FERRUM, Va. -- Freshman quarterback Kevin Saxton was 17-28 passing for 329 yards and five touchdowns to lift Emory & Henry College to a 41-12 non-conference football win this afternoon over Ferrum College at W.B. Adams Stadium. It was the season-opener for both teams.

Joe Vaughn scored from three yards out for the Wasps at 8:07 of the opening quarter and following a missed PAT, both teams left the field for what would eventually be a 90-minute lightning delay. When play resumed, Emory & Henry quickly scored again, this time on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Saxton to Jermaine Sanders at 5:10, and the Wasps were on top 13-0.

Hunter Ferguson got Ferrum on the board with a 25-yard field goal with 35 seconds left in the first quarter, then Jacob Smoak helped trim the lead to 13-6 when he connected on a 26-yard field goal at 11:29 of the second quarter. Ferguson's 43-yarder at 2:37 of the second quarter made the score 13-9. Emory & Henry came right back to complete an 8-play, 80-yard drive that ate up just 1:22 on the clock, capped with Josh Smith hauling in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Saxton with 59 seconds left in the half.

Rasheen Williams scored on a 3-yard pass from Saxton at 8:17 of the third quarter to pad E&H's lead to 27-9. Ferguson made a 23-yard field goal at 4:08 and the score was 27-12, but Saxton was able to lead the Wasps down the field twice more for scoring drives before the game would finish. Saxton hit Lucas Kirby for a 21-yard touchdown pass at 1:43 of the third, then added a 72-yard scoring strike to a wide open Sanders with 11:43 left to play in the game.

Sanders closed the game with two receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Vaughn rushed 19 times for 103 yards and a score, and Kasey Jones had 13 carries for 98 yards to account for most of Emory & Henry's 223 yards on the ground. Mitch Carter and Roth Healy led the Wasps (1-0) with seven tackles each.

Tim Reynolds was 8-26 passing for 114 yards and no touchdowns for the Panthers, and added 89 yards rushing. Ferguson was 3-3 in field goals, while Smoak was 1-2. Rashad Johnson was in on 14 tackles for Ferrum, while teammate Shy Smith had 10. Ferrum (0-1) returns to action Saturday, Sept. 20, at Shenandoah University. The non-conference game gets underway at 7:00 p.m. in Winchester, Virginia.