The Shadow
FERRUM, Va. (VR) – Omarza Gray had six receptions for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help Ferrum College win its first ever Conference Carolinas home football game, a 28-25 win over Shorter University this afternoon at W.B. Adams Stadium. Ryan Schmidt blocked a Shorter field goal attempt and Jamarion Montford scooped up the loose ball, returning it 78 yards for a touchdown to open scoring at 4:28 of the first quarter. Jeb Walls scampered 16 yards up the middle at 14:21 of the second quarter for a Shorter touchdown, but the extra point was blocked by Schmidt and and recovered by Montford.
Gray scored the first of his two touchdowns today when he hauled in a pass from Eli Foutz at 5:41 of the second quarter and raced 83 yards for a score and a 14-6 lead. Aiden Vaught barreled up the middle for a two-yard touchdown run five and a half minutes later and the Panthers took a 21-6 lead into the rocker room.
Lanear McCranie hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Walls to close out the third quarter, but the two-point conversion failed and Ferrum’s lead was down to 21-12. Walls found Dennis Sims from 41 yards out for a touchdown at 12:28 of the fourth quarter and the kick failed to make it a 21-18 Ferrum lead. Walls then rushed for an eight-yard touchdown at 6:18 of the fourth quarter and the PAT was good this time to give the Hawks their first lead of the game at 25-21.
On second and nine from the Ferrum eight yard line, Foutz delivered a strike to Gray, who caught it, picked up a couple blocks and sprinted 92 yards down the left sideline for the game-winning score with 1:03 left in regulation. The Hawks had one last gasp, driving from their own 35 yard line to the Ferrum 40, when time expired.
Gray’s 203 receiving yards is a new Ferrum record, eclipsing the previous record of 198, set by Darryl Hammond in 1995 against Guilford College. His 203 yards today and six receptions were also new Conference Carolinas single game records.
KEY STATS
Ferrum: Gray 6 rec, 203 yds, 2 TD; Foutz 17-29 passing, 279 yds, 2 TD; Cameron Ross 8 tackles; Schmidt 2 blocks
Shorter: Walls 9-22 passing, 185 yds, 2 TD; Hugh Barbee 8 tackles
UP NEXT
Coach Kevin Sherman’s team will be back on the gridiron Saturday, October 11, at home against Barton College during Homecoming Weekend. The Conference Carolinas game kicks off at 2:00 p.m.
