SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - - Shepherd University entered Saturday's Mountain East Conference game ranked ninth in the latest NCAA Division II AFCA Poll and coach Monte Cater's team lived up to its billing with a 51-0 win over UVa-Wise at Ram Stadium. The shutout was the second of the season for the Rams as the Cavaliers mustered just 107 yards of total offense against the top ranked defensive unit in the nation.

Shepherd (6-0, 6-0 MEC) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Quarterback Jeff Ziemba hooked up with William Mckenzie on a 63-yard touchdown before finding Billy Brown on a 27-yard score later in the quarter.

After holding UVa-Wise (0-6, 0-5 MEC) scoreless in the opening period, Ziemba continued his onslaught in the second 15-minute stanza. The sophomore fired two more touchdowns before intermission, a 14-yard score to Tony Squirewell and a 57-yard strike to tailback Allen Cross on a wheel route.

The Cavaliers did not fare better in the second half as C.J. Davis returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown following a forced three-and-out by the Rams defense on the first possession of the third quarter.

Leading 35-0, Shepherd then turned to its ground game as Jabre Lolley capped off a five-play 69-yarddrive with a seven-yard touchdown scamper with 4:45 to play in the quarter.

The final quarter belonged to the reserves and freshman quarterback Caleb Dembeck got in on the scoring action as Shepherd again executed a wheel route to perfection as Malik Harleston raced into the end zone for the Rams' final touchdown of the day, a 58-yard connection.

Shepherd's impressive defense however was not done. The Rams forced UVa-Wise in to a punting situation deep in its own territory.  A high snap left punter Zach Large no choice but to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety, providing the winning score of 51-0.

The Cavaliers accumulated just 31 yards in the second half after the Rams forced two turnovers and a safety in the final 30 minutes.

Chris Flood and Zack Blair led the UVa-Wise defense with a combined 23 tackles. Flood tallied 12 stops while Blair posted 11 tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage.

Ziemba finished the game 16-21 with 271 passing yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Lolley gained 111 yards on 12 carries and DeOntre Johnson and David Carter each registered an interception for Shepherd.

The win was the 16th consecutive MEC victory for the Rams who travel to South Euclid, Ohio to face Notre Dame College next Saturday.

UVa-Wise returns home to face Glenville State in a 1 pm kickoff at Carl Smith Stadium. Pregame coverage begins at 12:30 on WDIC-Radio 1430 AM.