Ferrum @ Averett 10-4-08

This week, the Ferrum Panthers 3-1 (1-0) travel to Danville, to take on the Averett Cougars, 1-2 (0-0). After a muddy game at home Saturday, the Panthers pack their bags and go on their shortest road trip of the year.

Ferrum will be looking to get their powerful offense back on track and will look to their defense to provide a solid deterrent to the Cougars.

Averett after having a successful 2006 season where they were 7-3 (7-1), hit a dry spell, and after losing 22 starters to graduation, were 0-10 in 2007.

This year shows an improving team. With only one win so far, the Cougars are playing inspired football, and are a threat to whoever is on their schedule.

Ferrum will be looking to stop an offense that statistically is averaging just about 25 yards a game less than the Panthers. Defensively however, the Panthers rank 68th in the nation, opposed to the Cougars defense that is ranked 161st. Ferrum, being run oriented, is ranked 9th in the nation in rushing offense, while Averett is ranked 117th against the rush. This is where the difference will lie.
Special Teams is another battle where Ferrum outranks the Cougars nationally. Clint Slappey is tied for 71st in Field Goals, and T.J. Grzesikowski is ranked 5th nationally for Ferrum in the punting category.
On paper this looks like it can be a fairly easy win for Ferrum, and it could, but the possibility also exists that the Panthers could run into a fired up team playing before a fired up crowd, and with a couple of miscues find themselves on the wrong end of the score.
While some folks say that anything is possible, I think it is highly probable that Ferrum will easily move to 4-1 for the season.

Keys to a Panther win:

Score First
Dominate Time of Possession
Focus on Special Teams coverage of kickoff and punt returns
Keep penalties minimal
Control line of scrimmage
No Turnovers
Control the red zone
Maintain the kicking consistency

Ferrum will make the most of their skill on both sides of the ball, and move to 4-1.

My prediction:

Ferrum 42
Averett 24