JJ Jordan 9 tackles, 4 assists, 1 forced fumble

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Info. Director
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November 10, 2007


Panthers Fall to CNU in Football

FERRUM, Va. -- Turnovers were the difference as Christopher Newport University defeated Ferrum College 34-23 in USA South football action this afternoon in Ferrum.  The Panthers were intercepted five times, four of which came on successive drives in the third and fourth quarters.

Official Box Score

Ferrum got on the board first on RB Ronnie Edwards' 15-yard run on Ferrum's opening drive of the game with 12:45 remaining in the first quarter.

CNU answered with two TDs in the first quarter and another to open the second quarter to take a 21-7 lead.  Jesse Bradshaw caught a pair of TD passes from Todd Faison, a 3-yarder and a 31-yarder, and Mario Barnes recovered teammate Fela-Tunde Ogun's fumble in the end zone for a score.

Ferrum PK Clint Slappey was successful on a 29-yard field goal, splitting the upright with 9:53 remaining in the second to make it 21-10.  CNU scored on its next possession, a 6-yard run by Ogun, to extend the lead to 28-10.  Edwards then trimmed the lead to 28-17 on a 2-yard run with 2:43 remaining in the first half.

Mike Vann scored his ninth TD of the year at 6:39 of the third quarter, but the PAT was wide after being backed up 15 yards due to a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the TD, leaving the score 28-23 CNU.  Jay Graham added a pair of insurance field goals for the Captains, from 27 and 32 yards out, to make the final 34-23.

Ogun paced the CNU offense with 200 yards rushing and a touchdown on 34 carries.  QB Todd Faison passed for 188 yards and two scores for the Captains on 17-29 passing with an interception and two sacks.

Ferrum's Matt Dobson was 1-11 passing for 23 yards and four interceptions.  Backup QB Shawn Lloyd was 0-2 with an interception.  Vann led the Ferrum running game with 69 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.  Dobson had 66 yards on 17 carries, while Matt Lucas had 64 yards on nine carries.  Edwards closed with 35 yards and two TDs on seven carries.

Defensively, Jared Jordan had nine solo tackles and four assisted tackles, and forced a fumble.  Jay Kirkland led CNU with four solo stops, six assisted tackles and a pair of interceptions.

With the win, CNU extends its series lead to 6-1.  The Captains have won each year since the series began in 2001, CNU's first year of collegiate football, with the exception of Ferrum's lone win in 2003.

The Panthers close out the season at 5-5 overall with the loss, 4-3 in the USA South.  Christopher Newport closes out its season at 7-3 overall and 6-1 in league play.  The Captains could win a share of the USA South regular season title if Greensboro College upsets North Carolina Wesleyan College, the USA South's automatic qualifier.

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