Panthers Fall to Braves 45-14

 Ferrum's football team closed their home season out yesterday and came up on the short end of a 45-14 final score. The UNC Pembroke Braves came in with a 7-2, 5-1 record and were playing to get a shot at the conference championship and a trip to the NCAA playoffs. There was no question that Pembroke would be a tall order for Ferrum. The Panthers came in with a 3-6, 3-3 record, and while there had been many bright spots for Ferrum, and we had seen some successes, this was a game that would highlight the differences in the top tier of the conference and Ferrum who was the fourth place team of seven.

To this point, Ferrum had some good wins, close losses, and a few games where they just were not really in contention. After giving up an opening drive touchdown to the Braves, Ferrum came back and moved methodically down the field on an eight play drive and tied the score 7-7. While that was a positive, and it was just what Ferrum needed, that would be the only Ferrum score of the first half. Pembroke would progressively move down the field on each of their possessions and score to give them a 31-7 halftime lead..

Ferrum kicked off in the second half, and while the Panthers were in a hole, the beginning of the third quarter gave me a glimmer of hope as on their first play of the second half, Ferrum forced a fumble, .and recovered the ball at the Pembroke 19 yard line. One play later, Foutz hit Tate-Blanks  on a 19 yard pass to make the score 31-14. The nest Braves possession, Ferrum's defense stiffened, and forced the Braves to punt. Ferrum's offense stalled on the next drive and punted back to the Braves who would take the ball down the field on an eleven play drive and score to make the score 38-14. Pembroke would add one more touchdown in the fourth quarter leading to the final score of 45-14.

In all, There were some bright spots as on both scoring drives Ferrum was able to take advantage of UNC Pembroke mistakes. On the second touchdown by Ferrum, UNC Pembroke incurred an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which was assessed on the ensuing kickoff. Ferrum was kicking from the 50 yard line, and from my perspective, I was expecting the Panthers to kick an on side kick. It may not have worked, but if it had, it could have been a large momentum shift. But that was not to be.

Overall, Pembroke gained 558 yards on offense (279 passing, and 279 yards rushing...I'd call that a balanced attack). In the end Pembroke was just a bigger, faster and stronger team than Ferrum. This was an important game as it shows where Ferrum should aspire to be. I have seen a lot of improvement with the Panther team this year. The team building will continue, and I think you will see steady improvement as time goes on.

Ferrum closes their season next week as they travel to Concord West Virginia to take on the Concord University Mountain Lions (7-3, 5-3). I am curious about one thing...Why are we playing them? This is a non conference game, and I understand that we need to fulfill the commitment to a two game contract, but all of the other teams in the conference had a ten game schedule. Now I know that Conference Carolinas has the final game between the top two teams, but no one else is playing next week. I worry that this is a high risk with little reward type of game. It has no playoff implications, will involve additional travel expenses for the college, and there is always the risk of injury. Initially I thought that DII schools must play an 11 game schedule, but that is not the case as far as I can tell. To me, it's a head scratcher.

UNC Pembroke @ Ferrum Senior Day

 Saturday's game at W. B. Adams stadium is not just another game...especially for 8 Seniors of the Panther team. Today is Senior day and this one rings a bit differently. It represents the last game they will play in front of the home fans, the last game they will suit up for in front of their locker, it will be the last pre game speeches they will hear in the Norton Center, and it will be the final time wearing the black jerseys. For these Panthers, this game will mean a lot. 

Piero Vernazza-Cortez

Jahylen Lee

TreVonte McGahee

Jon Davis

Ke'Shaun Wright

George Tolliver

Jason Creech

Chase Smith

These 8 players have been strong contributors to this team and would like to end their home career with a W.

As for the game, Ferrum will play host to the UNC Pembroke Braves. The Braves (7-2, 4-1) come into Saturday's game fresh off of their bye week. Their last win was their homecoming against Chowan, where they defeated the Hawks 38-21. They are led by dual threat quarterback Josh Ehrlich who has thrown for 1940 yards with 19 touchdowns, and has run the ball 124 times for 744 yards and 7 touchdowns. The running game is also complimented by Jake Davids. Davids has run the ball for 438 yards and has scored 6 touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 156 receiving yards and 1 receiving score.

Ferrum will counter with a few weapons of it's own. 

