own 1-yard line, the Rams were unable to move the ball out of the shadow of their goal line. Turner stepped in front of a pass and returned it for the score, giving the Huskies a 7-0 lead following
Peter Kashynski's (Falls Church, Va./Justice) extra point with 10:00 remaining in the first quarter.
Shepherd answered on its ensuing possession as Michael Hardyway connected with Carrington Nickens-Yzer for a 50-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 7-7 with 8:20 remaining in the opening period.
The Rams took a 14-7 advantage early in the second quarter when Ian Mauldin capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run at the 14:54 mark.
Bloomsburg responded with a methodical 12-play, 59-yard scoring drive that consumed 6:14 off the clock. Etheridge connected with Wolfe for a 22-yard gain early in the possession before Clancy moved the chains with a 10-yard run on third-and-3. Zimmerman added a 7-yard rush on another third-and-3 to move the Huskies inside the Shepherd 30-yard line.
The drive stalled at the Rams' 23-yard line, but Kashynski connected on a 40-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10 with 8:38 remaining in the half.
The Huskies continued to lean on their rushing attack on their next possession, taking over at the Shepherd 40-yard line following a Rams punt. Bloomsburg marched 40 yards in 12 plays, converting several short-yardage opportunities during a drive that consumed 6:11.
Etheridge rushed for seven yards to the Shepherd 8-yard line before Clancy converted a third-and-1 to give the Huskies a first-and-goal at the 3. Zimmerman eventually jumped over the line with the ball across the goal line from one yard out on third down, and Kashynski's extra point gave Bloomsburg a 17-14 lead with 42 seconds remaining before halftime.
Shepherd attempted to answer before the break, advancing into Bloomsburg territory, but
Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) broke up a Hardyway pass that
Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) intercepted and returned 14 yards, preserving the Huskies' three-point advantage heading into the locker room.
Bloomsburg continued to control the tempo coming out of halftime, marching deep into Shepherd territory on its first possession of the third quarter. Clancy carried the ball on seven of the first nine plays as the Huskies moved from their own 44-yard line to the Rams' 5.
The Huskies converted three third-down opportunities during the drive, but Shepherd came up with a special teams play when Reggie Snowden returned a blocked 22-yard field goal attempt 78 yards for a touchdown. The score put the Rams back in front, 21-17, with 4:46 remaining in the third quarter.
Bloomsburg answered with another extended scoring possession, moving 60 yards in 13 plays to reclaim the lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Huskies continued to find success on the ground, with Etheridge breaking free for a 10-yard gain to the Shepherd 8-yard line to set up first-and-goal. Clancy followed with consecutive rushes before Etheridge finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Kashynski converted the extra point to put Bloomsburg ahead 24-21 with 13:42 remaining in regulation. The drive took 5:57 off the clock and gave the Huskies the lead for good.
The Bloomsburg defense came up with another critical turnover on Shepherd's ensuing possession. After the Rams moved into Huskies territory, Booker intercepted a Jackson Sigler pass at the Bloomsburg 39-yard line to end the threat.
The Huskies capitalized with another lengthy possession, using 10 plays to move 40 yards while taking 5:51 off the clock. Clancy converted a third-and-3 with a 7-yard run and later picked up eight yards on third-and-6 to keep the drive alive. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Shepherd moved Bloomsburg to the Rams' 20-yard line.
Kashynski connected on a 37-yard field goal with 4:48 remaining to extend the Huskies' lead to 27-21.
Bloomsburg's defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Shepherd possession, and the Huskies drained another 2:27 off the clock before giving the ball back to the Rams with 1:04 remaining.
The defense made one final stand, allowing just three yards on Shepherd's last possession before forcing a turnover on downs with 12 seconds remaining to seal the victory. After a Hardyway pass connected with Nasai Bell for just seven yards,
Ryan Corros (Honey Brook, Pa./Twin Valley) got through the offensive line for a four-yard sack and brought up a 4th-and-11. The final pass of the game fell incomplete, and the Huskies took over on downs and line up in victory formation for the final kneel down.
The Huskies return home next Saturday when they host Millersville for a 2:00 p.m. PSAC East contest on Homecoming and Parents' and Supporters Weekend. Prior to the game, the Huskies will also honor
the 2026 Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame Class.
Inside the Box Score
- Bloomsburg held Shepherd to 214 yards of total offense, including just 37 rushing yards, and limited the Rams to nine first downs.
- The Huskies intercepted three passes, with Cole Turner (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) returning his interception 16 yards for a touchdown. Garrett Garcia (Catawissa, Pa./Southern Columbia) and Nahzier Booker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) also recorded interceptions.
- Bloomsburg controlled possession for 42:43 and held Shepherd to just 17:17, including only 4:53 of possession during the second and third quarters combined.
- Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) finished with 134 yards on 37 carries, bringing his season rushing total to 681 yards. He entered the game ranked second in the PSAC and 29th nationally in rushing yards.
- The Huskies rushed for 201 yards against a Shepherd defense that entered Saturday ranked 23rd nationally against the run.
- Bloomsburg converted 13-of-20 third downs (65.0%) while limiting the Rams to 2-of-7 (28.6%).
- Xzavier Pusateri led the Huskies with six tackles, while Dylan Clair (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College HS), Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and Ervin Mitchell (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) added three apiece.
- Peter Kashynski (Falls Church, Va./Justice) finished 2-for-3 on field goals, connecting from 40 and 37 yards, and converted all three extra-point attempts.
- Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) led the receiving corps with four catches for 45 yards, while Alex Achenbach (Tower City, Pa./Williams Valley) and Lucas Shultz (Dallas. Pa./Dallas) each added two receptions.
- Bloomsburg finished with 291 yards of total offense and 21 first downs while committing just one penalty for five yards.
Defensive Dominance
The Huskies' defensive performance came against a Shepherd team that entered the weekend among the nation's leaders in several offensive categories.
The Rams ranked fourth nationally in sacks allowed (0.33 per game) and first in tackles for loss allowed (2.33 per game), while Hardyway entered the contest ranked 17th nationally with 14 passing touchdowns. Bloomsburg held Hardyway to 175 passing yards and intercepted him twice. The Huskies added a third interception against Sigler and held the Rams scoreless offensively over the final two quarters.
The three takeaways were especially significant against a Shepherd team that entered Saturday ranked third nationally in fewest turnovers lost, having committed just three through its first six games. The Rams also led the PSAC and ranked seventh nationally in turnover margin at plus-1.33 per game.
Bloomsburg's defensive effort continued a strong season for a unit that entered the contest ranked second in the PSAC in total defense and rushing defense.
Ian Donohue (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Blue Mountain) entered Saturday leading the conference in sacks per game (0.92) and tackles for loss per game (1.67), while Booker ranked among the national leaders in both categories. The Huskies' defensive front helped limit Shepherd's opportunities throughout the afternoon, while the secondary produced the three interceptions that proved instrumental in the victory.
The Huskies' ability to control the line of scrimmage extended to the offensive side of the ball, where Bloomsburg's 201 rushing yards nearly doubled the 106.0 yards per game Shepherd had allowed entering Saturday.
The victory improved Bloomsburg to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in PSAC East play as the Huskies secured a key road win over a nationally ranked opponent.
