Ferrum @ Bridgewater

 Ferrum will board the bus and head to Bridgewater College to take on the Eagles who are holding a 2-3 record. Bridgewater has two non conference wins (Gettysburg and Southern Virginia) and three losses (Emory and Henry, Randolph Macon*, and Shenandoah*) (* indicates conference game) From these games it appears that Bridgewater is more successful throwing the ball than running it. They have thrown the ball 186 times, and are averaging just over 244 passing yards per game. They have scored 9 touchdowns through the air, and are averaging 24.6 points per game. On the ground, the Eagles have run the ball 146 times this season and have totaled 361 yards on the ground. This averages to 2.5 yards per carry. They have scored 6 touchdowns on the ground. 

By contrast, Ferrum has thrown 108 passes and the Panthers are averaging 261.5 yards per game. Ferrum has scored 9 passing touchdowns by air, and the Panthers are averaging 27.0 ppg. Over land, Ferrum has run the ball 140 times, and totaled 458 yards on the ground. That's an average of 3.3 yards per carry. Ferrum has 2 rushing touchdowns.

On the surface, Ferrum and Bridgewater seem to match up fairly evenly, the difference when looking at the number comparisons is that Ferrum has played one less game. For the statistics to be this close is interesting, but with one less game on the books for Ferrum, it tells me that Ferrum likely will have a bit more dominant attack. That is not necessarily always they way it works out, and anything can change, The injuries or lack there of, penalties, home field advantage....many things can affect the outcome.

Speaking of penalties, Ferrum may have lost last week to the Yellow Jackets, but I want to definitely acknowledge their much improved number of penalty yards. Through their first three games, Ferrum had 341 penalty yards. Against Randolph Macon, they had 15 yards in penalties. That is a trend that must continue......now back to this weeks game. Ferrum must impact the passing game of Bridgewater. This is the mainstay of their offense. they have to pressure the quarterback, and Ferrum needs to play the receivers a bit tighter on the line of scrimmage. Too many times, Ferrum is playing too far away from the receiver on the line. Sometimes as far as nine yards off the receiver, Opponents are then exploiting this with short underneath passes.

This game could go either way, and penalties or special teams could spell the difference, but I think the talent factor for Ferrum outweighs that of the Eagles. Look for the bus ride home to be a happy one as I see Titus and the team bringing home win #4.

Ferrum 35    

Bridgewater  31

Go Panthers!