Eli Foutz has had a strong season throwing for 1779 yards and 10 touchdowns, and is also comfortable tucking and running as he has scored four times on the ground. Ferrum's rushing duties have been mostly led by Jycen Anciso with 144 rushing attempts for 625 yards and 4 touchdowns. Receiving has been led again this year by Omarza Gray. Gray has pulled in 46 receptions for 507 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

While this is an important game, it will not be easy. For some background, UNC Pembroke has defeated a top 20 team, and a top 10 team. They are currently in second place in Conference Carolinas, and lost to first place North Greenville 42-41. 

While I like to stay positive about Ferrum, this will be tough. UNC Pembroke is giving up 17.77 points per game, and are scoring 34.3 points per game. Ferrum, on the other hand is giving up 24.22 points per game, and averaging offensively 17.88. 

If Ferrum can contain the effectiveness of the Braves quarterback, and control the time of possession, the opportunity for an upset exists. Mistakes must be non existent for Ferrum and the Pembroke mistakes must be capitalized on. With a total team effort, a win is possible, and wouldn't that be an excellent way to close the home career of those 8 Seniors.

Chowan Rallies Past Ferrum 28–21 in Hard-Fought Homecoming Contest

 Ferrum College battled throughout Saturday's Homecoming contest, overcoming an early 7–0 deficit to take a 14–7 lead into halftime. However, Chowan University's explosive passing attack and a pivotal fourth-quarter defensive touchdown helped the Hawks rally for a 28–21 victory.

The Panthers' defense forced five turnovers, including three fumble recoveries and two interceptions, while Chowan quarterback Tyler Adkins completed 22 of 39 passes for 452 yards in an impressive performance. Despite trailing by 14 points late in the fourth quarter, Ferrum fought back and mounted a final drive that ended just six yards short of the end zone as time expired.

Second-Quarter Turnovers Spark Ferrum

After falling behind 7–0 in the opening quarter, Ferrum's defense turned in an impressive second-quarter performance, forcing four turnovers that helped shift momentum in the Panthers' favor. Chowan's first two possessions of the quarter ended with fumbles recovered by Ferrum. Although the Panthers were unable to convert either opportunity into points, the defense continued creating problems for the Hawks.

The third takeaway came when Chowan fumbled a Ferrum punt, giving the Panthers another scoring opportunity. This time, Ferrum capitalized, scoring a touchdown to even the contest at 7–7. On Chowan's next possession, Ferrum intercepted a pass on the third play of the drive. The Panthers again took advantage of the opportunity, finding the end zone to take a 14–7 lead into halftime.

Ferrum's four second-quarter takeaways were instrumental in turning the momentum, with two resulting in touchdowns.

Chowan Responds in Second Half

Chowan opened the second half with a touchdown drive to tie the contest at 14–14. The Hawks continued moving the football, beginning another possession late in the third quarter that carried into the fourth. That drive culminated in another touchdown, giving Chowan a 21–14 advantage.

Ferrum's defense continued to make plays, intercepting an Adkins pass in the end zone to prevent another potential Chowan score. However, the Panthers were unable to capitalize offensively and eventually punted. The game's most consequential play came later in the fourth quarter when Ferrum lost a fumble that Chowan recovered and returned for a touchdown. The defensive score extended the Hawks' lead to 28–14 with 5:17 remaining.

To Ferrum's credit, the Panthers responded immediately, moving quickly downfield and scoring a touchdown in less than two minutes to narrow the deficit to 28–21 with 3:27 remaining. After forcing a Chowan punt, Ferrum regained possession at its own 14-yard line with just 1:27 left. The Panthers moved the football downfield, but with the final seconds ticking away, they still faced a difficult situation.

On the game's final play, quarterback Eli Foutz connected with freshman receiver Mhakyi Hill on a 50-yard completion over the middle. Hill, a 6-foot-1, 196-pound freshman from Hampton, Virginia, caught the pass and raced toward the end zone before being brought down at the Chowan six-yard line. The clock expired on the play, ending Ferrum's comeback attempt and preserving Chowan's seven-point victory.

Ferrum Offense Produces 393 Yards

Despite the loss, Ferrum's offense generated 393 total yards against the Hawks. Quarterback Eli Foutz completed 23 of 34 passes for 260 yards, throwing one touchdown pass and one interception. On the ground, Jycen Anciso led the Panthers with 59 net rushing yards and a touchdown, while Na'Ledge Wright added 29 net rushing yards and another score. Omarza Gray led Ferrum's receiving corps with 10 receptions for 82 yards.

