Ferrum @ UNC Pembroke

 As Willie would say..."On The Road Again". Ferrum is again travelling for the third game in four weeks. After a nice home win last week against CIAA foe Shaw University, the Panthers this week take the bus to Pembroke, N.C. to take on the 2-1 UNC Pembroke Braves. This will mark the beginning of conference play. UNC-P was picked as co champion of Conference Carolinas along with North Greenville. Ferrum was picked to finish 7th in the poll.

It is hard to say how Ferrum will fare in this, but if the poll is any indication, this will not be an easy game for the Panthers. The question is, is the poll a valid indicator? In my opinion, while it may be right about UNC-P finishing at or near the top of the standings at seasons end, I am not convinced that Ferrum will finish last. If I had to pick, I would have Ferrum 4th or no worse that 5th. As it turns out, the speculation really has no tangible meaning. What matters is how will the Panthers do Saturday?

A look at UNC-P:

The Braves running game has many backs, but through 3 games, it appears that #14 Tre Robinson seems to be the man carrying the mail most of the time.  In three games Robinson has rushed for a total of 150 yards and three touchdowns. There is also #7 Joel Felder, and #10 JaQuan Albright who contribute to the rushing offense. The passing game seems to be the main route of success for the Braves.....and did I mention that Tre Robinson is also the quarterback? So far, Robinson is averaging 200 passing yards per game, and has thrown for 5 touchdowns. He is 41 of 71 with 2 interceptions.

On defense, the Braves are giving up 25 ppg. Opponents are averaging 133 yards on the ground against them, and 188 yards through the air. It is worth noting that the Braves did defeat the #16 ranked team in the country Delta State 25-21 in their most recent game.

How will Ferrum Stack Up?

Ferrum is averaging 115 ypg on the ground, and just over 90 yards per game through the air. While these numbers may seem slight compared UNC-P, keep in mind that the Braves have not gone up against a D1 opponent, and Ferrum has. This will skew the numbers as they stand today.

Look for Ferrum to employ a balanced mix of running and passing, with Eli Foutz, Jahylen Lee, and Omarza Gray working to keep the offense moving. Defensively, I think Ferrum found some defensive momentum last week against Shaw, and I am hoping the players will continue to fly to the ball, and that the D unit can be successful in limiting the time of possession for the Braves.

This will not be an easy game, but I am feeling like Ferrum can make a strong showing today. If it is close at halftime, it could literally go either way. A win today would be unexpected, but it's not impossible.

Go Panthers!