Ferrum @ Shenandoah

  Today Ferrum visits Shenandoah. While Randolph-Macon was the pick to win the ODAC, I had it in my mind that Shenandoah may be the team to beat. After the first three games, they were looking really impressive, but they fell to Randolph-Macon last week, losing by one point, 22-21.

The Hornets are scoring 37.75 points per game, and giving up only 21 points per game. Most of their offensive success comes through the air as they have thrown for 1075 yards scoring 11 touchdowns. On the ground, they have run the ball 106 times for a total of 629 yards averaging 137.8 yards per game.

Ferrum has scored 21.25 points per game but are giving up 32.5 points per game. Through the air, Ferrum has passed for 642 yards on 75 attempts averaging 160.5 yards per game. Ferrum has scored 3 touchdowns through the air. Their rushing numbers show the Panthers gaining  612 yards on 150 attempts, averaging 153 yards per game. For Ferrum to win, they must keep doing what they are doing on offense, but if Nathan Aguilar is not able to play, that might hurt offensive productivity. It will be the defense however that must produce in a big way today. They have to shut down the Hornets, and that will not be easy. If Ferrum can control the time of possession, and limit the big play, it could happen.

Go Panthers!

Disappointing Day at FerrumPanthers Fall 41-15 to Bridgewater

 I really expected better. It was a day that I thought these two teams would go to the wire for the win. Boy was I wrong on that. Well the first half was good, as Ferrum went into the locker room only down by 7. In the second half, it went from possible to unlikely to impossible fairly quickly as Ferrum gave up 21 points in the third quarter. Overall the game seemed to just be a display of Murphy's law for the Panthers.

This was mainly demonstrated through penalties. For the game, Ferrum gave up 100 yards on 12 penalties. Injuries, and missed extra points and a missed field goal were just some of the obstacles Ferrum had to try to overcome. It was not an easy day, but the most consistent result came from the defense stopping the run. This was a very solid effort, and that was consistent the entire day. 

The Eagles did their damage through the air, and Ferrum did not seem to have an answer for it. On the day, Bridgewater had 388 yards passing, and scored 3 touchdowns through the air.

It was a tough day all around for Ferrum, and it caused me to somewhat pause my optimism. There are some talented players on Ferrum's team. Hopefully things will get back on track, and we will see a better result. Next week I would say will be under even more difficult circumstances. Playing a better team, on the road.

Put this one behind you, and get back to basics. 

Go Panthers!

Bridgewater @ Ferrum

 The Eagles come to Ferrum in what should be a really good game. Bridgewater on paper is very strong, and both teams bring in a 2-1 record. Bridgewater has wins over Southern Virginia University, and Millsaps College. The Eagles lone loss came against #12 Susquehanna, losing 41-7.

Offensively, Bridgewater's rushing attack is led by Brendon Robinson who has 304 yards on the ground with 2 touchdowns. Through the air, Robinson has been targeted several times out of the backfield, accumulating 69 yards receiving. The Eagles quarterback is Jaicere Bateman who has completed 49 of 79 passes for 585 yards and four touchdowns. The Eagles have used three quarterbacks this season but Bateman seems to be the #1 QB.  Defensively, the Eagles are allowing 18.3 points per game, and are allowing 148 yards per game.    

 Comparatively speaking, Ferrum's rushing attack is led by Jahylen Lee, who has 234 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Out of the backfield, Lee has 4 receptions for 52 yards. Under center, the Panthers will go with Zach Wyatt. Zach is 34 of 53 with one INT. He has passed for 445 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

Defensively, Ferrum is allowing 29.67 points per game, and are giving up 467.3 yards per game. This number, you would think is definitely skewed by Ferrum's first game. In the last two games by themselves, Ferrum has given up 17 points per game, but is still averaging giving up 413 yards per game. The stats don't tell you everything. Keep in mind, Bridgewater defeated winless Southern Virginia University 80-0. Just like a large loss can alter the stats, so can a huge win over a struggling opponent.