The Panthers' offensive performance was particularly encouraging in the closing minutes, when Ferrum responded to Chowan's defensive touchdown with a scoring drive and then nearly completed another remarkable possession in the final seconds.

Chowan's Passing Attack Proves Difficult to Contain

While Ferrum's five takeaways were impressive, Chowan demonstrated its ability to overcome adversity and produce explosive offensive plays. The Hawks accumulated 530 yards of total offense, including Adkins' 452 passing yards.

Chowan's ability to generate substantial yardage was particularly significant. Although Ferrum held an advantage of nearly nine minutes in time of possession, that statistic did not necessarily reflect control of the contest. The Hawks moved the football effectively throughout much of the afternoon, producing three offensive touchdowns despite committing five turnovers.

Ferrum's defense deserves recognition for creating those turnovers against a productive Chowan offense. At the same time, the Hawks deserve credit for overcoming their mistakes and making the plays necessary to secure the victory.

Progress Not Always Reflected in the Record

The loss drops Ferrum to 3–6 overall, with two games remaining in its second season competing at the NCAA Division II level. Although the Panthers have experienced their share of difficulties, there have been encouraging signs of improvement.

A year ago, Ferrum suffered a 51–10 defeat against Catawba. This season, the Panthers battled the Indians in a much closer 13–7 contest. Ferrum also remained competitive in an overtime loss to Shaw University and Saturday's seven-point defeat against Chowan. Those results illustrate both the progress Ferrum has made and the challenges that remain.

The Panthers have demonstrated the ability to compete against quality opponents, but turning competitive performances into victories remains an important step in the program's development. With games against UNC Pembroke and Concord University remaining, Ferrum faces a challenging conclusion to its 2026 schedule.

Saturday's Homecoming loss was undoubtedly disappointing, particularly considering the opportunities created by the defense and the Panthers' determined fourth-quarter comeback. Nevertheless, the performance offered further evidence that Ferrum is improving and is capable of competing at the Division II level.

The next challenge is finding the consistency necessary to turn those competitive efforts into victories.

Panthers Look to Carry Momentum Into Homecoming Against Chowan

Ferrum College will celebrate Homecoming this Saturday, October 31, when the Panthers host the Chowan University Hawks at W.B. Adams Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

The Panthers enter the game with a 3-5 overall record, but more importantly, they are 3-1 in Conference Carolinas play. Chowan comes to Ferrum with a 4-4 overall record and an identical 3-1 conference mark. Both teams are just a half-game out of first place in the conference standings, making Saturday's contest particularly important.

Ferrum is coming off another strong team performance, which led to a convincing 34-13 victory over Erskine College. The Panthers received solid contributions from all three phases of the game, something that will be necessary again this Saturday.

Against Erskine, Ferrum's defense was outstanding, limiting the Flying Fleet to just 193 yards of total offense. The Panthers recorded four quarterback sacks and intercepted two passes. Offensively, Ferrum accumulated 374 yards, including 233 through the air and 141 on the ground. Special teams also contributed to the victory.

But Chowan will present a much more difficult challenge.

The Hawks have demonstrated their ability to compete in Conference Carolinas, including a 16-13 victory over North Greenville earlier this month. Chowan also defeated Barton 34-0 and Erskine 37-7. Last Saturday, however, the Hawks suffered a 38-21 loss to UNC Pembroke.

If last year's meeting between these two teams is any indication, Saturday's contest could be another close one.In 2025, Ferrum traveled to Murfreesboro, North Carolina, and came away with a thrilling 40-37 double-overtime victory. Quarterback Eli Foutz connected with Tyrik Bryant for the winning touchdown in the second overtime period. Could we see another overtime game this year? It certainly wouldn't be surprising.

Homecoming should bring a larger crowd than usual to W.B. Adams Stadium, and that additional support could provide some energy for the Panthers. But the crowd alone won't win the game.Ferrum must avoid costly mistakes while keeping the pressure on the Hawks.

The Panthers have demonstrated that they can win conference games. They have also shown that they can compete when all three phases are working together. Ferrum's defense will need to create opportunities through turnovers and other defensive stops, and the offense must be prepared to capitalize on them.

This is a game the Panthers have a legitimate opportunity to win. It won't be easy, and it could very well come down to the final possession.

With Homecoming, conference standings, and momentum all on the line, Saturday should be an interesting afternoon at W.B. Adams Stadium.

