FERRUM, Va. – After waiting more than 450 days, the Emory & Henry College Football Team (1-0, 1-0 ODAC) was back on the gridiron on Friday night, defeating Ferrum College (0-1, 0-1 ODAC) by a 17-0 score. It ws the first shutout for E&H since defeating Greensboro College by a 38-0 score in the 2011 season.
The Wasps retain possession of the Crooked Road Classic Trophy, making their record 3-2 since the rivalry has had a reward other than bragging rights, and move to 25-11 overall against the Panthers.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 17, Ferrum 0
LOCATION – Ferrum, Virginia
VENUE – W.B. Adams Stadium
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (1-0, 1-0 ODAC); Ferrum (0-0, 0-0 ODAC)
How It Happened
- E&H got on the board on the second drive of the game. Running back Grayson Overstreet (Moneta, Va.) picked up where he left off in November of 2019 with a big day on the ground. The sophomore had carries of 20 and 21 yards in the series before punching into the end zone from three yards out. Senior quarterback Hunter Taylor (Summerville, S.C.) set the scoring play up by hitting junior wideout Kashawn Cosey (Chattanooga, Tenn.) with a 29-yard pass.
- The teams traded the next seven possessions with punts and turnovers on downs, doing everything they could to stay on offense in the cold, rainy conditions. The Wasps made it 14-0 with 46 seconds to go before halftime. Overstreet kept the drive alive with a 41-yard run on third down to set up first and goal and capped the six-play 50-yard drive with an eight-yard scamper.
- The third and fourth quarters resembled the first half with a total of eight punts, four turnovers on downs and a pair of lost fumbles. Emory & Henry put the game away with 5:30 to go as sophomore placekicker Zach Baber (Reidsville, N.C.) knocked a 29-yard field goal through the uprights for the 17-0 score.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Overstreet amassed 196 yards on the ground on 32 carries, outgaining the entire FC offense by two yards, on his way to the two touchdowns.
- Junior Elijah Rice (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) had three rushes for 54 yards in his E&H debut while Taylor finished the game 9-for-27 through the air for 101 yards.
- Cosey caught five passes for 55 yards as senior wide receiver Gunner Griffith (Bluff City, Tenn.) had five receptions for 47 yards.
- Defensively, the Wasps were led by junior linebacker Ivan Phillips (Kingsport, Tenn.) with eight tackles including two stops behind the line of scrimmage. Junior defensive lineman Donovan Pinnix (Eden, N.C.) notched seven tackles including two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
- Sophomore defensive lineman Jay Swegheimer (Orlando, Fla.) made an impression in his first game in an E&H uniform, tallying 3.5 sacks for a loss of 34 yards, totaling five total stops. Junior defensive back Deonte Geddis (Summerville, S.C.) and sophomore linebacker Thomas Patterson (Lynchburg, Va.) also had five tackles in the game.
Ferrum Individual Leaders
- Titus Jones threw for 199 yards on 16-for-39 passing, hitting Tmahdae Penn five times for 104 yards. Tylan McElhenie caught two balls for 41 yards including a 39-yard reception.
- Christopher Anderson was the Panthers' leading rusher, gaining 26 yards on eight carries.
- Billy Higgins led FC on the defensive side of the ball with 11 tackles including two for a loss. Raymond Alexander made nine stops – 3.5 for a loss – forced and recovered a fumble, and broke up a pass.
- Drew Hill, Devin Hansen and Christian Caldwell all contributed seven tackles in the game.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry will host Southern Virginia University next Friday at 2:00 p.m.
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