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ERIE, Pa. – Shepherd University running backs Nate Hoyte and Tommy Addison combined for six rushing touchdowns as the 18th-ranked Rams upset No. 11 Mercyhurst College in the NCAA II Football Championship Quarterfinals.

The Rams won their first-ever Super Regional One Championship in four tries to improve to 12-1 on the season and will face Delta State in the national semifinals. Delta State upset undefeated Albany State, 28-7.

Meanwhile, Mercyhurst's historic season comes to a close with a 10-3 overall record.

Shepherd applied the pressure early and often as the Rams scored on their first possession of the game. After winning the toss and electing to receive, Shepherd benefitted from a 22-yard kickoff return by Keon Robinson to start the Rams' drive at their own 47-yardline. From there the Rams struck in just six plays as Addison's 1-yard run capped the 3-minute drive.

Two series later for Mercyhurst, the Lakers threatened with a long drive following a Trevor Kennedy 35-yard punt return. Mercyhurst advanced all the way to the Shepherd 5-yardline but could not put together a score as passes from quarterback Travis Rearick to Jeff Groene fell incomplete on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1.

The Lakers were forced to punt in their next series but got a fortunate break as Shepherd's Deante Steele lost control of the ball while attempting to catch Garrett Stolz's punt. After it caromed off Steele's hands the Lakers Julius McCormick fell on the ball at the Shepherd 38-yard line. One play later Rearick hit Terrence Coon for a touchdown strike and Mercyhurst knotted the game at 7-7 with 11:30 to play in the opening stanza.

The quick-strike Rams battled back with a touchdown in the ensuing drive, this time a Hoyte 14-yard run to cap off a four-play, 59-yard drive that gave the visitors a 14-7 advantage with 9:28 remaining in the second quarter.

The Lakers looked as though they would tie the game again in the next possession but the Rams Elijah Davis picked off Rearick at the 5-yardline to end the threat.

Four plays later momentum swung back in the Lakers favor when Bryant Kimball intercepted Rams quarterback Kevin Clancy at the Shepherd 46-yardline and returned it to paydirt to notch the score at 14-14 with 3:26 in the opening half.

The Lakers had a chance to take the lead in the final possession of the half but a Steven Wakefield 41-yard field goal attempt that had plenty of leg missed wide right.

In the second half, Shepherd intercepted the Mercyhurst offense three times and held the Lakers scoreless for just the second time this season.

Hoyte scored on a 15-yard run with 6:06 remaining in the third to give the Rams a 21-14 edge. Then, Hoyte added another 15-yard burst with 11:14 remaining in the game to start a string of four touchdowns in four consecutive possessions. Addison added a 69-yard touchdown run for his final score of the day before Hoyte added his final score with a 3-yard scamper later in the fourth. The game's final score came via a 27-yard interception return by Will Wheeler.

All told, Shepherd held the Lakers to 225 yards total offense while amassing 483 yards, the most by a Mercyhurst opponent this season. The Rams found a way to crack a seemingly impenetrable Laker run defense as they tallied 238 yards while limiting Mercyhurst to 34 yards on the ground.

Addison led all rushers with 135 yards and Hoyte finished with 109. Rams quarterback Kevin Clancy finished the day with 245 passing yards on 17-of-27 while counterpart Rearick finished with 191 yards on 22-of-47.

Coon led all receivers with 107 yards receiving on eight catches.

Defensively, Shepherd's Ben Minturn posted a game-high 10 stops with the Lakers led by Ryan Taylor and his nine tackles.