Bagent sets NCAA record for passing TDs, Shepherd rolls into D-II semifinals

INDIANA, Pa. — Record-setting quarterback Tyson Bagent and the Shepherd University football team are heading back to the NCAA Division II semifinals.

Bagent completed 19 of 28 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns, Ronnie Brown rushed for 141 yards on 27 carries and finished with three scores, and the Rams (13-1) blew out host Indiana 48-13 on Saturday in the national quarterfinals.

Bagent, the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy winner as the top Division II player and a finalist for the 2022 honor, took the all-time lead for passing touchdowns in all college divisions, with 158.

Shepherd lost 24-21 to the Crimson Hawks (10-2) in the PSAC championship game three weeks ago. The Rams avenged that setback by scoring 48 straight points after Indiana took a 7-0 lead on an 18-yard TD pass from Mak Sexton to Cole Laney with 8:35 left in the first quarter.

Shepherd answered a minute later on Bagent's 71-yard scoring strike to Rodney Dorsey, tying the game at 7.

The Rams added a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter for a 21-7 halftime lead. Bagent found Cameron Dorner with an 18-yard scoring pass with 5:35 left in the half, and hit Brian Walker with a 17-yard TD throw 1:09 before halftime.

Brown scored all three of his touchdowns in the third quarter as the lead ballooned to 42-7. The scores came on a 4-yard run, a 17-yard pass from Bagent and a 2-yard run.

Klayton Batten capped Shepherd's scoring with a 28-yard interception-return touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Sexton threw a 3-yard TD pass to Duane Brown midway through the final period for Indiana's other score.

Dorsey made four catches for 87 yards to lead the Rams' receivers. Devon Lynch led the defense with 11 tackles and an interception.

Sexton completed 16 of 30 passes for 210 yards with two TDs and two interceptions for Indiana. The Crimson Hawks were held to 90 rushing yards, led by Adam Houser with 48.

Shepherd joins Ferris State, West Florida and Colorado School of Mines in the semifinals. No regional No. 1 seed made it to the semifinals. Shepherd, Ferris State and Colorado School of Mines were all No. 2 seeds that beat top seeds Saturday. West Florida was a No. 3 seed.

The Rams were given the No. 3 seed for the semifinals and will travel to No. 2-seed Colorado School of Mines on Dec. 10, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Record-setting Bagent, Shepherd rolls into Division II semifinals