District football roundup: IUP falls in 1st round of playoffs

IUP’s season ended with a 31-27 loss to No. 25 Shepherd in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs Saturday.

Justice Evans put No. 18 IUP ahead 27-24 on a 1-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 40 seconds left.

But Shepherd (10-2) answered with an eight-play, 84-yard drive that culminated with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Bagent to Devin Phelps with 11 seconds left.

Quinton Maxwell threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns, and Samir Bullock ran for 137 yards for the Crimson Hawks (10-2). JoJo Gause had seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Shepherd advanced to face Slippery Rock at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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FCS

Robert Morris 16, Sacred Heart 14 — Nick Bisceglia kicked three field goals, including two in the fourth quarter, as Robert Morris (7-5, 6-1) rallied for a victory in its regular-season finale.

The win assured the Colonials of a second-place finish in the Northeast Conference.

After allowing an early touchdown, Robert Morris pulled even at halftime when George Martin connected with Garrett Houser for a 79-yard scoring strike with 11 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Bisceglia’s first field goal came at the 5:26 mark of the second quarter and gave the Colonials a 10-7 lead. But Marquez McCray directed a seven-play, 63-yard drive that culminated with a 16-yard TD toss to Tyrese Chambers to put Sacred Heart up 14-10 after three quarters.

Bisceglia pulled Robert Morris within 14-13 with a 21-yard field goal 11 seconds into the final quarter. The Colonials pulled off a successful onside kick and took over at their 49-yard line. Bisceglia booted a 35-yard field goal to give Robert Morris the lead for good with 9:42 left to play.

Sacred Heart had one final shot at victory, using 17 plays to get to the Colonials’ 22-yard line. But Dane Borges missed a 39-yard field goal on the final play.

Martin completed 10 of 19 passes for 194 yards. Houser had five catches for 103 yards and a TD.

Julius Chestnut rushed for 141 yards and a score for the Pioneers (7-5, 4-3).

No. 18 Central Connecticut State 43, Duquesne 10 — Brett Brumbaugh (South Fayette) was 11 of 30 for 111 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and the Dukes (6-5, 4-3 NEC) suffered their third straight loss.

Brumbaugh connected on an 11-yard pass to Kellon Taylor for Duquesne’s touchdown late in the second quarter.

The Blue Devils (11-1, 7-0), who clinched their sixth Northeast Conference title last week with a victory over Robert Morris, won their eighth straight game, and their 11 wins extends the school record for victories in a season.

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Division III

Brevard 42, Carnegie Mellon 28 — Matthew O’Hea threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns, but the Tartans (8-3) gave up nine sacks and lost the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl. Aaron Bennett rushed for 136 yards and an 81-yard touchdown for Brevard (8-2).

Grove City 41, RPI 38 — Josh Ehst hit Cody Gustafson with a 28-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds left to lift Grove City (9-2) over RPI (6-5) in the ECAC James Lynah Bowl. Only two players caught passes from Ehst: Gustafson, who had 13 receptions for 239 yards and three touchdowns, and Cameron Drake, who had four receptions for 76 yards. Wesley Schools added 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns for Grove City.

Washington & Jefferson 20, Ithaca 17 — Delonta Nunnally’s 50-yard interception return for a touchdown with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter proved to be the winning score as Washington & Jefferson (8-3) overcame a 17-0 second-half deficit to defeat Ithaca (8-3) in the ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl. Nunnally picked off two passes, and Jacob Adams threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns for the Presidents.

Westminster 35, Morrisville State 24 — In the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl, Bryce Hill ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns to lead Westminster (8-3) over Morrisville State (6-5). Cole Konieczka threw for 238 yards and a touchdown, and Connor Cox caught nine passes for 121 yards and a TD for the Titans.