2017 Shepherd Rams football team
{{Short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2017
| team = Shepherd Rams
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Mountain East Conference
| short_conf = MEC
| AFCARank = 14
| record = 10{{endash}}1
| conf_record = 10{{endash}}0
| head_coach = Monte Cater
| hc_year = 31st
| off_coach = Ernie McCook
| oc_year = 8th
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Josh Kline
| dc_year = 9th
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Ram Stadium
| champion = MEC champion
| bowl = NCAA Division II first round
| bowl_result = L 17{{endash}}29 vs. Findlay
}}
{{2017 Mountain East Conference football standings}}
The 2017 Shepherd Rams football team represented Shepherd University during the 2017 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC). They were led by head coach Monte Cater, in his 31st and final season at Shepherd, and finished the season 10–1. With a conference record of 10–0, they were named MEC champions for the third straight year{{Cite web|url=https://supicket.com/shepherd-football-overwhelms-charleston-clinches-mec-championship-with-49-12-victory-on-senior-day/|title=Overwhelmed Charleston falls to Shepherd football 49{{endash}}12 as Rams clinch MEC Championship on Senior Day – SUPicket|first=Picket|last=Staff}} and advanced to the Division II Playoffs, losing in the first round to Findlay. The Rams played their home games at Ram Stadium in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
This was also the final season for senior quarterback Connor Jessop, who briefly signed with the Washington Redskins practice squad during the 2018 NFL season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/connor-jessop-doesn-t-have-to-travel-far-for-first-nfl-experience|title=Connor Jessop Doesn't Have To Travel Far For First NFL Experience|website=www.washingtonfootball.com}}
Preseason
After finishing the 2016 season with a record of 13–1, with the only loss coming in the semifinals to North Alabama, the Rams were ranked #7 in the preseason poll.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18019550/division-ii-170815/|title=Division II 170815|work=The Montgomery Advertiser |date=August 15, 2017|pages=C2|via=newspapers.com}}
Regular season
The 2017 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 second seed in Super Region I in the 2017 NCAA Division II football playoffs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/sports/2017/11/13/shepherd-set-to-host-findlay-in-1st-round-of-d-ii-playoffs/45157797/|title=Shepherd set to host Findlay in 1st round of D-II playoffs|author=Staff reports|website=The Hagerstown Herald-Mail}}
Playoffs
Despite going undefeated in the regular season and finishing #2 in the country,{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17998176/division-ii-171107/|title=Division II 171107|work=Star Tribune |date=November 7, 2017|pages=C9|via=newspapers.com}} the Rams hosted a game in the first round of the playoffs, against seventh-seeded Findlay. This was Findlay's first ever postseason appearance (in the NCAA,) and they defeated Shepherd 29–17 in what was considered an upset.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2017-11-18/dii-football-championship-findlay-stuns-shepherd-en-route-first#:~:text=Findlay%20won%20its%20first%2Dever,the%20Shepherd%20Rams%2029%2D17.|title=Findlay stuns Shepherd en route to first postseason win|website=NCAA.com|access-date=2022-01-18}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2017
| rankdivision = NCAA Division II
| poll = AFCA
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 2
| time = 12:00 p.m
| w/l = w
| rank = 7
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=Notre Dame Falcons|title=Notre Dame (OH)}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 54–49
| attend = 4,351
| source = {{Cite web|url=https://shepherdrams.com/news/2017/9/2/jessop-leads-shepherd-football-past-notre-dame.aspx|title=Jessop Leads Shepherd Football Past Notre Dame|website=Shepherd University Athletics|date=September 2, 2017 }}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 16
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=Glenville State Pioneers|title=Glenville State}}
| site_stadium = Ike and Sue Morris Stadium
| site_cityst = Glenville, WV
| tv =
| score = 42–34
| attend = 1,176
| source = {{Cite web|url=https://shepherdrams.com/news/2017/9/16/shepherd-football-rallies-past-glenville-state.aspx|title=Shepherd Football Rallies Past Glenville State|website=Shepherd University Athletics}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18019506/division-ii-170905/|title=Division II 170905|work=Argus-Leader |date=September 5, 2017|pages=A11|via=newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 23
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 4
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=West Virginia State Yellowjackets|title=West Virginia State}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 56–41
| attend = 4,295
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=Concord Mountain Lions|title=Concord}}
| site_stadium = Callaghan Stadium
| site_cityst = Athens, WV
| tv =
| score = 49–20
| attend = 1,311
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 3
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=West Liberty Hilltoppers|title=West Liberty}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 51–14
| attend = 4,719
| source = {{Cite web|url=https://shepherdrams.com/news/2017/10/7/shepherd-football-tops-west-liberty.aspx|title=Shepherd Football Tops West Liberty|website=Shepherd University Athletics}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18019407/division-ii-171003/|title=Division II 171003|work=Argus-Leader |date=October 3, 2017|pages=A13|via=newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 12
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 2
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=Fairmont State Fighting Falcons|title=Fairmont State}}
| site_stadium = Duvall-Rosier Field
| site_cityst = Fairmont, WV
| tv =
| score = 28–23
| attend = 1,330
| source = {{Cite web|url=https://shepherdrams.com/news/2017/10/12/shepherd-football-outlasts-fairmont-state.aspx|title=Shepherd Football Outlasts Fairmont State|website=Shepherd University Athletics}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17998037/division-ii-171010/|title=Division II 171010|work=Detroit Free Press |date=October 10, 2017|pages=B5|via=newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 21
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| homecoming =
| rank = 2
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=Urbana Blue Knights|title=Urbana}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 48–14
| attend = 3,541
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 2
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats|title=West Virginia Wesleyan}}
| site_stadium = Cebe Ross Field
| site_cityst = Buckhannon, WV
| tv =
| score = 45–14
| attend = 1,827
| source = {{Cite web|url=https://shepherdrams.com/news/2017/10/28/shepherd-football-defeats-west-virginia-wesleyan.aspx|title=Shepherd Football Defeats West Virginia Wesleyan|website=Shepherd University Athletics}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17998068/division-ii-171024/|title=Division II 171024|work=The Odessa American |date=October 24, 2017|pages=C4|via=newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 2
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=Charleston Golden Eagles|title=Charleston (WV)}}
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 49–12
| attend = 5,238
| source = {{Cite web|url=https://shepherdrams.com/news/2017/11/4/shepherd-football-clinches-mec-title-with-win-over-charleston.aspx|title=Shepherd Football Clinches MEC Title with Win over Charleston|website=Shepherd University Athletics|date=November 4, 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17998096/division-ii-171031/|title=Division II 171031|work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |date=October 31, 2017|pages=C6|via=newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 2
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=Virginia–Wise Cavaliers|title=Virginia–Wise}}
| site_stadium = Carl Smith Stadium
| site_cityst = Wise, VA
| tv =
| score = 63–35
| attend = 951
| source = {{Cite web|url=https://shepherdrams.com/news/2017/11/11/shepherd-football-outlasts-uva-wise.aspx|title=Shepherd Football Outlasts UVa-Wise|website=Shepherd University Athletics}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 2
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2017|team=Findlay Oilers|title=Findlay}}
| gamename = NCAA Division II First Round
| site_stadium = Ram Stadium
| site_cityst = Shepherdstown, WV
| tv =
| score = 17–29
| attend = 4,451
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Shepherd Rams football navbox}}
Category:Shepherd Rams football seasons