Emory and Henry @ Ferrum Crooked Road Classic Returns to Ferrum

 

After a four-year absence, one of Ferrum's oldest football rivalries returns Saturday as Emory & Henry visits W.B. Adams Stadium for the renewal of the Crooked Road Classic.

Ferrum and Emory & Henry first met in 1955, Ferrum's first season of football, and Saturday will mark the 40th meeting between the two schools. Emory & Henry holds a 29-13 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last four meetings. The rivalry became known as the Crooked Road Classic in 2016, with Ferrum winning the first two games played under that name.

The series was interrupted when Emory & Henry made the move to NCAA Division II. Ferrum followed that same path in 2025, and Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the two schools with both competing as Division II programs.

Both teams will be looking for their first win of the young season.

Ferrum opened last Saturday with a 13-7 loss to Catawba. While a loss is a loss, there were certainly encouraging signs for the Panthers. Ferrum was in position to win the game late and twice came away empty after reaching the Catawba red zone. One of those opportunities began at the Catawba six-yard line following Zavion Wilson's second interception of the game, but the Panthers were stopped on fourth down at the one-yard line.

The Ferrum defense, which struggled much of last season, showed noticeable improvement. Catawba was held to 98 rushing yards and did not score a rushing touchdown. Wilson's two interceptions also gave the Panthers opportunities that simply have to be converted into points.

Offensively, Ferrum still has some work to do. The Panthers managed only 56 yards rushing and 255 yards of total offense. Quarterback Eli Foutz completed 19 of 28 passes for 199 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Catawba paid particular attention to Omarza Gray, limiting Ferrum's leading receiver from a year ago to three catches for 31 yards. With Gray largely contained, Jycen Anciso led the Panthers with five receptions for 58 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown, while Tay Carter added four catches for 44 yards.

The Panthers will also need to clean up some mistakes. Ferrum was penalized 10 times for 84 yards against Catawba and was 0-for-2 on fourth down. In a six-point game, those missed opportunities were significant.

Emory & Henry comes to Ferrum following a 38-10 loss at Valdosta State. While the margin was substantial, it should be remembered that Valdosta State entered the season nationally ranked in Division II. The Wasps were facing a perennial national power on the road, so their opening-week score alone may not tell the entire story of the team Ferrum will face Saturday.

What we do know is that two old rivals are both 0-1, and neither wants to leave W.B. Adams Stadium 0-2.

For Ferrum, the keys appear fairly straightforward. The defense needs to build on what it showed against Catawba. The offense needs to establish a running game, and if Emory & Henry devotes the same kind of attention to Gray that Catawba did, Foutz will again need to find other receivers. Most importantly, when the defense creates opportunities, the Panthers need to turn those opportunities into points.

There may have been a time when this rivalry appeared to have come to an end. Emory & Henry moved to Division II, Ferrum remained in Division III, and the two programs seemed headed in different directions.

Now Ferrum has made the same move.

The Crooked Road has brought them back together.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday at W.B. Adams Stadium. The game is part of Ferrum's Hall of Fame Weekend, with the 2026 Sports Hall of Fame class being recognized at halftime.