The Shadow
FERRUM, Virginia — Ferrum College Head Football Coach Kevin Sherman has announced the addition of Emory & Henry College to the 2026 and 2027 football schedules. The series has been known for the past six meetings as the Crooked Road Classic, which began in 2016.
Ferrum and Emory & Henry will resume the series after a four-year hiatus, including 2025. The next meeting is scheduled for September 5, 2026 at Ferrum. That game will mark the first time the two schools will meet as NCAA Division II institutions. Emory & Henry made the jump to Division II in 2022, while Ferrum makes its Division II debut in the fall of 2025. Emory & Henry will host the next game on September 4, 2027 in Emory, Virginia. “We’re excited to resume the Crooked Road Classic game with Emory & Henry,” said Sherman. “An in-state rivalry like this is great for college football, both schools, and our fan bases. This will be a great opportunity to let our community, fans, and alumni know that the tradition is continuing as we make the transition to Division II.” Ferrum won the first two Crooked Road Classic meetings. The Panthers eked out a thrilling 39-38 win at home in 2016 and then scored a touchdown in the waning minutes of the game to win 13-8 at Emory & Henry in 2017. The Wasps have won the last four meetings between the two schools in a series that dates back eight decades.
Ferrum and Emory & Henry first met in football in 1955, Ferrum’s inaugural year on the gridiron. Ferrum’s first win in the series was in 1958, a 13-12 win. Overall Emory & Henry leads the series 29-13.
