It's anybody's race to win

It is a teams responsibility to win. What ever else happens in the conference cannot be controlled. As long as you win, you have done your job. Ferrum went into yesterdays game with Greensboro as the favorite, but favorites do not always win. In the case of  Ferrum vs. Greensboro, the Panthers lived up to the billing of favorite, and prevailed, 28-20. It was a hard fought win, and one that the Panthers had to hold on to after building a 21-0 lead. The job was done, and Ferrum held a 2-1 conference record.
In an earlier article, I indicated that It would be beneficial to the Panthers if Christopher Newport could defeat the Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan. While records would indicate that NCW would be the favorite, a win by the Captains would saddle the Bishops with their first conference loss, and would keep Ferrum in the running. CNU won 23-15.
Alone at the top of the standings were the Averett Cougars. with a 2-0 conference record, Averett had become the team to beat. They appeared that they were indeed the class of the conference, and playing Maryville, who entered the game with an 0-2 conference record, and playing at home, I gave Maryville little hope of being anywhere but in the basement of the USA South. As I said earlier, favorites do not always win. Maryville pulled the rabbit out of the hat with a shocking 21-14 road win over Averett.
So now the standings are completely shuffled, and Ferrum could not have asked for a better result in yesterdays games.
For the Panthers, They are tied with Averett, North Carolina Wesleyan, Shenandoah and Christopher Newport for the lead in the conference, but of all of those teams, Ferrum has only played North Carolina Wesleyan, and since the Panthers lost, they still trail the Bishops.....technically.
So things are getting very interesting....I still think that Averett is the team to beat, but Christopher Newport seems to be finding its stride, and I will not count NCW out either. I do not know what to make of Maryville.  Shenandoah is riding a two game winning streak, and visits Ferrum this coming Saturday. This week may not seperate the pack, but in time things will get clearer. Ferrum cannot control what happens in other conference games, but I do know this... they must take Shenandoah seriously, and be productive on both sides of the ball. This is a big game. A must win game, and Ferrum's responsibility is to win. They just have to win.

Conference Standings

Averett                 2-1  4-2

N.C. Wesleyan     2-1  3-3

Chris. Newport     2-1  2-4

Ferrum                   2-1  2-4

Shenandoah            2-1  2-4

Maryville (Tenn.)     1-2  2-4

Methodist                1-2  2-4

Greensboro              0-3  1-5



This weeks schedule:
Shenandoah @ Ferrum
Averett @ Methodist
Greensboro @ Christopher Newport
North Carolina Wesleyan @ Maryville   (Wonder if the Bishops are a bit nervous over this one?)