Go Panthers!

Panthers Cruise to Third WinDefeat Erskine 34-13

And it was likely a nice bus ride home. Ferrum went to Due West South Carolina and succeeded in their mission to bring home a victory by dominating the Flying Fleet 34-13. This was the most points Ferrum has scored this year, and it came from a solid team effort The defense was devastating to the Erskine team. Just a few defensive numbers from yesterday.....The defense:

• Held Erskine to just 102 yards on the ground
• Held Erskine to 91 yards through the air
• Sacked the Erskine quarterback 4 times
• Had seven players complete 8 tackles for negative yards
• Had 2 interceptions

Those defensive numbers are only part of the story yesterday. The offense showed up in a big way. On Offense the Panthers:

• Had 141 yards on the ground
• Had 233 yards through the air
• Averaged over 16 yards per completion
• Scored three touchdowns through the air
• Had one rushing touchdown

Special Teams can't be left out as both Jon Davis and Cooper Wolfe converted on all of their attempts and contributed 10 points to the total points.  William Hutton, the Ferrum punter, who has been very consistent all year had 4 punts for 173 yards. Of those punts, he averaged 43.2 yards with one being over 50  yards, one was left inside the 20, and one was a touchback.

 

This was a true team effort. It was a game I thought Ferrum would win, and they did not disappoint. Now they return to the friendly confines of W.B. Adams Stadium for homecoming and a contest with the Chowan Hawks. Chowan is coming off of a loss against UNC Pembroke. Ferrum will likely begin preparation for Chowan on Monday, and take today to enjoy the win over Erskine.

Go Panthers!

Ferrum @ Erskine

 Ferrum boards the bus again this week to travel to South Carolina to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet. Erskine (2-5, 0-3) is coming off of a thumping at the hands of Chowan, losing 37-7. Ferrum (2-5, 2-1), is also coming off of a loss to non conference foe Delta State 24-7. Its easy to look at the records and think that Ferrum and Erskine could be fairly evenly matched. Let's see if that is accurate:

Ferrum Stats: 

Rushing Avg per game- 141.9 yards

Passing Avg per game-  189.7 yards

Total Offense Avg per game- 331.6 yards

Opponents to Ferrum:    

Rushing Avg per game-  200.3 yards

Passing Avg per game-  208.5

Total Offense Avg per game-  408.9 yards

Erskine Stats:

Rushing Avg per game-  84.4 yards

Passing Avg per game- 159.57 yards

Total Offense Avg per game-  244.0 yards

Opponents to Erskine:

Rushing Avg per game-  178.0 yards

Passing Avg. per game-  234.57 yards

Total Offense Avg per game-  412.6 yards

While there are definitely other stats that could be considered, I chose these as a snapshot for what we might expect. For Ferrum, I look for Eli Foutz to have a strong game. I expect he will be a problem for Erskine both through the air and on the ground.  Look for Jycen Anciso to be picking up good yardage, provided he has recovered from the injury that took him out last week. Na'Ledge Wright will also be a factor in the Ferrum backfield. The Flying Fleet have as their primary back Marquis Lattner, who is averaging 24.5 yards per game. 

For Ferrum to win this game, their offensive attack has to remain consistent. Look for a strong performance by Omarza Gray as he will likely be Foutz's primary target. For Erskine to have a reasonable chance to win, they will attack with the pass, and they are not afraid to put it up. The Ferrum DB's will have to be on their toes.

Stats tell you that this could be a close game, but I see Ferrum winning fairly big. I look for the Panthers to have a happy bus ride home.

Go Panthers!

Size Does Matter- Ferrum Falls to Delta State 24-7

 Sometimes the statistics don't tell the whole story. That was certainly the case Saturday afternoon as Ferrum College fell to Delta State University, 24–7.

Looking at the final numbers, one might wonder how Ferrum lost by 17 points. The Panthers outgained the Statesmen in total offense, 312 yards to 298, and recorded 20 first downs compared with Delta State's 15. Ferrum also held a considerable advantage in passing yardage, 200 to 99.

But anyone watching the game could see that Delta State held an advantage that doesn't necessarily show up in the statistics: physical size and strength.

Simply put, Delta State appeared to be the bigger, stronger football team, particularly along the line of scrimmage.

And in football, size matters.

