GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College football team dropped its USA South Athletic Conference opener to Ferrum College Saturday, 30-0.
 
Ferrum (3-1, 1-0 USA South) pushed the ball downfield on its opening drive, but Markell Mull intercepted Harvey Taylor's pass to give the ball to the Pride (1-3, 0-1 USA South) on their own 20-yard line.
 
Two drives later, after Chase Deaton had missed a 42-yard field goal, Greensboro pushed the ball into the red zone but could not punch the ball into the end zone, turning the ball over on downs.
 
Ferrum then scored 13 unanswered points to take a 13-0 lead into halftime.
 
On its first possession of the third quarter, Greensboro was forced to punt the ball back to Ferrum.
 
However, punter Ryan Campbell boomed a school-record 75-yard put to pin Ferrum on its own 2-yard line. The previous record of 72 yards, which was held by Greensboro Hall of Famer Erik Naglee, was set on Oct. 4, 2003, against Guilford College.
 
The two teams traded possessions for the remainder of the game, but Ferrum was able to tack on 13 more points to take the victory.
 
"This was another heartbreaking game for our kids," Head Coach Greg Crum said. "They keep fighting every play and are continuously getting better.
 
"We will continue grinding away with our noses to the ground as we prepare for next week. Despite the outcome of today's game, our team is still a tight-knit group."
 
Meleck Thornton rushed for a team-high 54 yards on 12 carries, while Kenneth Purvis tallied 30 yards on the ground. Demario Smith finished with 46 yards receiving on three catches.
 
Keon Reynolds paced the Greensboro defense with 10 tackles. Mull, Garratt Brannock, Herbert Bridges, Trent Stanback, Isaiah Milligan-Smith, Sam Hargrove, and Bryer Rogers combined for nine tackles for loss.
 
The Pride will return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Panthers of LaGrange College come into town. For more information on Greensboro College football, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.