ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 22, 1996 TAG: 9609230130
SECTION: SPORTS EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: FERRUM
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
PENALTIES HURT the Panthers in a 21-9 setback to the nationally ranked Profs.
For a while, Ferrum College's football team seemed capable of pulling off a thrilling homecoming victory.
In front of former legendary coach Hank Norton and various alumni, the Panthers caught Rowan College by surprise Saturday afternoon.
The Profs, two-time participants in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, were a preseason favorite to win the Division III national championship. Their game with Ferrum was supposed to be an easy pit stop on the way.
Instead, Rowan had its hands full before capitalizing on Ferrum mistakes, taking a 21-9 victory at Adams Stadium.
"I thought my kids played a very hard game," said Dave Davis, the Panthers' coach. "I should be tickled to death that we came close to beating the number two team in the nation.
"But it's frustrating that we make the same type of mistakes week-in-and-week-out. If we wouldn't have had those mistakes it would have been an interesting finish to a football game. I'm not mad at them. I have to do a better job of keeping them focused throughout the game."
Ferrum (0-3) was penalized 12 times for 111 yards. Several of those took away momentum and cost the Panthers scoring opportunities.
After Rowan (2-0) scored its first touchdown, Ron Braxton returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to midfield. But the ball was spotted on the Panthers 15-yard line because of a holding penalty during the return. Ferrum was forced to punt eight plays later.
Then, running back Maurice Clark's 2-yard run apparently gave Ferrum a first down on Rowan's 14-yard line.
However, it was negated because of another holding penalty.
And two plays later, quarterback Brith Osinkosky threw a pass to lineman Shannon Simmons. As a result, the Panthers were penalized 5 more yards and suffered a loss of down.
Meanwhile, Rowan tailback Eugene Foster and quarterback Greg Lister took advantage of Ferrum's mistakes.
Foster scored two touchdowns. And Lister, 6-foot-3, 235-pounder, completed 15 of 21 passes for 206 yards. He also rushed for a touchdown.
At one point the former student at Maryland and Pittsburgh connected on nine straight passes. Most were to Shannon Green and William Spearman. Green finished with five catches for 50 yards. Spearman had three grabs for 82 yards.
But early on, the four were mostly spectators as Ferrum's defense held Rowan to six first-quarter plays.
After both teams failed to move the ball on the first four series of the second quarter, the Panthers scored.
Gus Seyler-Schmidt's 43-yard field goal gave Ferrum a 3-0 lead with 2:04 remaining in the half.
Rowan answered, scoring on its next three possessions.
The first touchdown came by way of Foster. The 5-11, 198-pounder's 2-yard run capped a 10-play, 56-yard drive. Mike Mayer missed the extra point as the Profs took a 6-3 lead.
Then with 1:51 left in the quarter, Lister scored from 1 yard out. His two-point-conversion pass to Foster gave Rowan a 14-3 lead.
And Foster scored on a 10-yard dash in the fourth quarter. Mayer's conversion made it 21-3.
Ferrum answered when Osinkosky, who completed 15 of 26 passes for 125 yards, hit Linwood Joyner for a 6-yard score. The two-point conversion failed and the Profs held on 21-9.
"This loss kind of showed us that we can play with the best of them if we stop making mistakes," said Ferrum tight end Mike Souma, formerly of William Fleming. "Our confidence is sky high right now. We know if we can play with the top teams, we can destroy everybody else."
NOTE: Please see microfilm for notes.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 linesby CNB