Delta State's offensive line featured some enormous players. A look at the Statesmen's roster reveals offensive linemen weighing 320, 350, and even 370 pounds. While those numbers don't necessarily represent the five players who started Saturday's game, they illustrate the kind of size Delta State has assembled.

Ferrum isn't exactly small along its offensive line, either. Several Panthers weigh approximately 300 pounds, and the group has both size and experience. Nevertheless, Delta State appeared to win many of the physical battles up front.

That advantage was particularly evident in the running game.

Delta State rushed for 199 yards, compared with Ferrum's 112. The Statesmen averaged 5.1 yards per rushing attempt, allowing them to control the football and keep Ferrum's defense on the field.

The Panthers' defense deserves credit for keeping the game competitive for much of the afternoon. Early in the game Delta State was held to 2 three and outs on their first three possessions, and only earned one first down. Delta State managed just 99 passing yards in the game and Ferrum forced several punts. However, surrendering nearly 200 rushing yards on the day makes winning difficult.

Offensively, Ferrum experienced a different kind of frustration.

The Panthers moved the football between the twenties but struggled to finish drives. Ferrum reached the red zone three times and scored on just one of those opportunities. Delta State also made three trips inside the twenty, but converted all three into points. That difference was significant. Ferrum also struggled on third down, converting just two of eleven opportunities. Quarterback Eli Foutz completed 18 of 33 passes for 200 yards but threw two interceptions.

The Panthers were also dealing with difficulties at running back. Jycen Anciso did not play during the first half and later left the game with an injury after seeing action in the second half. Na'ledge Wright handled much of the workload, and did a fine job. 

Perhaps the most frustrating sequence of the afternoon came just before halftime. With the game tied at seven, Delta State blocked a Ferrum punt and recovered the football in the end zone for a touchdown. The score gave the Statesmen a 14–7 advantage with just 39 seconds remaining in the half.

Ferrum responded by moving the football into position for a field-goal attempt on the final play before intermission. Unfortunately, Delta State blocked that kick as well. Two blocked kicks in the closing moments of the first half illustrated the difficulties Ferrum was experiencing at the line of scrimmage.

The Panthers received the second-half kickoff and began moving the football, but an interception ended their opening possession. Another interception later in the third quarter ended a promising drive.

Delta State added a field goal in the third quarter to extend its lead to 17–7.

Ferrum's defense continued to battle, forcing punts and giving the offense additional opportunities. But the Panthers could not find the end zone again.

Delta State eventually put the game away with a late touchdown pass, producing the final 24–7 margin.

There is certainly disappointment in a loss like this, particularly when Ferrum finished with more total yards and first downs than its opponent.

 Those numbers also suggest that the Panthers were capable of moving the football against a physically imposing opponent. The problem was converting that movement into points.

Ferrum's defense had its moments, too, although the Statesmen's success on the ground remains a concern.Ultimately, this game appeared to be decided in the trenches. Delta State's physical presence, combined with Ferrum's turnovers, blocked kicks, and missed scoring opportunities, proved too much to overcome.

Football games aren't always won by the team with the most yards or the most first downs. They're won by the team that makes the critical plays when opportunities present themselves.

On Saturday, that team was Delta State.

And sometimes, size matters.

Delta State @ Ferrum

 The Panthers (2-4) return home this weekend after two consecutive road wins. This week, Ferrum hosts the Delta State Statesmen (2-3) who are coming off of their bye week, but won their last game against Shorter 23-0. Delta State comes with a strong run game anchored by #5 Nick Clark. In the Shorter game, Clark ran for 139 yards on 25 attempts, with 1 touchdown.. The passing duties are primarily handled by #9 Emile Picarella. So far, he is 34 of 64 with 4 interceptions and three passing touchdowns. For the season,  it appears that The Statesmen are picking up most of their yards on the ground as they are averaging 107 yards per game. Ferrum is averaging just under 147 yards per game on the ground. Through the air, the Delta State team is 53 of 108 with 7 interceptions and 3 touchdowns. By contrast Ferrum is 99 of 169 with 6 interceptions and 6 touchdowns.

I think Ferrum could pick up their third win of the season Saturday, but there are many intangibles that could make this really close contest. One statistic is the FG kicker for Delta State is 4 of 5 on field goals, including a 46 yarder for his longest of the year. This is a strong weapon that can make a huge difference in the game. To pick up their third W, Ferrum must look to have a strong, consistent attack on both sides of the ball, control the time of possession for all four quarters. They must create and capitalize on turnovers.  I look for the Delta State offense to be stymied at the line of scrimmage on the ground, and to  struggle through the air. Ferrum should out pace them on offense both on the ground and through the air, but there are no guarantees. A strong turnout by the Ferrum fans, with some loud support would go a long way toward a win. I will see you there. 