Today the defense has to bring their A game to pull off this win. A win is possible here, but mistakes have to be few, and opportunities have to be converted. This should be a fun game to watch.

Go Panthers!

Conference Review of the First Three Weeks

 As we head into week 5, Ferrum finds themselves at a very respectable 2-1. The last two weeks, Ferrum came out and played strong football, and came away with two good wins. Week one was a lopsided affair, but those statistics count, so here are some of the statistical rankings so far through three games:

Overall Offensive Scoring Ranking: (Most to Least Points Scored)

1. Shenandoah

2. Bridgewater

3. Hampden-Sydney

4. Washington & Lee

5. Randolph-Macon

6. Averett

7. Guilford

8. Ferrum

Overall Defensive Scoring Rankings (Least to Most Points Given Up)

1. Guilford

2. Bridgewater

3. Randolph-Macon

4. Shenandoah

5. Averett

6. Ferrum

7. Washington & Lee

8. Hampden-Sydney

On the Ground, Ferrum has the 7th (Jahylen Lee) (128th in the nation), and  the 9th (Caleb Holland) ranked rushers in the conference. Through the air, Ferrum's quarterback Zach Wyatt ranks 5th, averaging 143.4 yards per game. (Tied for 161st nationally) In passing touchdowns, Wyatt only has two, and that is not strong, but I see great strides in the passing game since week one. Wyatt is completing 64.2 percent of his passes, has thrown for 445 yards and only one interception Look for his rankings to climb.

In overall individual scoring, Jahylen Lee is 2nd in the conference with five rushing touchdowns, and an average of 10 points per game. He is tied for 22nd nationally in this category with multiple other players

Receiving yards are dominated in the conference by Broden Dominico of Shenandoah with 20 receptions for 285 yards and 4 touchdowns. Nathan Aguilar of Ferrum ranks second in the conference with 11 receptions for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nationally, Aguilar ranks tied for 132nd with multiple players.  Ferrum is ranked 6th in the nation in Red Zone Offense.

Defensively, Ferrum has looked better each week. To be the seventh ranked team in points given up speaks volumes as the Panthers gave up 55 in game one. They  could easily be last, and I look for them to climb in the rankings as the season moves along

Interestingly enough, Seth Deaton is one of the most consistent kickers in the conference, but he ranks 6th of 8 teams with extra points. Currently, Seth has made 7 of 8 extra points. That is not bad considering there were no Panther touchdowns scored in the first game. As for Field Goals, Seth is currently ranked fifth on the ODAC website stats page. He has made more field goals than any team in the conference, and is 5 for five. I am not really sure why he is not first. (If someone knows, please clue me in) Especially since NCAA D3 statistics have him ranked tied for no.1 in the Nation in Field Goal Percentage. Ferrum punter William Hutton has Ferrum ranked 2nd in the conference, and tied for 15th in the nation, and 14th in Net Punting. (Punting Yards minus Return Yards) Ferrum has punted more than any team in the conference....not hard to believe as they likely accrued most of them in game one.

Statistics will only tell you so much, but I thought you may find some of this interesting. It will be the effort and ability that will determine the winner, but Ferrum is better than a lot of these numbers show.

Go Panthers!

Final Tune Up Before Conference Play Has Panthers Hitting On All Cylinders

 I want to start by saying that tonight's win over Averett was a true example of a team win. I was watching the game on my phone while attending the William and Mary game at home against Furman. (Have you ever had to explain to someone after telling them you went to Ferrum, that no Ferrum is not in South Carolina, that is Furman? I know I have.) Tonight is the first time I have ever watched the two team playing at the same time......but let's get back to the Panthers win.

When I got logged into the game on my phone, Averett had just completed their opening 7 play, 62 yard drive resulting in the Cougars converting a 21 yard field goal. Averett led 3-0. The quarter continued, with both teams exchanging punts after drives that bogged down. With 7:14 remaining in the opening period, Ferrum took its second possession of the game down the field on a 4 play 64 yard drive ending with a 46 yard pass from Wyatt to Nathan Aguilar for the Panthers first score of the game. Seth Deaton added the extra point, and Ferrum would never look back, leading 7-3.

