Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 4, 1994 TAG: 9409070088
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Long
And it appeared to be conclusive.
Despite being given little chance in coach Dave Davis' debut, the youngest football team in Ferrum history slugged it out toe to toe with Division III powerhouse Rowan (N.J.) College before losing 17-10 at Adams Stadium.
``If they [the Profs] are among the nation's Division III elite, then we can't be that bad, either,'' Davis said. ``I thought we put up a heck of a fight against a team that is a little bigger and better than we are.''
Despite starting only four seniors, the aroused Panthers were locked in a 10-10 game before the highly touted Profs won it with a ball-control, jam-it-down-your-throat drive midway through the fourth quarter.
Lining up in Ferrum's old wishbone set, Rowan powered the ball 94 yards in 15 plays to take control in a game some Ferrum supporters feared would be a rout.
Cassius Freeman's 2-yard burst up the middle with 6 minutes, 9 seconds left proved to be the winner.
``They just lined up and pounded us with their size and a little better personnel on that drive,'' Davis said. ``In our coverage to help the run, they hit some passes on us that hurt. We also missed some tackles that hurt.''
Rowan quarterback James Corkery connected on four consecutive passes during the winning drive, including a 23-yarder to Priest Ramsey at the Ferrum 3 that set up Freeman's score.
``Coach Davis and Coach [assistant Dave] Harper put a game plan together that gave us a chance to beat these guys,'' said tackle Billy Ray Ellis, the Panthers' defensive anchor. ``But when and where we had to make plays, we didn't make them. We missed some tackles, and you have to tackle people to have a chance. We just let down on that last drive, I believe. We gave ourselves a chance in this game and let it get away.''
Ferrum had a chance to respond to Rowan's go-ahead touchdown, when ramrod back David ``Buck'' Anthony ripped off five consecutive carries for 32 yards to move the ball to the Rowan 32 with 4:15 left.
Sophomore transfer Josh Whitley, who replaced junior Millard Vining at quarterback early in the second quarter and played most of the rest of the way, then tried to hit wideout Josh Poindexter on a fly pattern to the right corner.
The lanky Poindexter, who appeared to push off the defender at the 5-yard line, came down with the ball, but his feet clearly were out of bounds.
``I think we got robbed,'' Whitley said. ``I thought [Poindexter] caught the ball in the air and got knocked out by the defender's contact.''
Davis didn't argue the call.
``They could have called offensive interference, too,'' the coach said. ``The officials didn't beat us. I thought they called an excellent game.''
The Panthers, running out of their new multiple-I set, outgained the visitors 288-271. Tailback Roshan Myers, fueled by Anthony's hole-paving blocking, rambled for 121 of Ferrum's 175 yards rushing.
Ferrum, which in its 34 years under Norton often treated the pass as a four-letter word, showed some offensive diversity, throwing for 113 yards. Whitley collected most of that on his first pass as a Panther, hitting tight end Shane Nash for a 51-yard touchdown as Ferrum closed to 10-7 midway through the second quarter.
As good as they were, the young Panthers hurt themselves with mistakes.
A fumbled punt by sophomore Shelbin Northern set up a 36-yard field goal by Rowan's Rob Juliano with a 7:31 left in the first quarter.
Sean Scott's interception of a tipped Vining pass late in the first quarter led to a 51-yard Rowan drive, which was capped by Corkery's 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joe DePietro with 10:02 left in the half.
``We some made mistakes and they cost us,'' Davis said. ``But that's how it is when you've got freshmen growing up. We only had four seniors on that field today.''
``I think we had a pretty good game plan. I just wish that game plan would have been eight points better.''
Needless to say, Davis had one of the toughest opening-game tasks a coach could face. First, he replaced a legend. Then, he faced what some are calling best Division III team in the country in Game 1.
``Coming close is no consolation,'' Davis said. ``This hurts as much as any other loss. As far as playing Rowan first, I wouldn't change that. I'm not in the least bit interested in hiding from anybody. I like to know what we can do.''
K.C. Keeler, whose Rowan club lost to Mount Union in last year's NCAA Division III title game in Salem, appeared glad to be leaving Southwest Virginia. Of course, he'd like to come back for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in December.
``I knew this wasn't going to be easy,'' Keeler said. ``Ferrum played with great emotion.
``I think they should be proud of what they did. Ten-ten against us late. I think they're pretty good.''
Rowan-3--7--0--7- - 17
Ferrum-0-10--0--0- - 10
R - FG Juliano 36.
R - DiPietro 8 pass from Corkery (Juliano kick).
F - Nash 51 pass from Whitley (Waddell kick).
F - FG Waddell 23.
R - Freeman 2 run (Juliano kick).
A-2,400.
-----------------------|||||-----Rowan|----Ferrum
First downs---|--19|--18
Yards rushing-|-136|-175
Passes C-A-I---|-13-22-2|-9-21-2
Yards passing-|-135|-113
Penalties-yards|-7-75|-10-82
Fumbles-lost--|-1/0|-1/1
Punts-average-|-7-33.5|-6-37.6
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - Rowan, Corkery 5-8, Bosco 1-2, Marshall 22-71, Freeman 7-39, Foster 4-12, Bender 2-4, Ferrum, Vining 3-11, Myers 21-121, Anthony 12-52, Whitley 4-(-9).
PASSING - Rowan, Corkery 13-22-2 135, Ferrum, Whitley 6-12-1 86, Vining 3-9-1 27.
RECEIVING - Rowan, Ramsey 7-65, Marshall 1-6, Bosco 1-(-2), Johnson 2-33, DiPietro 2-33, Poindexter, 5-40, Nash 1-51, Myers 2-13, Clarke 1-9.
by CNB