Big first half sends Shorter past Panthers
Sept. 15, 2007

ROME, Ga. – Shorter College rolled to a large halftime lead and went on to a 38-12 win over LaGrange College on Saturday at Barron Stadium. The loss left the Panthers still seeking their first win ever and dropped them to 0-3 on the season. The Hawks improved to 2-1 with the win.

The game marked the inaugural Governor's Cup. The cup is symbolic of the Georgia small college football champion. Shorter was presented the cup by former Georgia governor Joe Frank Harris and it will reside with the Hawks until next year's game.

Shorter used a strong running game to put away the Panthers. The Hawks rushed for 360 yards in the game, 266 coming in the first half as they built a 31-6 lead. Shorter used 13 backs in the game, with A.J. Cooley rushing for a game-high 69 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Drew Elrod added 63 yards and two touchdowns.

The Hawks took the game's opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 15 plays for their first score. The drive consumed over half of the first quarter. Cooley capped the drive with a two-yard run on fourth down. Lukas Gonzalez added the first of his five extra points for a 7-0 lead.

On their next possession, the Hawks ground out a 10-play 78-yard drive to go up 14-0. Elrod finished the drive with a 30-yard run off the option. Gonzalez picked up a first down to the Panthers' 38-yard line on a fake punt on a fourth-and-three play. Three plays later, Elrod scored his touchdown.

The Panthers got back in the game on the ensuing kickoff. Mario Wallace fielded Gonzalez's kickoff at his own 11-yard line. He burst up the middle and then cut to the outside and raced untouched into the end zone for the Panthers' first ever kickoff return touchdown.

After an exchange of possessions, Shorter broke the game open with two touchdowns in a span of two minutes. Raymone Nesbitt scored from seven yards out to finish an 11-play 78-yard drive. On the ensuing kickoff, Wallace fumbled the ball, with the Hawks' Armond Smith recovering at the Panthers' 17-yard line. Elrod finished the short drive with a five-yard run to make it 28-6 with 3:19 left in the half.

Gonzalez finished the first half scoring with a 37-yard field goal to up the Hawks' lead to 31-6. By halftime, the Hawks had 328 yards of total offense and had held the ball for almost 23 minutes.

The Panthers took the second half kickoff and moved the ball. Nick Langley had a pair of 14-yard completions from Drew Carter, the last for a first down at the Hawks' 45-yard line. But on the next play, the Hawks' A.J. Baker stepped in front of Carter's intended receiver and raced 60 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown.

The Panthers put together a sustained drive on their first possession of the fourth quarter. Aided by two major penalties by the Hawks, the Panthers moved from their own 28 to Shorter's 26-yard line. Carter hit MiKyle Walker for 19 more yards to set up first and goal at the Hawks' seven-yard line. The drive ended with four straight incomplete passes, the last by Robert Walsh, who had entered the game after Carter was shaken up.

Walsh guided the Panthers 65 yards in six plays on their next possession to make it 38-12. He finished the drive with a short four-yard toss to Erik Hardison, who had three catches for 44 yards on the drive. Walker set up the score with a 21-yard reception to the Hawks' four-yard line.

The Panthers threatened to draw closer on their next possession. Walsh scrambled for 16 yards and a personal foul penalty on the next play put the Panthers at the Hawks' 19-yard line. Shorter's James Maxwell ended the threat by picking off Walsh near the goal line.

Carter and Walsh combined for 224 yards passing in the game. Hardison led the Panther receivers with six receptions for 77 yards. Langley finished with five catches for 86  yards.

The Panthers host Bridgewater (Va.) next Saturday at Callaway Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m.