If you don't think stats can tell a story, just look at the numbers leading up to this game (Previous Post), you will see two very evenly matched teams. Saturday, Ferrum (4-6) took on Chowan (3-7) and while the final score suggested that the game was a nail biter, and it was.....the stats did not read like it was as close as it was. Ferrum pretty much dominated the statistics, but getting the "W" required quite a bit of hard nosed football.
After Ferrum's defense held Chowan to a three and out on their first two possessions, and Ferrum was held to the same in between those drives, Ferrum got the ball back, and put together a nice 6 play drive that led to a 24 yard pass from Foutz to Tyrik Bryant for the first points of the game. The Jon Davis extra point made it 7-0 Ferrum.
Chowan answered with a nice drive, taking the ball all the way to the Ferrum 16 yard line. On the next play, the QB went for the touchdown pass but it was intercepted by Marquis Adams in the end zone for a touchback.
Ferrum would take the ball at their own 20 yard line, and put together a nice drive that stalled at the Chowan 29. The 46 yard field goal attempt was blocked by a Chowan defender, and that is how the first quarter ended.
From their own 33 yard line, Chowan would put together an 11 play touchdown drive that took just over six minutes off of the clock, and with the extra point, the game was tied 7-7.
Ferrum was able to answer in a big way as Jerome Blakeney returned the kickoff 39 yards to give Ferrum the ball at their own 44 yard line. In just 4 plays, Ferrum found paydirt again. Aided by two nice runs by Jahylen Lee, Foutz ended the drive with a pass to Tyrik Bryant for the second touchdown of the day for Bryant. The extra point was good, putting Ferrum back into the lead 14-7.
This time Ferrum kicked off to the Chowan 5, and the Hawks returned the ball 38 yards to the Chowan 43 yard line. Four plays later, they found paydirt in what was almost a replica of Ferrum's drive. 14-14.
With just over 4 mins. left in the first half, Ferrum started their drive at their own 21 yard line. They had a nice drive materializing, but the clock was running out. After taking several shots at the endzone, but coming up empty, Ferrum settled for a 20 yard field goal from Jon Davis, and took a 17-14 lead to the locker room.
Ferrum received the kickoff in the second half, and wasted no time in scoring as on the fourth play of the drive, Foutz hit Omarza Gray on a short pass across the middle, but Gray turned on the jets, and the short pass quickly became a 59 yard touchdown. With the extra point, Ferrum extended its lead 24-14. It was the largest lead of the game for Ferrum, and it was looking like the Panthers may be starting to take control......but Chowan saw things differently.
After the ensuing kickoff, Ferrum's defense held the Hawks to a 4 and out, and would get the ball back after the Chowan punt. A nice drive ensued, and Ferrum looked to be heading for more points, but Foutz was picked off at the Chowan 20.
The Hawks were vey welcoming to that mistake, and showed their appreciation by putting together a three play drive for a score highlighted by a 51 yard pass to Dominic Haney. The very next play found the endzone, and now the score was 24-21.
After the Hawks kickoff, Ferrum was held to a 3 and out, and had to punt the ball back to Chowan. The snap to punter William Hutton sailed over his head, and the Panthers gave the ball back to the Hawks on the Ferrum 14. The momentum had definitely shifted. This time it was just a four play drive as Chowan again found the endzone after the gift of excellent field position. Chowan 28 Ferrum 24.
The third quarter would end with Ferrum starting a nice drive that would carry them into the 4th quarter, and down to the Hawks 19 yard line. Unfortunately, Ferrum would stall their and turn the ball over on downs.
Chowan would take over and push the ball down the field to the Ferrum 31. It looked like another scoring opportunity for Chowan, but Peja Brent picked off a Chowan pass and returned it 65 yards to the Hawks 25 yard line. Still trailing by 4 points, Ferrum would start this drive with good field position, and just over 5 minuets left in the game. Ferrum would score in six plays, on a Jycen Anciso run for 5 yards making the score Ferrum 31 Chowan 28 with 1:53 left in the game.
Chowan would take the ensuing kickoff and put together a strong 11 play drive. The result was a 26 yard Beylo field goal to tie the game with 18 seconds left in the game. The score was tied at 31, and that is how regulation football ended. It was time for free football
In the first OT, Ferrum took possession first and drove to the Chowan 3 yard line, but could not cross the goal line. A Jon Davis field goal put Ferrum in the lead 34-31. Chowan had its chance at putting points on the board, but the Ferrum defense came to life, and stopped the Hawks after their first three plays, but they were able to get a field goal to tie the game, and so the second overtime was about to begin. In the second OT stanza, the Hawks took the ball first, but again the Ferrum defense was stingy, and the Hawks had to settle for a field goal. This gave Chowan a 37-34 lead. Ferrum's defense had played well in OT, but it would be the offense that would need to show up big time to salt this one away....and show up they did. It took just four plays to get a beautiful reception from Tyrik Bryant in the endzone to give the Panthers a 40-37 win.
Ferrum will end their season on Saturday at W.B. Adams stadium as they host the Concord University. The Mountain Lions come in with 3 wins on the year. We have no common opponents. This will be Senior Day at Ferrum. Come out and support Ferrum.
Go Panthers!
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