On a gorgeous day for football, Ferrum travelled to Randolph-Macon to take on the conference leading Yellow Jackets. Randolph-Macon, who was ranked #24 in the AFCA poll at the time and was 7-1, played host to a Ferrum team that would have to win it's last two games to have a winning season. The task in front of Ferrum would not be an easy one to say the least, and it quickly became apparent why.
After Randolph Macon deferred the coin toss, Ferrum took the ball and on the first play got a first down from a 13 yard pass from Wyatt to Kai Bowers. The next three plays took the ball 9 yards, but with 4th and 1, Ferrum rolled the dice and went for it, but to no avail. The Yellow Jackets took over and in 6 plays they covered 62 yards for the touchdown, The highlight of the drive was a 35 yard run by Kwesi Clark.
With a 7-0 lead, the Yellow Jackets defense looked to put even more pressure on the Panthers, and they did just that. It took only 5 plays before the Panthers were punting again, and this time Randolph Macon would score again after a 12 play drive resulting in a Mitchell Johnson 1 yard touchdown run. At this point, Ferrum trailed 14-0 with 19 seconds left in the 1st quarter, and that's how the quarter ended.
Things got rougher early in the second quarter as Ferrum was held to a three and out where they would punt again, and 13 plays later Randolph-Macon would find paydirt again when Casciola scored on a one yard run.
Trailing 21- 0, Ferrum was again stopped after only three plays and Hutton came back to punt. There was sort of a pattern showing, and for Ferrum fans, it was not pretty. The inability to slow down their offense, and the frustration of trying to maneuver past their defense.
On the next series by the Yellow Jackets, it took them only five plays, and they found themselves ahead 28-0. After the kickoff, Ferrum. did get a couple of more plays off but with limited success, and that is how the half would end.
The problem with the second half was that Ferrum had to kickoff. The job of stopping the Jackets had proven mostly impossible, and the start of the second half seemed just like I feared. In eight plays, they covered 75 yards, and scored another touchdown, making the score 35-0.
On the next drive, Ferrum put together the best drive of the game as they moved the ball 70 yards down the field, but Lee fumbled the ball and the Yellow Jackets recovered. With that, Ferrum was able to stop their offense on a three and out, and they punted. Amazingly, it was an 8 yard punt, and Ferrum took over at the Randolph Macon 32 yard line. The gaff by the punter must have inspired the Panthers offense, because on their first play, Zach Wyatt hit Josh Powell for a 32 yard touchdown pass, and Ferrum trailed 35-7.
This is how it would end, but I cant say I am surprised at the outcome. They wrapped up the conference with that win, and are in the field again for the D3 playoffs. Ferrum has to look ahead to the Averett Cougars. A win is a .500 season, and we know we can beat them, but Ferrum is missing some key players so it may not come as easy this time. I do think Ferrum has the pieces necessary to win. and if they do they will likely finish in fifth place in the ODAC.....which is much better than where they were predicted to finish.
Go Panthers!
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