The Shadow
SALISBURY, N.C. – Ferrum College opened a new era in football Saturday night, making its NCAA Division II debut on the road at Catawba College. The Panthers showed flashes on both sides of the ball, but the host Indians proved too much, pulling away for a 45-13 win at Shuford Stadium.
Ferrum placekicker Jon Davis accounted for seven of the Panthers’ 13 points, hitting field goals from 36 and 44 yards while also adding an extra point. The lone touchdown for Ferrum came in the third quarter when offensive lineman Trey Reiter recovered a loose ball in the end zone.
Catawba (1-0) struck quickly, driving 68 yards in nine plays on its opening possession before Bennett Galloway plunged in from two yards out. Ferrum answered with a steady march of its own, covering 56 yards in 11 plays, but had to settle for Davis’ first field goal to make it 7-3 midway through the opening quarter.
The Indians then seized control, tacking on three touchdowns before halftime. Galloway broke through again on a 12-yard run, and quarterback Preston Brown connected with Kevin Lalin and Bo Pryor for scoring strikes that pushed the lead to 28-3. Davis’ 44-yard kick as time expired trimmed the margin to 28-6 at the break.
Ferrum’s defense tightened in the third, and the Panthers got a lift when Reiter fell on a fumble in the end zone. Davis’ PAT made it 35-13 with 7:57 left in the quarter. That would be as close as the Panthers would get. Catawba added a 26-yard field goal from Bryson Sims and a 35-yard touchdown run from Dee Mitchell in the fourth to close the scoring.
The Indians’ efficiency was evident all night. They racked up 495 yards of total offense while converting seven of nine third-down attempts, holding the ball for more than 31 minutes. Ferrum (0-1) managed 249 yards, led by running back Jahylen Lee’s 62 yards on 14 carries and quarterback Eli Foutz’s 108 yards passing.
Omarza Grey sparked the Panthers in the return game with 120 yards on four kickoffs, while linebacker Ian Ashworth finished with a team-high nine tackles.
Saturday’s meeting was just the second between the two schools. Ferrum won the first, a 14-0 shutout back in 1963.
Coach Kevin Sherman’s Panthers will look to bounce back next weekend when they travel to Lexington, Virginia, to face Division I opponent Virginia Military Institute. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.
