LaGrange ran past visiting North Carolina Wesleyan 40-13 at Callaway Stadium on Saturday. The game was the USA South opener for both teams as the Panthers (1-3, 1-0 USA South) got their first win of the season.

The Panthers rushed for 310 yards in the game, going over the 300-yard mark for the second straight game and the first time in the program's history. Kent Gibson ran for a game-high 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Ed Russ  rushed for 99 yards, with 98 coming in the first half. Russ went over 1,000 yards rushing in his career. Michael Jones added a career-high 71 yards.

The Panther defense had its best day of the season. The Panthers recovered five fumbles, returning one for a touchdown and had five quarterback sacks.

Wesleyan finished the game with -20 yards rushing. The Bishops did all of their damage through the air.

Quarterback Laron Ellerbe only completed 7-of-15 passes but finished with 218 yards and two touchdowns. He had touchdown passes of 71 yards to Jamais Williams and 67 yards to Quentin Richmond.

The Panther defense got the first points of the game on the third play from scrimmage. Ellerbe's third-down pass to Richmond from his own 28 was ruled a lateral. Linebacker Scott Chewning scooped the ball at the 12 and went into the end zone to put the Panthers up 7-0.

A second fumble by the Bishops set the Panthers up for their second score. Dwayne Hollis muffed a punt and P.G.Standard recovered at the Wesleyan 13.

On fourth and two at the 5, Russ turned to run but dropped the ball. He spun around and found R. J. Miles just past the goalline for the touchdown as the Panthers led 14-0 after the first quarter.

Will Jeffcoat's 25-yard field goal came after the Bishops turned the ball over for the third time at their 36 to increase the Panthers' lead to 17-0. On the Bishops' next possession, punter B.G. Howell muffed the snap and was tackled by Nick Raszeja in the end zone for a safety and a 19-0 lead.

Wesleyan cut the Panthers' lead to 19-7 late in the half. Facing a second and 29, Ellerbe hit Richmond in stride for a 71-yard catch and run touchdown with 3:23 left.

The Panthers answered with a quick eight-play 74 yard drive to take a 26-7 lead at the half. Russ opened the drive with a 28-yard run. Gibson finished it with an 18-yard run to the 1, then scoring on the next play with only 30 seconds left.

Wesleyan had the only score in the third quarter. The Bishops needed only five plays to go 97 yards. Williams covered the final 67 yards after Ellerbe ran away from pressure by the Panther defensive line.

The Panthers put together two scoring drives in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. Gibson finished a 56-yard drive with a 12-yard run, after a holding penalty wiped out a touchdown on the play before.

Michael May led the Panthers on a 9-play 74-yard drive for their final touchdown. May finished the drive with a 24-yard scoring strike to Cody Darracott to make it 40-13.

On defense, Daniel Garrett had six tackles, including 2.5 sacks, and forced a fumble for the Panthers. Anthony Cochran had eight tackles, forced a fumble and recovered another fumble.