Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411100042
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Medium
Hence, Ferrum bounced the Emory & Henry Wasps and their hopes for a bid to the NCAA Division III football playoffs with a 43-21 victory in front of a Homecoming crowd of 4,600 at Adams Stadium.
Millard Vining, the Panthers' junior quarterback, completed eight of 16 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown en route to two school records. In addition, Ferrum gained 166 yards on the ground, 63 by Vining.
``For three years we've watched this senior class cry after the Emory & Henry game,'' said Vining, who became Ferrum's all-time leader in completions (159) and passing yards (2,639). ``This year we wanted to see tears, but we wanted them to be tears of joy.''
The Panthers knew from the start this was going to be different than the past three meetings with E&H, all Wasps victories. John Poindexter took the opening kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown as Ferrum took a 7-0 lead 14 seconds into the game.
Poindexter, a junior out of Jefferson Forest High School, set the school record for longest touchdown play with the return.
Ronnie Perkinson added a touchdown on a 9-yard run, Poindexter tacked on a 37-yard touchdown run and Ferrum found itself up 20-0 eight minutes into the game.
``Sometimes the breaks go your way and sometimes they go against you,'' said Dave Davis, who completed his first season as head coach of the Panthers with a 4-5 record.
``Today they went for us and I'm just delighted for our kids. They deserve it.''
After a David Waddell field goal made it 23-0 with 9 minutes, 16 seconds left in the second quarter, E&H (7-2) drove 68 yards to the Ferrum 5-yard line. The Panthers held the Wasps on three downs before freshman quarterback Barry Wolfe, playing in place of injured starter Jason Strange, completed a pass to Chris Turner of Chatham in the right corner of the end zone.
Davis - and most on the Ferrum sideline - balked at the call, arguing that Turner's feet were in the end zone, but the ball never crossed the plane.
``What a call. What a horrible call,'' said Davis, who barked at the officials for several minutes after the score.
``I just wanted to make sure [the official] knew he blew it. ... They said his body knocked the pylon over, but ours was the body that knocked the pylon over. Your body has to be in the end zone, not your butt. It wasn't even close.''
The Panthers responded with three consecutive scores, including a 16-yard pass from Vining to tight end Travis Clarke. Vining escaped a tackle from behind by Steve Godsey of Rustburg to make the play.
Defensive back Donald Grimes, playing his final game for Ferrum, made it 36-7 when he picked up a fumble by Wasps fullback Shane Tucker and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown.
Vining then added a 9-yard touchdown run, using impressive quickness and numerous cutbacks to elude E&H defenders.
``I still don't think we've tackled him,'' said Lou Wacker, the Wasps' coach.
Ferrum was penalized 10 times for 98 yards and saw two touchdowns called back. But the Panthers had no fumbles while capitalizing on all three by E&H.
`` ... At our present state, Ferrum was just a little better than us,'' Wacker said. ``They made a lot of things go their way.''
by CNB