Ferrum Stops N.C. Wesleyan 17-7

After three straight home games, Ferrum took to the road, and traveled to Rocky Mount N.C. to take on North Carolina Wesleyan. This was not going to be an easy game, but a win was necessary to have any chance to stay in the conference race. While the odds are long, mathematically, Ferrum is still in the hunt......barely.
To secure the win, Ferrum had to play lights out defense, and needed to control the ball on offense....and that is exactly what they did. Overall, this was a fairly even contest, but the difference between this week and last week was Ferrum exercised more of a ball control approach. Some of the stats from Saturday's win were:

First Downs:

FC   21
NCW  13

Net Passing Yards:

FC 136
NCW 143

Net Rushing Yards:

FC  210
NCW  129

Time of Poss.

FC 34:38
NCW  25:22

One other important stat was Ferrum's defense had four interceptions yesterday. Last season, Ferrum's defense had seven interceptions for the season. By the end of yesterday's contest, Ferrum had equaled that mark, and we have half of a season to go.

This week, Ferrum has their scheduled bye. A week to rest, recuperate, and prepare for their next opponent LaGrange. By the way, in case you missed it, LaGrange gave Averett all they wanted before losing 27-24. LaGrange has been a sleeper so far, and I had not paid much attention to them. Looks like the Ferrum Panthers had better be ready when the LaGrange Panthers come to W.B.Adams stadium on Oct. 14th.

So what about the conference race? Well, Ferrum can only do two things that could get them back in the hunt.....winning and hoping. It is mathematically still possible for Ferrum to win the conference, but the chances are as thin as Barney Fife. What will have to happen? First and foremost, Ferrum has to win out. They cannot lose another game. If they did that, they would finish the season at 8-2. Even that alone will not get them into the playoffs. In addition to that, Averett will have to lose three conference games. If LaGrange could have prevailed yesterday, it would have helped, but there is still a chance it could happen. The next three games for Averett will tell the tale. Their next three games are:

@ Huntingdon
vs. NC Wesleyan
vs. Maryville

They then close the season with two road games

@ Brevard ( non conference game)
@ Greensboro

If the improbable happens and Ferrum wins out, and Averett loses three of their remaining conference games, don't forget about Huntingdon. They also will have to have three conference losses. Their remaining schedule looks like this.

vs. Averett
vs. Maryville
@ Greensboro
vs. Methodist
@ LaGrange

I don't see Huntingdon losing three more games, and even if they did, one would likely be to Averett. If that happened, where would Averett find their third loss? It would have to come from Greensboro, and well that is about as likely as hitting a hole in one, on a par 5 at night, blindfolded, from the blue tees.

My guess is that the Averett @ Huntingdon game will essentially determine the conference champion. None the less, anything is possible....Ferrum just has to keep winning.

Go Ferrum!