ROME, Ga. -- Ferrum College used a defensive touchdown and a fourth-quarter field goal to secure a 17-10 victory over Shorter University Friday afternoon in Conference Carolinas football action at Barron Stadium.
The Panthers took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when
Rashaud Cherry returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Ferrum added a rushing touchdown by
Jycen Anciso in the second quarter to build a 14-0 advantage before Shorter scored a field goal just before halftime. The Hawks cut the deficit to four points in the third quarter, but
Cooper Wolfe's 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter provided the final margin.
RECORDS
Ferrum 2-4, 2-1 CC
Shorter 2-4, 1-2 CC
THE BASICS
Ferrum opened the scoring with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter when Cherry intercepted a pass by Shorter quarterback Jeb Walls and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown.
Jon Davis added the extra point to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead. The Panthers extended their advantage to 14-0 with 3:47 remaining in the second quarter when Anciso scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 7:29. Shorter answered with a 34-yard field goal by Carlos Lopez with 1:29 remaining in the half to make it 14-3.
Shorter pulled within four points at 14-10 with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter when David Hill broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run. The Panthers' defense kept the Hawks from scoring again, and Ferrum added an insurance score in the fourth quarter.
With 5:02 remaining, Wolfe connected on a 30-yard field goal to cap a nine-play, 29-yard drive and extend Ferrum's lead to 17-10. Ferrum's defense came up with another interception in the fourth quarter, as
Aidan Mansfield picked off a Walls pass to help the Panthers preserve their advantage. Ferrum recorded two interceptions and three sacks while limiting Shorter to 10 points.
The Panthers finished with 252 yards of total offense, including 148 rushing yards and 104 passing yards. Shorter totaled 348 yards of offense, including 175 rushing yards and 173 passing yards, but Ferrum's defense forced two turnovers and held the Hawks scoreless in the fourth quarter.
KEY STATS
Ferrum: Anciso 17 att, 64 yds, 1 TD;
Eli Foutz 11-20 passing, 104 yds, 51 rushing yds;
Omarza Gray 7 rec, 78 yds; Cherry 45-yard interception return for a TD;
Avery Fleet and
Josiah Johnson 6 tackles each
Shorter: Hill 31 att, 182 yds, 1 TD; Walls 14-25 passing, 173 yds, 2 INT; Kyree Jenkins 4 rec, 63 yds; Christian Benson 8 tackles
UP NEXT
Coach Kevin Sherman's team returns home Saturday, October 17, to host Delta State University. Kickoff for the non-conference game is set for 1:00 p.m. at W.B. Adams Stadium.
  Â
