NCWC claims first USA South football win at Ferrum; Homecoming this Saturday

FERRUM, Va. - North Carolina Wesleyan's football team began defense of its 2009 USA South title on Saturday with a 24-14 victory over Ferrum College on the road, spoiling the Panthers' Homecoming festivities.

Trailing 14-10 with just over seven minutes left in the game, Wesleyan turned back-to-back Panther fumbles into a pair of touchdowns to secure the come-from-behind win. The Bishops have now evened their overall season record at 2-2.

Ferrum took control early with a game-opening 77-yard drive that gave the Panthers a quick 7-0 lead. That opening drive, however, would produce the only points of the half as Ferrum took that same 7-0 advantage into the break.

In the third quarter, Wesleyan finally got on the board with a 46-yard scoring drive on the Bishops' second possession of the half. The touchdown came on a one-yard rush by Teron Bush, marking the eighth running play of the drive.

After James Carter forced and recovered the first of four Ferrum fumbles on the Panthers' next possession, the Bishops got a program-record 46-yard field goal by junior Kevin Quicker for a 10-7 lead with 2:17 left in the period. Unfortunately, that lead was shortlived as Ferrum quarterback Marcus Mayo found Justin Donnelly for a 59-yard TD completion to give the Panthers a 14-10 advantage, setting the stage for NCWC's fourth quarter comeback.

Ironically, the late back-to-back Ferrum fumbles were both recovered by NCWC's Sebastin Schulz at the FC 31-yardline. Jamal Smith took the first one in from 12 yards out for a 17-14 NCWC lead, while freshman QB Jordan Vann did the honors on the second with an 8-yard run. Any thoughts of a Ferrum comeback were put to rest shortly thereafter when yet another fumble gave the Bishops the ball back, enabling NCWC to run out the clock.

Vann completed 15-of-28 passes for 206 yards while rushing for 68 more, and the duo of Smith and Bush combined for 125 yards on the ground with the pair of TDs. Laqwan Brodie, Greg Edwards and Keenan Carter hauled in four receptions apiece. Defensively, freshman Tazmon Foster again paced the Bishops with 11 tackles, while Antonio Harris tallied nine takedowns and two sacks.

Wesleyan continues USA South play Saturday at home when the Bishops host Greensboro College in their 2010 Homecoming game. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at the Northern Nash Football Complex.