Football | 10/10/2009 6:54:26 PM

FERRUM, Va. - After trailing early, the Monarchs scored 28 points in the fourth quarter but came up short to Ferrum 49-35.

On Ferrum's (3-2, 1-1) first possession of the game, the Methodist defense gave up just one yard forcing the Panthers to punt. After the Monarchs (1-4, 0-2) picked up a first down but had to punt back to Ferrum, the Panthers' Steven Harris used a 52-yard touchdown run to help Ferrum jump out to the 7-0 lead. The Panthers used 58-yards rushing on their next possession to increase their lead to 14-0 with 1:05 to go in the quarter.

The Monarchs finished the first quarter with sophomore Reggie Scales picking up the first down on a 10-yard run. Junior quarterback Alan Preston earned another first down with a pass to freshman Grady Hart. Preston found sophomore Jason Talbert to reach the Ferrum 14-yard line before earning nine yards of his own. Junior Corey McGuire finished the drive with two plays for five yards and the touchdown. Sophomore Tyler Mosko kicked the extra point to cut the lead to 14-7.

Ferrum responded with a touchdown to jump back out to a 21-7 lead before Dennis Hardy intercepted Preston and the Panthers scored again to take the 28-7 advantage at halftime. The Monarchs kicked off the second half and Ferrum put together a 10-play 77 yard drive to move ahead 35-7. Neither team would score again in the third quarter, but Methodist took over in the fourth quarter and Preston connected with junior Brian Hopkins for a 91-yard touchdown. The Panthers came back with a touchdown of their own, but Preston led the Monarchs back down the field on a 62-yard drive where he was 7-for-9 passing. Talbert caught a six-yard touchdown pass and Mosko's kick cut into Ferrum's 42-21 lead.

The Monarchs recovered sophomore punter Shawn Dodd's on-side kick and Preston led the Monarchs back into Ferrum territory. McGuire caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Preston to score the Monarchs fourth touchdown. The Panthers responded with a touchdown to take the 49-28 lead, but the Methodist offense came back with another touchdown pass from Preston to McGuire to cut the lead to 14 with 1:03 to go in the game. Ferrum finished with the 49-35 win.

Preston finished throwing 22-for-35 for 318 yards and four touchdowns. He added a team-high 34 rushing yards. Hopkins caught three passes for 103 receiving yards while Peoples picked up 61 receiving yards and Talbert had 57 yards.

Junior Michael Doyne led the defense with 8.5 tackles while freshmen Al-Tarek Evans and Blake Brown added five a piece.

The Monarchs will be back at home next Saturday to host Shenandoah at 1 pm as part of the Methodist Homecoming festivities.

Box Score