FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Methodist dropped a 19-14 game to Ferrum on Saturday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.
 
Ferrum (6-2, 3-2 USA South) scored the game's final nine points, including the eventual game-winning touchdown with 1:55 to play. The Monarchs had a chance to retake the lead on the game's final drive. After starting at their own 23-yard line, the Monarchs moved to the Ferrum 21 as Steve Keoni completed a 15-yard pass to Dylan Cummings and a 41-yard pass to a diving Xzavier McNeil.
 
A false start pushed MU back to the 26-yard line, but Keoni completed pass to Josh Carter that gave MU a first-and-goal from the 6-yard line. On first down, E'Montie Dears was pushed back for a loss of two yards. With 33 seconds to play, Keoni completed a pass to Josh Carter to the 4-yard line and MU called another timeout, this one with 29 seconds to play.
 
Keoni's pass to Carter on third down fell incomplete and on fourth down, Keoni was unable to find Cummings in the corner of the end zone. Ferrum took over on downs and took a knee to ice the game.
 
The Monarchs' near comeback came after the Panthers used an 11-play drive that covered 96 yards and ate up 4:33 to take a 19-14 lead when Zack Clifford completed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Dre Davis with 1:55 to play. The ensuing 2-point conversion failed.
 
The long drive came after MU punter Robert Lamelas used a 46-yard punt to pin the Panthers deep in their own territory. It was one of four punts Lamelas landed inside the 20.
 
Ferrum took a 3-0 lead after the first quarter, the only points coming on a 21-yard field goal by Brad Green late in the period.
 
In the second quarter, MU went on top 7-3 when Gerrod Nobles recovered a muffed punt in the end zone as Kennedy Snyder attempted to field a deep punt from Lamelas.
 
On the Panthers' first drive of the second half, Tristin Ellerbe blocked a punt and recovered the loose ball at the FC 19-yard line. MU go a 15-yard pass from Keoni to Carter two plays later to go up 14-3 with 12:22 left in the quarter.
 
Brian Mann answered with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 6:54 mark of the third to make it 14-10, and Green added a 25-yard field goal midway through the fourth to set up the game's dramatic finish.
 
Ferrum outgained MU on the day, 418-336, and did not commit a penalty. The Panthers were also 3 of 4 in the red zone, while MU converted just once on four trips.
 
The ground game ruled as each team had difficulty moving the ball through the air. MU gained 185 yards on the ground and Ferrum rushed for 240 yards. Keoni completed 13 of 35 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and one pick. His counterpart, Zack Clifford was 14 of 28 for 178 yards with a pick and a touchdown.
 
E'Montie Dears gained 123 yards on 25 carries for MU, and Keoni added 62 yards on 10 totes. Cummings had five grabs for 42 yards receiving.
 
Mann led the Panthers with 232 yards on the ground. He carried 41 times and averaged 5.7 yards per rush. Davis hauled in seven passes for 124 yards with a touchdown.
 
Roderic Christian and Mark Stanford led MU with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively. Stanford had a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and an interception as well. Brandon Bagley chipped in nine stops, and Tristin Ellerbe totaled six tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss to go with his blocked punt.
 
Tyus Brown and Dustin Swaine each had 10 stops for the Panthers, and Montel Lee had four tackles, 2.5 for loss, and a sack.
 
Methodist is back in action next Saturday at Huntingdon beginning at 2 pm.