FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College picked up a 34-7 non-conference football win this afternoon over Southern Virginia University at home. The Panthers scored 20 unanswered points in the second quarter to take over the game.
Box Score: Ferrum 34, So. Virginia 7
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Panthers got on the board at 12:38 of the second quarter courtesy of Clint Slappey's 35-yard field goal. The Knights fumbled the ensuing kickoff at their own 20 yard line and Ferrum's Josh Hill scooped it up and sprinted for the goal line to put Ferrum up 10-0.
The Panther defense held Southern Virginia to three-and-out on its next possession and then drove to the Knights 25 yard line, where Slappey's 42-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
After being held to another three-and-out series, the Knights were forced to punt from their own 19 yard line.
Mike Vann returned the punt to the SVU 31 yard line. The Panthers scored on the fifth play of the ensuring drive, a 1-yard run by QB
Matt Dobson. Slappey's PAT gave Ferrum a 17-0 lead. Just before halftime, Slappey drilled the uprights from 36 yards out to give Ferrum a 20-0 lead heading into the locker room.
RB Le'Bryan Patterson scored for Ferrum on an 11-yard sprint around the left side to cap a six-play, 79-yard drive and give Ferrum a commanding 27-0 lead with 6:10 left in the third quarter. QB
Marcus Mayo also found the end zone, from 10 yards out at 11:01 of the fourth quarter, putting the Panthers up 34-0.
Southern Virginia avoided the shutout with a 13-play, 62-yard drive, capped by a Sam Trulock 5-yard TD pass to Jace Allen with 6:42 left to play.
Ferrum rolled up 445 yards total offense to SVU's 291. The Panthers rushed for 349 yards, with 12 players carrying the ball. Vann, the 2007 USA South Offensive Rookie of the Year, had 77 yards on eight carries.
Steven Harris had 69 yards on six carries for an impressive 11.5 yards per carry average.
Mayo and Dobson split time at quarterback again. Mayo was 3-8 passing for 88 yards with no interceptions and was sacked once. Dobson was 1-6 for eight yards, no interceptions and was also sacked once. Dobson rushed for 45 yards and a score on eight carries, while Mayo rushed eight times for 28 yards and a score. Slappey was successful on two of three FG attempts and was 3-3 in PAt conversions. Mike Sabol converted the PAT on Ferrum's last score.
Starting QB Luke Taylor was 11-25 passing for 119 yards with no interceptions, and was sacked twice. Trulock was 11-16 passing for 108 yards and a score with no sacks. The Knights were held to just 64 yards rushing.
Ferrum (1-1) plays next Saturday, Sept. 20, at Bridgewater College. The Panthers are looking to avenge last year's 41-16 loss to the Eagles. Southern Virginia (1-2) travels to Washington and Lee University next Saturday.
