Football | 10/20/2012 5:37:00 PM

Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist football team outgained Ferrum, 393-281, and forced three Panther turnovers but were unable to overcome a pair of turnovers themselves and went 0-for-3 on fourth down in dropping a 21-13 contest on Saturday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.

Twice in the final quarter the Monarchs were stopped on fourth down, the last on 4th-and-2 from the 14-yard line with just over 2:33 remaining and trailing 21-13. After a Tim Reynolds one-yard plunge gave Ferrum a 21-13 lead with 7:07 to play, MU moved 57 yards in 13 plays, including conversions on 3rd-and-9 and 3rd-and-12, setting up first down at the Ferrum 22-yard line with just over three minutes to play. A seven-yard run by John Flanagan on 2nd-and-10 set up 3rd-and-3 from the Ferrum 15. Quarterback Max Reber made it 4th-and-2 with a one-yard run setting up the pivotal fourth-down play. Reber's pass, intended for James Bevans in the end zone, was knocked away by Raymond Hines giving the ball back over to Ferrum, which ran the ball five consecutive times to run out the clock and seal the eight-point win.

Methodist received the opening kick and fumbled the ball away to Ferrum on just its second play from scrimmage as Reber was sacked by Chris Freycinet and Lynwood Pickett, setting the Panthers up on the MU 23 yard line. However, Bryan Bing forced a Ferrum fumble three plays later that was recovered by Jonathan Fulmore at the Monarchs' 19-yard line.

Seven plays later, Kenny Tapscott picked off Reber and returned it 37 yards to the Methodist 38-yard line and Tyler Brubaker gave the Panthers a 6-0 lead on a five-yard run with 5:48 to play in the first quarter. Scott Puschell's PAT made it 7-0.

Each team punted on its next two possessions before the Monarchs marched 60 yards in seven plays and Cody Ausherman made good on a 37-yard field goal at the 5:05 mark of the second quarter to pull Methodist within 7-3.

A Brad Wade strip sack on Ferrum's next possession gave Methodist the ball at the Ferrum 18-yard line. The Monarchs advanced to the Panthers' 9-yard line following a pair of runs by Flanagan, but he was stopped short on a 4th-and-1 play from the nine, giving the ball back to Ferrum.

MU forced a 3-and-out and Ausherman followed with a 32-yard field goal with 36 seconds left in the first half to pull the Monarchs to within 7-6 heading into the break.

On their first possession of the second half, the Panthers marched 79 yard in 12 plays and Reynolds scored from a yard out to extend Ferrum's lead to 14-6 with 10:09 left in the third quarter.

The Monarchs need only three plays on the ensuing possession to pull within a single point, 14-13, on a 64-yard pass from Reber to Gerry Gillis with 8:36 showing on the clock.

An interception by Malcolm McCoy on Ferrum's next possession gave the ball back over to Methodist, but after taking 10 plays to move 62 yards to the Ferrum 23, a potential go-ahead field goal from 40 yards out Ausherman sailed wide right. The two teams then traded fruitless possessions until Reynolds' late touchdown run set up the Monarchs' final drive.

Reber finished 17-of-34 for 295 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was also sacked four times. Vaughn Cross led the receiving corps with seven grabs for 135 yards, while Bevans ahd five catches for 80 yards. Flanagan led the ground game with 51 yards on nine carries.

Defensively, Bryan Bing posted a team-high 10 tackles with a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Antjuan Jones added nine stops, including 0.5 for loss, and Brad Wade had eight tackles (4.5 for loss), two forced fumbles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a pass break up.

For Ferrum, which ground out 159 yards on the ground on 51 carries (3.1 ypc), Reynolds led the way with 66 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. Brubaker added 38 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. Reynolds also completed 10-of-16 passes for 122 yards with a pick and two sacks.

Marco McNeal led the Ferrum defense with nine tackles (1.0 for loss) and a pair of pass breakups. Lynwood Pickett also had nine tackles, including 3.0 for loss and 1.5 sacks.

The Monarchs are back in action next Saturday, travelling to LaGrange for a 1:00 pm contest.