Go Panthers!

Panthers get second W Stop Shorter 17-10

 It may have taken some time to get the engine running, but Ferrum seems to have found some power under the hood. After starting 0-4, The Panthers have won 2 in a row. They are showing, in my mind that they are better than a 2-4 team. The first game was one they could have won, and the third game was virtually stolen from them....(IMHO) I know I am a bit biased, but the Shaw game made no sense. That however is water under the bridge, and Ferrum has put that tough loss behind them and are really playing solid defensive football. After the first four games, Ferrum was giving up 35.75 points per game. In the last 2 games, the Panthers have averaged giving up 5 points per game. Where we may need some tweaking is the offensive production. In time, that will come, but let's look at Friday's game against Shorter. This was a game scheduled for Saturday, but due to the upcoming Gulf Coast Hurricane, the game, in Rome Georgia, was played on Friday. This was a tough battle, and it was a rare game that the stats did not really match the outcome. Ferrum scored first when Sophomore Rashaud Cherry intercepted a Shorter pass, and took it 45 yards to the house. With the Jon Davis extra point, Ferrum led 7-0, and that would be the score at the end of the first quarter. Late in the second quarter, Ferrum running back Jycen Anciso scored the second touchdown of the day, and with the extra point, Ferrum led 14-0. Before the half, Shorter picked up a 34 yard field goal, and the halftime score was 14-3.

At 6:30 in the third quarter, Shorter running back David Hill found paydirt with a 36 yard run, and things tightened up a good bit as the Hawks closed the gap to 14-10, and that is how the third quarter would end.  From that point on, it was a defensive struggle. Both teams were keeping the other in check. Ferrum would put together a nice drive to open the fourth quarter, but turned it over on downs. Shorter started their drive but Aiden Mansfield had other plans as he picked up the Panthers second interception of the day. The ensuing drive was hard fought, but it did prove to be worth the fight as the Panthers got in field goal range, and Cooper Wolfe connected on a 37 yard field goal to put Ferrum up 17-10.

The defense contained the Hawks the rest of the way, and Ferrum would take home a well earned win on a very long bus ride. I mentioned that the stats did not match the outcome. The Hawks led in most of the statistical categories...First Downs 21-15, Rushing Yards 175-148, Passing Yards 173-104, and Total Offensive Yards 348-252.  The two interceptions for Ferrum proved crucial as that one score made a huge difference.  

Now Ferrum comes home after two road wins. This week, Ferrum will host Delta State as the Statesmen will arrive at Adams Stadium with a 2-3 record, coming off of their bye week. While this will be a difficult opponent, it is a non conference game. The big news in Conference Carolinas is that Chowan defeated North Greenville 16-13. This tightens the conference race up a bit. Chowan is now in first place, and Ferrum is in fourth. Can Ferrum win the conference? Mathematically yes, but it would take someone else defeating North Greenville, and Ferrum would need to win their remaining conference games. The disappointing thing is, while they could be crowned conference champions, Ferrum would not be eligible to participate in the playoffs as they are still in a provisional status as a D2 member. If all goes well, Ferrum will get fully accepted as a D2 program, and be eligible for the playoffs in 2027.

Go Panthers!

Ferrum Travels To Shorter

 I look ahead to this weeks game with optimism. Ferrum will be coming off of it's first win of the year, and will be looking to make it two in a row as they board the bus to Rome, GA., to take on the Shorter University Hawks. What's different? The game has been moved up to 3:30 p.m. today (10/9) due to possible inclement weather.  Hurricane Isaias is currently a Category 2 hurricane, and the pending bad weather in that region forced the schedule move. Based on weather reports for Rome, GA. it looks like they will battle a cloudy sky, and winds around 11 miles per hour, but no rain.

