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Contact: Tom Rickard
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November 12, 2005


Captains Rip Panthers
CNU takes advantage of early Ferrum mistakes and penalties to build a 24-point first quarter lead and cruises to 44-7 win.

FERRUM, Va. – Sparked by the slashing running of RB Roland Hilliard and a 212-yard passing effort by QB Phillip Jones, Christopher Newport University put an end to the Ferrum College Panthers' bid to complete an undefeated regular season Saturday, stunning the USA South co-champions, 44-7.

        Box Score:  CNU 44, Ferrum 7

Hilliard gained 112 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns, while Jones finished 15 of 26 passing with a touchdown pass to lead the Captains.  Nathan Davis caught eight passes for 135 yards, including the two-yard touchdown toss that opened the Captains' scoring at 10:29 of the first quarter.

Things began to unravel for the Panthers on their next possession.  On the first play from scrimmage, junior QB Jermaine Pitts (Winston-Salem, N.C./R.J. Reynolds) ran for 18 yards, but the play was negated by a penalty.  Two plays later, senior RB Terrell Mulford (North Garden, Va./Charlottesville) had an eight-yard gain called back on another penalty, which was followed by a false start penalty on the next play.

The Panther were then forced to punt and CNU's Rob Rodriguez broke through to block the kick, which was recovered by the Captains at the Ferrum seven.  Hilliard bounced into the end zone on the Captains' first play, and CNU led 14-0 with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Panthers' next possession was short-lived when, on the second play, Pitts fumbled and the Captains recovered on the Ferrum 21.  Ferrum's defense held, and the Captains settled for a 38-yard field goal by Jonathan Hill, running their lead to 17-0.

The Panthers' offense could not get untracked and after junior punter Matt Murphy (Salem, Va./Salem) dropped a 36-yard punt at the Captains 28-yard-line, the Captains mounted a 7-play, 72-yard drive that Hilliard capped with a 29-yard scoring dash.  The Captains led 24-0 with 1:42 remaining in the first quarter.

After a scoreless second stanza, the Panthers' offense finally found its footing in the third quarter.  Sticking to its vaunted ground attack, Ferrum marched 69 yards in 12 rushing plays, and finally got on the board when Mulford crashed in from four yards out.  Sophomore PK Matt Novak (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County) was good with the extra point, and the Panthers pulled to within 24-7.

The Captains however, responded with a nine-play, 60-yard drive of their own, making the score 31-7 after three quarters.  Christopher Newport scored two late touchdowns in the fourth period for the final margin.

Mulford closed the game with 79 yards rushing on 13 carries with the lone score.  Junior FB Jacob Hawkins (Floyd, Va./Floyd County) had 69 yards on 15 carries.  Pitts was 2-6 passing for 62 yards and an interception, and gained 43 yards on nine carries.

Defensively for the Panthers, sophomore DB Perry Ford (Albany, Ga./Monroe) had nine tackles and a pass breakup.  LB JJ Jordan (Roanoke, Va./Northside) and junior DB David Coleman (Holleywood, Fla./McArthur) had seven tackles each, and Coleman had a pass breakup.

For CNU defensively, LB Gary Freeman had eight tackles and a quarterback sack, and blocked a Ferrum field goal.  LB Justin Wood added seven tackles for the Captains.

Following the game, USA South Athletic Conference Sports Information Director  Cory Blackson was on hand to present the league's football championship trophy to Ferrum.  Head Football Coach Dave Davis and President Jennifer Braaten accepted the award on behalf of the College.  Ferrum shares the USA South title with Methodist College this year, both finishing with 6-1 league records.  The Panthers earn the USA South's automatic berth into the NCAA playoffs by virtue of a head-to-head win over the Monarchs, 42-37 on Oct. 14 in Rocky Mount, Virginia.

Christopher Newport (6-4, 5-2) closed out its season with the win.  Ferrum (9-1, 6-1 USA South) will learn its NCAA playoff fate shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, when ESPNews televises the NCAA Division III Football Selection show live. 
 

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