FERRUM, Va. – Ferrum College broke open a relatively close game with four second half touchdowns and cruised to a 42-0 USA South Conference football victory over visiting Shenandoah University Saturday afternoon at Adams Field.

The Panthers (1-2, 1-0 USA South) quickly took a 7-0 lead over the Hornets (1-3, 0-1) by driving 81 yards on three plays at the 13:01 mark of the first. Jacob Hawkins finished the drive with a 3-yard TD run, but quarterback Jermaine Pitts provided the heavy lifting by gaining 76 yards on 2nd down to set up a 1st and goal from the SU 3.

A Shenandoah three-and-out led to Ferrum's second touchdown drive – FC drove 67 yards in eight plays to make it 14-0 with 8:18 remaining in the first half.

The score remained at 14-0 until the hosts scored what proved to be the first of four touchdowns in the final 16:57 of the contest on a Kerry Dudley 11-yard run. Ferrum then added TD's at the 12:31, 7:54 and 4:35 marks of the fourth to provide the final margin of victory.

The Hornets best chance to score came on their final drive of the first half. Taking over on the Panthers 44 after freshman CJ Madison returned a Jermaine Pitts fumble a school-record tying 31 yards, SU advanced the ball another 19 yards before the drive stalled on the Ferrum 25.

Forced to go for it on 4th and 11 from the 25, freshman quarterback misfired on his throw to classmate Jeremy Maley at the 3-yard line.

Pitts led the Ferrum offense with 15 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown while also completing 3 of 8 passes for 41 yards with one interception. FC had 481 yards in total offense, including 460 on the ground.

Junior Paul Diggs had 12 carries for 40 yards to lead Shenandoah. Sophomore Dionte Beatty, the reigning USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Week, had a game-high 12 tackles.

Saturday's game was also the seventh addition of the Southwest Virginia Education Classic and Beatty earned the game's Defensive MVP honors. Pitts took the offensive honor for the hosts.

Shenandoah returns to Shentel Stadium for the first time in nearly a month next week when they host Christopher Newport in another USA South Conference game.