FERRUM, Virginia -- Ferrum College build a 20-0 halftime lead, then withstood a furious second-half rally and held on for a 30-28 non-conference football win over the Apprentice School this afternoon at W.B. Adams Stadium.

RECORDS
Ferrum (3-0)
Apprentice (1-2)

THE BASICS
Seth Deaton got the Panthers on the scoreboard first with a 45-yard field goal at 9:56 of the first quarter. Tmahdae Penn then hauled in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Titus Jones to open the second quarter and the Panther lead was 10-0.

Jones connected with Daniel Lamb for a 35-yard scoring strike at 11:04 of the second quarter, then Deaton split the uprights from 41 yards out to give Ferrum a 20-0 lead as time expired in the first half.

The Shipbuilders came to life in the third quarter, with Gabe Tejada posting touchdown runs of three and five yards at the 9:12 and 2:30 marks to get the lead down to 20-14.

Deaton extended Ferrum's lead to 23-14 early in the fourth quarter when he converted his third field goal attempt of the day, this time a 31-yarder. Four minutes later, Lawrence Reed barreled in from three yards out for Apprentice and the lead was down to 23-21 at the 10:03 mark.

Kevin Williams then picked off an errant Builder pass and returned it 70 yards for the pick six and Ferrum held a 30-21 lead with 7:08 left in regulation. Apprenice answered right back, driving 75 yards in 10 plays in just four minutes, with Mason Tatum and Ricardo Corpus connecting on a 25-yard touchdown pass to get the lead back down to two points at 30-28 with three minutes left.

Ferrum drove to the Apprentice seven yard line and went for it on fourth down, only to have the Builder defense come up big and stop the drive with 54 seconds left. Avion Smith then came up with the clutch interception with 15 seconds showing on the clock to seal the win.

KEY STATS
Ferrum: Jones 17-29 passing, 254 yards, 2 TD; Penn 3 rec, 100 yards, 1 TD; Billy Higgins 12 tackles; K. Williams 70-yard pick six
Apprentice: Tejada 25 rushes, 133 yards, 2 TD; Tatum 14-30 passing, 163 yards, 1 TD; Paul Massey 11 tackles

NEXT UP
Coach Cleive Adams' team will be back in action Saturday, October 2, at home against reigning ODAC champ Randolph-Macon College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at W.B. Adams Stadium.