EMORY, Va. -- Ferrum College's football team will hit the road this afternoon to open the 2017 season, playing at Emory & Henry College in the 2nd Annual Crooked Road Classic. The non-conference game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. at Fred Selfe Stadium. Live Stats | Video | Game Notes

The Panthers will be led by a pair of returning USA South All-Conference first team selections in senior DL Montel Lee and sophomore RB Brian Mann. Lee was the league's Defensive Player of the Year a year ago, while Mann earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Also back are second team picks DL Al Matthews and OL Jordan Patti.

The Panthers are led by second year Head Coach Rob Grande. The Panthers posted a 6-4 record in Grande's rookie season at the helm of the Ferrum gridiron program. In his carer coaching debut, Ferrum posted a 39-38 comeback win ver Emory & Henry in the first Annual Crooked Road Classic, converting four straight two-point PAT conversions, including the final one with seven seconds remaining in regulation.

The two teams have met 37 times all-time, one of Ferrum's longest-running series, with the Wasps holding a 25-12 series lead. This is Ferrum's 16th season-opener against Emory & Henry.