Averett's ensuing drive was a solid attempt to keep the game in reach. They moved the ball all the way to the Ferrum 4 yard line, but running back Nicholas Easley fumbled and the Panthers recovered at the 4. Ferrum moved the ball methodically down the field, but the drive stalled at the Averett 25 yard line. This set up Seth Deaton for his first field goal of the game, splitting the uprights from 42 yards out and giving Ferrum a 10-3 lead with 13:37 left in the first half.

The next drive for Averett was met with the strong play of the Panthers defense. Two penalty's against the Cougars slowed their slight momentum, and they again had to punt to Ferrum. The punt resulted in a touchback, and Ferrum took over at their own 20 yard line. 10 plays and 80 yards later resulted in a Jahylen Lee 1 yard touchdown run. The Deaton extra point gave Ferrum a 17-3 lead.

Averett's Nick Andrews returned the Ferrum kickoff to the Cougar 22 yard line where they started their next possession. Averett was able to move the ball into Panther territory, but again, a stingy Ferrum defense, and penalties against Averett stalled their progress and they again punted.

Ferrum took over at their own 13, and quickly moved the ball to the Averett 13 yard line. With time getting short in the half, and facing a 4th and 9, Ferrum again called on Seth Deaton to convert a 30 yard field goal. Deaton did not disappoint, and he gave Ferrum a 20-3 lead, which they would take into the locker room.

Ferrum would receive the kickoff to begin the second half, and within nine plays a nice offensive effort would fall short of a touchdown, but was plenty close enough to again call on Seth Deaton to connect on a 36 yard field goal attempt. This would be Deaton's third field goal of the game, extending the Panther lead to 23-3.

After the Deaton kickoff, Averett put together a nice 12 play drive but the Ferrum defense limited their progress to the Ferrum 22. They called on Mikhail Iakovlev to attempt a 40 yard field goal, but it was no good, and Ferrum took over at their own 22, with 6:46 remaining in the third quarter. In seven plays, the Panthers would find the endzone again, and add to their lead making it 29-3. The Deaton PAT was blocked.

After the ensuing kickoff, Averett would try to put together an offensive drive, only to be stymied by a fumble that was recovered by Ferrum's Marquan Martin on the Averett 47. The offense took over, but stalled on this drive, and Hutton was called in to punt. Averett took over on their own 3 yard line.

With only a gain of two yards, Averett punted on fourth down, and Ferrum took over on the Averett 38 yard line. This drive would continue into the fourth quarter. This drive culminated in a 36 yard touchdown pass from Zach Wyatt to Nathan Aguilar. The Deaton extra point was good, and Ferrum lead 36-3.

Averett's next possession saw them move the ball into Ferrum territory, and on a 2nd and 2, Gaby Soto ran 33 yards for an Averett touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Ferrum lead was cut to 36-10. The rest of the game was fairly anticlimactic, and the final score was Ferrum 36  Averett 10.

This was how I had hoped the non conference schedule would end. I was really concerned about this game, but I see Ferrum improving each week. Ferrum will have their open date this coming week, but will return home to face the Bridgewater Eagles (2-1) on the Saturday Oct. 5th. This will be a tough game for Ferrum, but I am really impressed with their overall progress so far. It's Fan Appreciation Day at Ferrum that Saturday, so let's pack the place and get win #3.

Go Panthers!

Ferrum @ Averett

 While it's not unheard of, Ferrum will play the first of two games against Averett this year. Saturday's game will be considered a non conference game, and the regular season finale will be at Ferrum on November 16th. Averett (2-0) would likely work out to be a favorite over Ferrum this week, if for nothing else that they are playing at home, and they have a record of 2-0 where Ferrum is 1-1. Well that is meaningless. First, we can throw out Ferrum's first game. While they had a few bright spots, Ferrum was never considered to be a contender to beat Mt. Union. The North Carolina Wesleyan game was a more suitable match and gave a more accurate perspective of Ferrum' s possibilities. Ferrum showed me the possibility of a strong, controlling running game, but there were areas that I hope will show growth and improvement. The pass defense in the end gave up too many yards against the Bishops. 354 passing yards is beyond what the defense can afford to yield.  Ferrum was able to sack the Bishop quarterback twice, and this is also a positive that needs to continue to be a force this week. As for the passing game, I also see this as having potential, but it needs to be more of an overall contributor to the offensive success.

