Box Score
FERRUM, Va. -- Christopher Newport opened a 27-7 lead mid-way through the second quarter and never looked back en route to a 48-30 USA South football win over Ferrum this afternoon at W.B. Adams Stadium. With the win, CNU earned at least a share of the 2011 USA South title and claimed the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III playoffs.
CNU scored on its first drive, covering 66 yards in 17 plays, capped by Miles Allstock's 10-yard touchdown reception from Aaron Edwards. After the PAT was blocked, Ferrum's
Dontavious Gilbert took the ensuing kickoff 76 yards back to the CNU nine yard line, then scored two plays later for a 7-6 Ferrum lead. It would prove to be Ferrum's first and only lead of the day as Marcus Morasst (2-yd run), Rudy Rudolph (54-yd pass from Edwards) and Evan Moog (46-yd run) scored for the Captains, widening the lead to 27-7 with 9:58 left in the second quarter.
Scott Puschell's 34-yard field goal was good with 4:28 left in the half and the Captains held a 27-10 lead at the break.
Gilbert scored on a 51-yard run to open the third quarter, trimming the lead to 27-16 after a botched snap and 2-point PAT attempt failed. CNU responded with a touchdowns by Antonio Epps (5-yd pass from Edwards) and Moog (39-yd run) to go up 41-16 before the third quarter was done.
Marcus Mayo scored on a 1-yard run for the Panthers to open the fourth quarter, but the two-point PAT failed and the lead was 41-22 CNU.
The Captains scored once more on Rudloph's 20-yard reception from Edwards to make it 48-22. Gilbert's final score of the day, an eight-yard run with 8:39 left to play, and a 2-point PAT run by Mayo made it 48-30.
Edwards was 16-23 passing for 223 yards and four touchdowns for Christopher Newport (7-2, 6-0 USA South). He was sacked once and intercepted once. Moog had 140 yards rushing and two scores on 27 carries. Rudolph had seven receptions for 135 yards and a pair of scores. Mike King had eight tackles for the Captains, while Daniel Lewis had seven and one interception. Dayn Washburn and Marvis Mills had CNU's other interceptions.
Mayo was 8-23 passing for 108 yards with no sacks, but was picked off three times. Gilbert finished with 129 yards rushing and three TDs on 16 carries.
Melvin Trotter and
Raymond Hines had 11 tackles each for Ferrum, and Chrisr Freycinet had 10. Trotter also had an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Ferrum (6-3, 5-1 USA South) returns to action next Saturday at home against Averett. Prior to the game, Ferrum will hold a Senior Day ceremony to honor its 10 graduating seniors.
