FERRUM -- The first three times Clint Slappey tried to kick a field goal on Saturday, his aim was not good.

The fourth time, it finally was.

The next time he kicked, he hit something he was not aiming for. But it was the turning point of the game.

Ferrum extended its winning streak to five games with a 24-10 victory over Maryville in front of a homecoming crowd of 3,455 fans at Adams Stadium.

Rockbridge County graduate Marcus Mayo threw for two touchdowns and ran for another for the Panthers (5-1, 3-0), who assumed sole possession of first place in the USA South.

After missing three field goals of fewer than 40 yards, a relieved Slappey booted a 20-yarder to give Ferrum the lead for good at 10-7 with 2:44 left in the third quarter.

"You're worried about it a little bit on the sideline after so many [misses]," Slappey said. "You're basically fighting yourself."

Slappey was told to do a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff, but his line drive went only about 10 yards before it bounced off Maryville's Yohance Butler. Ferrum freshman Demetrius Brown (Pulaski County) heard the ricochet and pounced on the ball at the FC 37.

"They started shifting over to the side I was at," Slappey said. Butler "was standing right where I was driving it through. ... Once you drill it, it just goes wherever it wants, and it just caught him."

"It was one of those fluke things you can't practice for," Maryville coach Tony Ierulli said.

Ferrum then turned to a trick play. Mayo made a toss sweep to freshman third-string quarterback T.J. Price, who was lined up at running back. Price launched a 50-yard pass to Makya Jackson at the MC 13.

Two plays later, Mayo teamed with Jackson on a 10-yard TD pass to extend the lead to 17-7 with 1:16 left in the third quarter.

For the first time this season, Mayo played the entire game. Mayo, who had been splitting time with Matt Dobson, was not told before the game that he would be flying solo. But he earned the right to stay in the game, rushing for 133 yards on 20 carries and completing five of 11 passes for 96 yards.

"It required some quickness and athleticism to make some plays because they were spreading people to the sideline on the option," Ferrum coach Dave Davis said.

Mayo's only other start had been in the second game. Davis now intends to keep him as the starter.

"I'm starting to understand the offense a little better," Mayo said.

The Fighting Scots (3-3, 2-1) entered the game allowing an average of just 57.8 yards rushing but surrendered 293 on the ground Saturday.

"Mayo was really the difference," said Ierulli, whose team had beaten Ferrum the past two years. "Because he's so athletic, it was very difficult to tackle him."

Ierulli said Maryville also had trouble with Ferrum's offensive line and defensive front.

Maryville starting quarterback Derek Hunt was knocked out of the game after suffering a concussion on a second-quarter sack.

Ferrum has allowed an average of just 10.4 points during its winning streak. The Panthers doused defensive coordinator Cleive Adams and linebackers coach Pete Shaw in the waning seconds of the game.

Ferrum 0 7 10 7 -- 24

Maryville 0 7 0 3 -- 10

Second quarter

FC -- Mayo 16 run (Slappey kick), 7:50

MC -- Dunford 42 pass from Conner (Daniell kick), 3:26

Third quarter

FC -- FG Slappy 20, 2:44

FC -- Jackson 10 pass from Mayo (Slappey kick), 1:16

Fourth quarter

MC -- FG Daniell 20, 12:32

FC -- Vann 2 pass from Mayo (Slappey kick), 5:33

MC FC

First downs 15 21

Yards rushing 117 293

Passes C-A-I 12-28-0 6-12-0

Yards passing 169 146

Penalties-yards 4-42 8-69

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0

Punts-average 3-38 2-46

Individual statistics

RUSHING -- Maryville, Hightower 19-92, Moore 9-21, Conner 4-10, Idlette 1-2, Tate 1- (-2), Hunt 3-(-6). Ferrum, Mayo 20-133, Vann 10-91, Patterson 7-67; Harris 1-3, Lucas 7-1, Team 2-(-2).

PASSING -- Maryville, Hunt 7-10-0-55, Conner 5-17-0-114, McCord 0-1. Ferrum, Mayo 5-11-0-96; Price 1-1-0-50.

RECEIVING -- Maryville, Idlette 4-40, Dunford 2-48, Wafford 2-41, Bosco 2-18, Randall 1-17, Hightower 1-5; Ferrum, Jackson 2-60, Vann 2-12, Tibbs 1-40, Patterson 1-34.