2016 Shepherd Rams football team
The 2016 Shepherd Rams football team represents the Shepherd University during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. They are led by head coach Monte Cater, who is in his 30th season at Shepherd. The Rams play their home games at Ram Stadium in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and they are members of the Mountain East Conference.
| 2016 Shepherd Rams football | |
|---|---|
MEC champion | |
| Conference | Mountain East Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 3 |
| 2016 record | 13–1 (10–0 MEC) |
| Head coach |
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| Home stadium | Ram Stadium (Capacity: 5,000) |
| 2016 Mountain East Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Shepherd $^ | 10 | – | 0 | 13 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 Fairmont State ^ | 9 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notre Dame (OH) | 8 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia–Wise | 5 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glenville State | 5 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Liberty | 4 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia Wesleyan | 4 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charleston (WV) | 3 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia State | 3 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Urbana | 2 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concord | 2 | – | 8 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preseason
After finishing the 2015 season with a record of 13–1, with the only loss coming in the national championship game to Northwest Missouri State, the Rams were ranked #4 in the preseason poll.[1]
Regular season
The 2016 regular season for the Rams consisted of 10 games against Mountain East Conference foes. The Rams went undefeated in the regular season and were given the third seed in Super Region I in the 2016 NCAA Division II football playoffs.[2]
Playoffs
Despite going undefeated and being ranked #3 in the nation, the Rams had to play in an opening round game of the playoffs. The Rams defeated #25 Assumption College in the game, 48–31, to advance to the Round of 16.[3]
The Rams then went on the road and were able to defeat LIU Post, 40–21, to improve to 12–0 and continue their playoff run.[4]
In the national quarterfinals the following week, the Rams again went on the road. This time, the Rams were able to defeat California (Pa.), 41–30.[5]
The Rams hosted a national semifinal game for the second consecutive year, facing North Alabama.[6]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | 12:00 p.m | West Virginia Wesleyan | No. 4 | W 27–12 | 4,987 | ||
| September 8 | 7:30 p.m. | at Charleston | No. 4 | W 38–22 | 1,111 | ||
| September 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Virginia-Wise | No. 4 |
| W 64–13 | 4,472 | |
| September 24 | 12:00 p.m. | at Notre Dame College | No. 4 |
| W 38–17 | 1,080 | |
| October 8 | 12:00 p.m. | Glenville State | No. 3 |
| ESPN3 | W 38–7 | 4,189 |
| October 15 | 1:00 p.m. | at West Virginia State | No. 3 |
| W 70–24 | 311 | |
| October 22 | 12:00 p.m. | Concord | No. 3 |
| W 21–7 | 5,211 | |
| October 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at West Liberty | No. 3 |
| W 38–27 | 498 | |
| November 5 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 17 Fairmont State | No. 3 |
| W 27–17 | 6,751 | |
| November 12 | 1:00 p.m. | at Urbana | No. 3 |
| W 38–14 | 1,058 | |
| November 19 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 25 Assumption College* | No. 3 |
| W 48–31 | 4,571 | |
| November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 10 LIU Post* | No. 3 |
| W 40–21 | 3,684 | |
| December 3 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 6 California (Pa.)* | No. 3 | W 41–30 | 5,113 | ||
| December 10 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 7 North Alabama* | No. 3 |
| ESPN3 | L 13–23 | 7,017 |
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References
- "Shepherd ranked fourth in AFCA poll". The Journal. August 16, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- Kozlowski, Rick (November 14, 2016). "Shepherd given third seed in region". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- Kozlowski, Rick (November 20, 2016). "Quick Start: Rams defeat Assumption in NCAA DII playoff". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- Kozlowski, Rick (November 27, 2016). "Brown helps lead Shepherd past LIU-Post". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- Kozlowski, Rick (December 5, 2016). "Shepherd offense figures out Vulcans". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- Kozlowski, Rick (December 10, 2016). "Shepherd set to host national semifinal game". The Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2016.