2016 Shepherd Rams football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2016
| team = Shepherd Rams
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Mountain East Conference
| short_conf = MEC
| AFCARank = 3
| record = 13–1
| conf_record = 10–0
| head_coach = Monte Cater
| hc_year = 30th
| off_coach = Ernie McCook
| oc_year = 7th
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Josh Kline
| dc_year = 8th
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Ram Stadium
| champion = MEC champion
| bowl = NCAA Division II Semifinal
| bowl_result = L 13–23 vs. North Alabama
}}
{{2016 Mountain East Conference football standings}}
The 2016 Shepherd Rams football team represented Shepherd University during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC). They were led by head coach Monte Cater, in his 30th season at Shepherd, and finished the season 13–1. With a conference record of 10–0, they were named MEC champions and advanced to the Division II Playoffs, losing in the semifinals to North Alabama. The Rams played their home games at Ram Stadium in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
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.{{cite news | title =Shepherd ranked fourth in AFCA poll | newspaper= The Journal | date =August 16, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/sports/local-sports/2016/08/shepherd-ranked-fourth-in-afca-poll/ | accessdate =December 10, 2016}}
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.{{cite news | last =Kozlowski | first =Rick | title =Shepherd given third seed in region | newspaper= The Journal | date =November 14, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/sports/local-sports/2016/11/shepherd-given-third-seed-in-region/ | accessdate =December 10, 2016}}
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.{{cite news | last =Kozlowski | first =Rick | title =Quick Start: Rams defeat Assumption in NCAA DII playoff | newspaper= The Journal | date =November 20, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/sports/local-sports/2016/11/quick-start-rams-defeat-assumption-in-ncaa-dii%E2%80%88playoff/ | accessdate =December 10, 2016}}
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.{{cite news | last =Kozlowski | first =Rick | title =Brown helps lead Shepherd past LIU-Post | newspaper= The Journal | date =November 27, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/sports/local-sports/2016/11/brown-helps-lead-shepherd-past-liu-post/ | accessdate =December 10, 2016}}
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.{{cite news | last =Kozlowski | first =Rick | title =Shepherd offense figures out Vulcans | newspaper= The Journal | date =December 5, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/sports/local-sports/2016/12/shepherd-offense-figures-out-vulcans/ | accessdate =December 10, 2016}}
The Rams hosted a national semifinal game for the second consecutive year, losing to North Alabama, 23–13.{{cite news | last =Kozlowski | first =Rick | title =Shepherd set to host national semifinal game | newspaper= The Journal | date =December 10, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/sports/local-sports/2016/12/shepherd-set-to-host-national-semifinal-game/ | accessdate =December 10, 2016}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2016
| rankdivision = NCAA Division II
| poll = AFCA
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 3
| time = 12:00 p.m
| w/l = w
| rank = 4
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats|title=West Virginia Wesleyan}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 27–12
| attend = 4,987
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 8
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Charleston Golden Eagles|title=Charleston (WV)}}
| site_stadium = UC Stadium
| site_cityst = Charleston, WV
| tv =
| score = 38–22
| attend = 1,111
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 17
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 4
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Virginia–Wise Highland Cavaliers|title=Virginia–Wise}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 64–13
| attend = 4,472
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Notre Dame Falcons|title=Notre Dame (OH)}}
| site_stadium = Mueller Field
| site_cityst = South Euclid, OH
| tv =
| score = 38–17
| attend = 1,080
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 8
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Glenville State Pioneers|title=Glenville State}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 38–7
| attend = 4,189
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=West Virginia State Yellow Jackets|title=West Virginia State}}
| site_stadium = Dickerson Stadium
| site_cityst = Institute, WV
| tv =
| score = 70–24
| attend = 311
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 22
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Concord Mountain Lions|title=Concord}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 21–7
| attend = 5,211
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 29
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=West Liberty Hilltoppers|title=West Liberty}}
| site_stadium = West Family Stadium
| site_cityst = West Liberty, WV
| tv =
| score = 38–27
| attend = 498
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 5
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Fairmont State Fighting Falcons|title=Fairmont State}}
| opprank = 17
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 27–17
| attend = 6,751
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Urbana Blue Knights|title=Urbana}}
| site_stadium = UU Stadium
| site_cityst = Urbana, OH
| tv =
| score = 38–14
| attend = 1,058
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=Assumption Greyhounds|title=Assumption}}
| opprank = 25
| gamename = NCAA Division II First Round
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 48–31
| attend = 4,571
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 26
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2016|team=LIU Post Pioneers|title=LIU Post}}
| opprank = 10
| site_stadium = Bethpage Stadium
| site_cityst = Brookville, NY
| gamename = NCAA Division II Second Round
| tv =
| score = 40–21
| attend = 3,684
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 3
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = California (PA)
| opprank = 6
| site_stadium = Adamson Stadium
| site_cityst = California, PA
| gamename = NCAA Division II quarterfinal
| tv =
| score = 41–30
| attend = 5,113
| source = {{cite news|title=Vulcans lose to Shepherd in quarterfinals, 41-30|newspaper=Herald-Standard (Uniontown, PA)|date=December 4, 2016|url=}}(787 words, available for fee at NewsLibrary.com)
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 10
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = North Alabama
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| gamename = NCAA Division II semifinal
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 13–23
| attend = 7,017
| source = {{Cite web|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/shepherd-ousted-by-north-alabama-in-division-ii-football-semifinals/article_b85b3a7c-f337-5222-b483-bbe9dff75ae0.html|website=Charleston Gazette-Mail|title=Shepherd ousted by North Alabama in Division II football semifinals|date=December 10, 2016}}{{cite news|title=UNA advances to Division II final|newspaper=Pensacola News-Journal|date=December 11, 2016|page=C4|author=John Lowe|agency=Associcated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89112875/una-advances/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Shepherd Rams football navbox}}
Category:Shepherd Rams football seasons