Even though Averett is 2-0, let's look at their opponents. First they opened against the same North Carolina Wesleyan Bishops. They beat NCW 41-29. The Cougars threw 20 passes, completing 15 of them for 222 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Averett's defense gave up 29 points, and the Bishops were just as successful, for the most part, on the ground as through the air.

The next opponent for Averett was the Greensboro Pride. Having not really kept up with Greensboro, I would expect they the will finish at or near the bottom of the USA South, but they are actually predicted to finish 6th......ahead of Methodist, Southern Virginia, and LaGrange. Greensboro is 0-2, but wait till you hear this..... they lost to Guilford 14-0, and lost to Averett 27-20, having had the lead over the Cougars most of the game. Averett went ahead of Greensboro for the first time with 6:05 left in the game, which proved to be the final score.

Ferrum will have a tough task tomorrow, but it is far from impossible. With a strong defense pressuring the quarterback, Turnovers could play a big role. O-line, do the job that you are capable of, and protect your quarterback, open holes and turn Lee loose. 

We need to capitalize on every turnover or mistake. Get after 'em hard, and do not let up. This could turn into a he who has the ball last wins. Get ready Seth!

Go Panthers!

Ferrum Grabs First Win of the Season Defeat Bishops 28-24

 I had a good feeling about the Panthers chances with this game, but I knew there was no guarantee. Statistically speaking, the overall numbers favored the Bishops. Time of Possession, First Downs, Passing Yards, and Total Offensive Yards, all favored North Carolina Wesleyan. The numbers in those categories were decidedly in the Bishops favor, but Ferrum had strong statistical numbers and outshone the Bishops in Rushing Yards, Penalty Yards, Third Down Conversions, and Red Zone Scoring Chances. 

Ferrum seemed to have difficulty defending the pass in the first half. Many times Christian Drumgoole was open for receptions and many times it seemed that he and the quarterback connected. Drumgoole had one touchdown in the first half. Anthony Byrd was the Bishops star of the running game as he also had a touchdown in the first half. Offensively, Ferrum kept pace as Zach Wyatt found the endzone on a quarterback keeper from one yard out, and Jahylen Lee scored on a 9 yard run which tied the score 14-14 at the half.

Ferrum kicked off to start the second half and in 7 plays, Drumgoole had his second touchdown pass of the night, and NCW led 21-14. Ferrum came out hot after Aguilar returned the kickoff to the 21yard line. Ferrum picked up 3 quick first downs, and had the ball moving well until the Bishops intercepted a pass and took over on their own 35. they put together a drive, which led to a 35 yard field goal putting the Bishops out in front 24-14 with 5:57 left in the 3rd quarter.

Down by 10, Ferrum seemed to turn things up a notch on both sides of the ball. NCW attempted an onside kick after their field goal, but the ball went out of bounds, giving Ferrum the ball at the NCW 43 yard line. This was excellent field position for Ferrum and they took full advantage. In 4 plays, Ferrum found the end zone as Jahylen Lee took the ball in for his second score of the night from 14 yards out. Ferrum now trailed 24-21 with 4:45 left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Bishops return man was not able to find the handle and Ferrum recovered the loose ball on the Bishops 17 yard line. In three plays Jahylen Lee found the endzone for his third score of the night, and with Seth Deaton adding his fourth extra point of the night, Ferrum led the game 28-24. After the kickoff, the Ferrum defense held and forced the Bishops to punt. Ferrum took over, ran two plays and the quarter ended. Two plays later Ferrum punted and the Bishops looked to mount a drive.

