Panthers get first ever win in dramatic fashion
Sept. 6, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – LaGrange College got its first ever football win in dramatic fashion Saturday at Thomas Reynolds Stadium on the campus of Vestavia Hills High School. Devin Billings' touchdown catch from Drew Carter with 23.2 seconds left in the game gave the Panthers a 34-31 win over Birmingham-Southern to open the 2008 season. The win snapped the Panthers' losing streak of 20 straight games over the last two seasons.

"I cannot say enough about the character of our football team," Head coach Todd Mooney said. "Our players believed in themselves and never got down. We had some key people go down and others step in and do a great job.

"Mario Wallace and Drew Carter had outstanding games and the defense really stepped up in the fourth quarter and gave us every opportunity to get back in the game and eventually win it. It was a complete team effort."

In a day of more firsts for the football program, Wallace added his name once again to the Panther record books. He finished the game with 278 all-purpose yards, his third highest career total. He became the first Panther to return a punt for a touchdown, with a 63-yard return in the first quarter. Wallace caught six passes for 111 yards, ran for 80 yards and a touchdown and had 24 yards in kick returns and the single punt return. He is the first Panther to have more than 100 yards receiving in the game.

Carter threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns. He was 18-for-36 without an interception or a sack in the game. Carter directed an offense that had a team-record 386 total yards and did not commit a turnover.

The Panthers began their winning drive from their own 27 with 2:24 left in the game. Wallace made a spectacular catch for a 28-yard gain to Birmingham's 21 on a third-and-eight. Two plays later, Carter hit Billings in the end zone between two defenders to put the Panthers up 32-31. Carter came right back to hit
Nick Langley for the two-point conversion to make it 34-31.

Birmingham-Southern was able to run only three plays after the kickoff. Alex Sapp sacked quarterback Joe Thigpen on second down. The game ended as Birmingham completed a 38-yard pass to the Panthers' 30 yard line. Mooney received his first water cooler drenching as players and Panther fans who made the trip stormed the field in celebration.

The Panthers trailed 31-19 after Birmingham-Southern's Jared Spooner had kicked a 24-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. The defense, despite being on the field for most of the second half, came up with two big plays to get the Panthers back in the game. Linebacker Justin Pair forced a fumble with Jeremy Pickens recovering the ball for the Panthers at the Birmingham 26.

The Panthers needed only two plays to convert the turnover into a touchdown. Carter threw to Billings from 12 yards out and Josh Stripling added the extra point to get the Panthers within five, 31-26, with over 12 minutes left in the game.

Birmingham came back down the field and faced a fourth and three at the Panthers' 28. Devin Allison picked off Thigpen's pass to end the threat. The defense did not allow Birmingham to cross midfield again until the final play of the game.

The Panthers trailed 21-19 at the half.  Wallace tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter with a five-yard run to cap a 13-play 82-yard drive. The Panthers converted three long third down conversions on the drive. After the defense forced a three and out, Wallace returned the ensuing punt to put the Panthers up 13-7 after the first quarter.

Birmingham-Southern responded with a 53-yard touchdown pass and took advantage of a blocked field goal attempt for a short touchdown drive to take a 21-13 lead. The Panthers answered with another 13 play drive, this time covering 77 yards. Erik Hardison finished the drive with a one-yard plunge to cut the deficit to two points with 2:14 left in the half. The Panthers forced a fumble on the kickoff, recovering at the Birmingham 31 yard line. Stripling's 36-yard field goal was off the mark with 10 seconds left in the half.

Wallace had 181 of his all-purpose yards in the first half. Freshman Kendrick Nelson had five carries for 50 yards in the half, finishing with 57 yards on just six carries. The Panthers controlled the clock in the half, holding the ball for 22 minutes. The Panthers had 247 yards of total offense in the half.

The Panthers host Shorter College next Saturday at Callaway Stadium in the annual Governor's Cup. Game time is 1 p.m.