Shorter has a 2-3 record, (1-1) in the conference. They lost by 4 to the then # 22 Benedict Tigers. They lost to UNC Pembroke by 7, 31-24, and defeated Erskine by the same score of 31-24. The Hawks also fell to Delta State, 23-0. So where are their strengths? The running game is anchored by #5 David Hill. To this point, Hill has 87 rushing attempts and has netted 471 yards. He has not scored a rushing touchdown. The team rushing stats are: 174 rushing attempts, 781 net yards, they have scored 4 rushing touchdowns. Look for the Hawks to find the going rough on the ground. Through the air, Shorter has had much more success. The quarterback, #7 Jeb Walls has completed over 58% of his passes, and has thrown for 905 yards and 10 touchdowns. They are averaging 226 yards per game passing. Ferrum's passing game has been solid with a 59.06% completion rate, 1024 yards and 6 touchdowns. Eli Foutz will again anchor the quarterbacking duties.

Ferrum will need to be on their toes in the defensive backfield, as passing may be Shorter's main route of attack.....but the wind may have other plans. For Ferrum to be successful, they will need to go out, and continue their improved play at the line of scrimmage, and get pressure on the quarterback. If passing is their strength, we need to make it difficult . Dominating the line on both sides of the ball will be a must for Ferrum. Look for both teams to run the ball a lot today but on the occasional Shorter pass, the Ferrum's DB's have to be ready for the pick.

This could be a tough game,  but I look for Ferrum to come away with a win. 

Go Panthers!

Ferrum Gets First "W" with a 21-0 Shutout of Barton

 When I take the season in its totality, I see a team that is maturing, and getting better each week. The biggest difference is in one of the most important areas of the game...the line of scrimmage. I see a good amount of more consistent and improved play on both sides of the ball. This makes the team better all the way around. 

Today, Ferrum played at Barton, and after we lost to Barton for homecoming last year, I became concerned that this would place us in a more difficult situation against them on the road. When reviewing the stats of Barton this year, it quickly became apparent that Barton was struggling on offense. As it turned out the Bulldogs fortunes on offense did not improve against Ferrum. Barton had a total of 244 offensive yards,, 85 through the air, and 159 on the ground. Both teams passing games were likely hampered due to the rainy conditions. Ferrum posted 93 yards through the air, and 277 yards on the ground. The ground was the route to score today, as Eli Foutz has two rushing touchdowns, and Jycen Anciso had the other, a5 yard burst through the line on Ferrum's first possession.

Ferrum gave a solid and steady performance. Barton was shutout for their third game in a row. Next week Ferrum travels to Rome Ga. to take on the Shorter Hawks. Look for this to be a very tough and evenly matched game. I will have a preview by Thursday or Friday.

That first win feels good!

Go Panthers!

Ferrum Travels to Barton

 Ferrum starts their two week road swing this weekend as they travel to Wilson, N.C., to take on the Barton Bulldogs (1-4). Ferrum (0-4), is coming off a tough loss to top seed North Greenville, and will be looking to put one in the win column. The Bulldogs fell last weekend to West Alabama, 17-7.

This will be the second meeting between the two schools, with Ferrum losing last year, 34-20. So for this season, Ferrum has shown steady improvement. It was not all that evident against Emory and Henry, but overall I see the program improving. I look for this to be one where Ferrum could earn a "W" but it will not come easy. Barton has used four different quarterbacks this year, and all four have seen a solid amount of playing time. It appears that Senior Nazir Garrett has taken most of the snaps, playing in all five games and throwing for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Geronimo Sanchez, Sam Estep and Brandon Quinn have also shared time under center. The number one receiver for the Bulldogs is #5 Tyler Davis. He has 16 receptions for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns. On the ground, Barton gives a lot of the running work to Sophomore Jayden Brown. To date, Brown has 42 carries for 171 yards and one touchdown. Interestingly enough, the next four top rushers are Sanchez, Garrett, Quinn, and Estep. 

The defense for Barton has had its bright spots, although they are giving up 27.8 points per game. They put a great deal of pressure on the quarterback. They have sacked the opposing quarterbacks 12 times in 5 games. Ferrum's offensive line will be tested in this one. By contrast, their offense is only averaging 14.6 points per game. Ferrum has 4 sacks in 4 games, and opposing teams are averaging almost 36 points per game. Those numbers do not tell the entire story for this game. Its information, but it does not clearly show the progress that the Panthers have made. Look for the passing game to be a strength, and for it to open up the running game. I think you will see Eli Foutz doing more running Saturday. I don't think this will be a high scoring game, but to win, Ferrum has to cause turnovers, capitalize on those turnovers, and control the clock. It will be tough, but this is a winnable game for Ferrum. I am hopeful this weekend puts a victory on the board for the Panthers.