Wesleyan came out for this series meaning business, and quickly moved the ball down the field, advancing to the Ferrum 6 yard line. It was there however that Chaz Hirschman, the Bishops quarterback went to the well one too many times and was intercepted by Ferrum's linebacker Fuller Howard. Ferrum took over on their own 7 yard line, and began another solid offensive drive, picking up three first downs before having to punt.

With 3:28 left in the game, Wesleyan took over at their own 10 yard line. They again started an impressive drive that took them all the way to the Ferrum 10 yard line with eleven seconds left in the game. Hirschman attempted three passes, but they all fell incomplete, and time ran out. Ferrum came away with their first win of the season, and the first head coaching win for Coach Kevin Sherman. What a game!

Interestingly enough, Ferrum's Jahylen Lee was named the ODAC offensive player of the week, and Anthony Byrd was named the USA South offensive player of the week.

Ferrum grew during this game. There must have been some halftime adjustments made, but Ferrum was an improved team in the second half and the end results are a Panther win. Lastly I want to give a shout out to the Ferrum Offensive Line, They were on point all night, and played a huge role in this win.

Now let's get ready for Averett!

Go Panthers!

Ferrum @ North Carolina Wesleyan University

 It's a new week, and a new opponent. Ferrum is on the road to play the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan for a 6 p.m. game this evening. NCWU is coming off of a 49-21 loss to Averett, but    judging by the statistics, this team has some offensive talent that Ferrum needs to be aware of. Quarterback Chaz Hirschman was 16 of 25 for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns. The running game is led by Anthony Byrd. Last week,  Byrd gained 192 yards on 21 carries, scoring two touchdowns. Christian Drumgoole is a solid receiver for the Bishops who compliments Hirschman very well. This team can move the ball, and if the Ferrum defense is not on point, it could be a tough game to win for the Panthers.

Last week is not a great indicator of the potential of Ferrum, but I believe Ferrum will definitely be more in their competition realm this evening. I see Ferrum's ground game as having promise, and while I am hopeful of passing game success, it is very early to tell, and so far, the stats don't make it easy to judge. It is important to note however that 7 receivers did catch passes last week. 

On the defensive side of the ball, look for strong effort. I believe that if the defense can produce some North Carolina Wesleyan punts, Ferrum can capitalize, and leave Rocky Mount with a win.

It will be a good game. Ferrum won the match up last year 34-0. I am not sure that things will come that easy for Ferrum tonight, but I do see Ferrum on the winning side of the ledger.

Go Panthers!

Ferrum Falls to #5 Mount Union 55-6

There have been more lopsided defeats by lesser teams so my first take on the game is that the loss was not a surprise. What was a surprise was the overall effort the Panthers gave. This was an opponent that Ferrum could have been down about at the beginning, but they came out of the gate hard, firing on all cylinders and had two first downs on the opening drive. In the end they had to punt, but they moved the ball on the first drive well. Then, the defense came out and took it to the Purple Raiders stopping them on a 3 and out series. Mount Union punted, and the offense picked up where they left off getting three more first downs setting up Seth Deaton's first field goal of the day, a 19 yarder that gave Ferrum a 3-0 lead. At this point I was ecstatic, yelling like I was at the game. I was hoping that Ferrum could come out and repeat a 3 and out stand on defense, but it was not to be. The Mount Union offense quickly got untracked, and put 7 points on the board.

Seth Deaton would add a second quarter field goal, keeping the game close at 14-6, but that was all of the scoring the Panthers would muster on this afternoon.  The 13 time national champion Purple Raiders began to take control in the second quarter, and by halftime they led 28-6. 

There were mistakes, and a fumble deep in Ferrum territory, but overall this was game that should serve as a chance to see Ferrum improve. This was not a shock, and while they lost, I firmly believe they should not be considered a cellar dweller in the ODAC. There is some good talent on this team, and I say just watch they will get better with time.

Get ready for North Carolina Wesleyan. This should be a good game and I am thinking Ferrum will get their first taste of victory this year.

Go Panthers!

