LaGrange ends second season with loss to Kentucky Wesleyan
Nov. 3, 2007

OWENSBORO, Ky. – LaGrange College finished its second season of football with a 35-21 loss to Kentucky Wesleyan at Robert "Bullet" Wilson Field on Saturday. The Panthers ended the season 0-10, while Kentucky Wesleyan upped its record to 3-7.

LaGrange had a season-high 330 yards of total offense in the game. Quarterback Drew Carter threw for a season-high 227 yards and two touchdowns. Carter finished the season with 1,560 yard passing. Nick Langley set team records in a game with 10 receptions and 93 yards receiving. Brandon Crawford had a team-high 82 yards rushing on 16 carries. He led the team in rushing for the season with 493 yards.

Linebacker Justin Pair led the defense with a team-record 18 tackles (11 solo, 7 assists). He had three tackles for losses, including a quarterback sack. Drew McAdams had eight tackles, including three for losses. Kyle Storey became the first Panther to score a defensive touchdown with a 28-yard interception return in the fourth quarter. Storey was the first Panther to make an interception last season.

After a scoreless first quarter, Kentucky Wesleyan got on the scoreboard first with a quick two-play scoring drive. Quarterback Chris Owens hooked up with Vincent Lalonde for a 70-yard touchdown with 12:37 left in the half to make it 7-0.

LaGrange's best scoring chance came on the ensuing drive after Kentucky Wesleyan's score. Starting from their own 15, the Panthers moved the ball up the field. They converted three times on third down to keep the drive going. Garrett Sugar ran 17 yards on a third-and-8 to the LaGrange 34. Carter completed third down passes to Crawford and Langley, the last for 23 yards to the Kentucky Wesleyan 26. But on the next play, Mario Wallace fumbled the ball and Greg Embers recovered for Kentucky Wesleyan at the 20 with 4:54 left in the half.

Kentucky Wesleyan increased its lead to 14-0 with its first possession of the second half. The host Panthers drove the ball 62 yards in 11 plays. Lalonde finished the drive with a touchdown run from 15 yards out.

The Panthers answered with their first scoring drive of the game. They moved 68 yards in just six plays to get within a touchdown, 14-7. Carter threw 8-yards to Langley for the touchdown and Josh Stripling added the first of his three extra points. Crawford had a 38-yard to the Kentucky Wesleyan 22 on a third-and-2 play.

Kentucky Wesleyan increased its lead to 21-7 on the third play of the fourth quarter. Vance Woods threw 30-yards to DaMarcus Ganaway to complete a 7-play, 39-yard drive. Kentucky Wesleyan converted a fourth-and-1 at the Panthers' 29 to keep the drive going.

The host Panthers needed only two minutes to go up 28-7. Jacob Nichols picked off a Carter pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown with 12:36 left in the game.

LaGrange came back to drive the ball deep into Kentucky Wesleyan territory. A pass interference call kept the drive going for the Panthers on a third-and-4 at midfield. Carter threw for 14 yards to Langley to the Kentucky Wesleyan 34. He ran for a 25 yards down to the 9-yard line for a first and goal. But two plays later, Gilbert Johnson intercepted Carter's pass in the end zone to stop the Panthers' drive.

Storey got LaGrange back in the game on Kentucky Wesleyan's ensuing possession. He intercepted Owens' pass and returned it 28 yards to make it 28-14.

The Panthers' defense forced another turnover on Kentucky Wesleyan's next play from scrimmage. Cody Eaves, who had a game-high 109 yards rushing, fumbled the ball and Devin Allison recovered for the Panthers at the Kentucky Wesleyan 49.

LaGrange needed 10 plays and convert two fourth down plays to get into the end zone. The Panthers faced fourth-and-19 at the 48. Carter passed 27 yards to Erik Hardison to keep the drive going. On a fourth-and-1 at the 12, Carter completed a 7-yard pass to Colt Shope for a first down at the 5-yard line. On the next play, he threw to Hardison in the end zone to make 28-21 with 7:11 left in the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ganaway returned the kick 76-yards to the Panthers' 9-yard line. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play pushed the ball back to the 24. Three plays later, Owens passed 28 yards to Ryan Evans to push Kentucky Wesleyan's lead to 35-21.

The Panthers came back with one last scoring threat. Carter passed 11 yards to Tyrone Bonds and a 10-yard penalty on the play moved the ball down to the Kentucky Wesleyan 30. Another 11-yard completion by Carter to Hardison gave the Panthers a first down at the 19. The drive stalled as Carter's fourth down pass to Hardison was incomplete. Kentucky Wesleyan ran the final five minutes off the clock to secure the win.