#5 Mount Union @ Ferrum

The Panthers are ready to start another season of Blackhat football. With coach Kevin Sherman '92 at the helm, there are all sorts of possibilities for this team. There for me are also several question marks as there are many new names on the roster. Quarterback looks like it will be handled by Junior Zach Wyatt.  As best as I can tell, Wyatt was on the 2022 roster at Ferrum as a Freshman, but was not on the 2023 roster. This year he returns as a Junior, and will be backed up by Sophomore Blake Jones.

To start this season, the Panthers are not shying away from quality opponents. Opening against the Purple Raiders of Mount Union is going to prove to be a challenge. It will take every ounce of fuel in the tank, grit in the gut, and an abundance of Grace from God to compete with this team. It seems sort of repetitive to continue to share accolades of this team, so I won't......it will have to suffice that this may be the best team ever to visit Adams stadium.....at least in the Division 3 era. (Considering history of success)

I am a Ferrum fan and nothing tomorrow will change that. It was my intent to be at the game tomorrow, but a change in the schedule at work will keep me in eastern Virginia. If work ends early enough, I will try to watch it online.

No prediction for this one, I am just hoping for a good game with no injuries, and good sportsmanship.

Go Panthers!

Lots of Changes on 40 West

To say that this has been a busy offseason is an understatement of major proportions. On October 9th, it was announced that Cleive Adams was named the Athletics Director at Ferrum College. His was a logical, yet surprising move to me as I felt as though Adams was making progress with the football program.  On January 9th, Ferrum announced it selection for its 9th head football coach. I was not sure what to expect, but my hope was that they would find a coach that met at least three criteria.

• The coach should have college coaching experience
• The coach should have been associated with successful programs
• The coach should have the mindset of returning Ferrum to football prominence

Kevin Sherman '92 was introduced at the Tuesday press conference as the newest leader of the Ferrum gridiron program, and from what I have gleaned from the press conference, and various news articles, he checks all the boxes,.... and then some.

Coach Sherman has a strong background and a wealth of experience with more than 30 years on the sideline. 

Not long after the announcement of the new coach, Ferrum announced it would be elevating all of the college sponsored athletics to Division II. This, for me came out of deep left field. I did not see that coming at all. I am not sure, even now what to think of this decision, but at some levels, it makes sense.

I think this will give teams another tool in their recruiting tool bag. It should draw more athletes, and can in the long run work to rebuild the athletic successes at Ferrum. This change to division 2 I believe will begin in 2025-26, but I am expecting this to be an introductory year where they will not be eligible for a conference title. (Please correct me in the comments if I am wrong)

This move will hopefully increase enrollment, but the question I have is where does the money for scholarships come from?

In D2 football, a team can make available a total of 36 scholarships. This number varies per sport, but I am expecting that most, if not all players in football that are offered money will be offered partial scholarships. There could be a full ride, but I don't see that being the case very often.

This will change the approach to recruiting, and will change the image of Ferrum in the eyes of the prospective athlete. Remember this is a year away......what about this year?

It all starts Saturday when the #5 Mount Union Purple Raiders come to Ferrum for the first time. I have given details of their past success, but I want to offer up something that may be more familiar to you.

In 2012, Mount Union defeated Christopher Newport University 72-14.

In 2006, Mount Union beat Averett 64-7

In 2007 they again beat Averett 75-7

They have also beaten Bridgewater twice,

They have beaten North Carolina Wesleyan twice

They are 1-0 against Randolph-Macon

and

They are 2-0 against Washington and Lee

This team is a powerhouse, and an elite D3 football program. This will likely be a long day for the Panthers, but Ferrum is the only team that has a chance to beat Mount Union this Saturday, and if there is a chance, I will be there to see it. Good Luck Panthers! Let's Go!

Press Conference Tomorrow to Announce New Football Coach

 The Sports Information Director's office announced today that a press conference will be held tomorrow to introduce Ferrum's new football coach. Please see link below:

Ferrum Football Coach Announcement

The press conference will be live streamed at 11:30 a.m., and can be watched at the link below:

Watch Press Conference Here