LaGrange bounced USA South co-leader Huntingdon out of first place with a 24-17 upset of the Hawks at Samford Stadium on Saturday.

The win evened the Panthers' record at 4-4 and made them 2-4 in the conference. Huntingdon (5-3, 4-2 USA South) had its four-game winning streak come to an end.

"I'm so proud of this team and coaching staff," Coach Matt Mumme said. "We played together and executed against a great football team and came out with the win."

The Panthers have now beaten the Hawks in back-to-back years for the first time. They were 0-3 in previous trips to Samford Stadium and had been outscored by an average of 35 points in those games.

The Panther defense came up with its best performance of the season after the record-setting loss to Methodist last week.

The 17 points was the fewest the Panthers have given up this season. Huntingdon came into the game averaging 39.6 points per game.

The defense also got in on the scoring. Jake Dean returned a fumble 5 yards to tie the game at 17 in the fourth quarter.

The two teams played to a 10-10 tie at halftime. It marked the first time this season the Panthers have not trailed at the break.

Huntingdon opened the scoring in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. The Panthers came back with a quick six-play 71-yard drive to tie it at 7-7. Graham Craig's 41-yard touchdown pass to Michael Gray capped the drive.

The defense made a goal line stand late in the quarter to preserve the tie. T.J. Bulock and Shaun Nichols combined to stop the Hawks' Jay Ware for no gain on a fourth and 2 at the Panthers' 3-yard line.

The two teams swapped field goals in the second quarter. Will Jeffcoat's 33-yarder with nine seconds left in the half tied the game for the second time.

The Hawks took a 17-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

The Panthers drove to the Hawks' 11 but missed a field goal.  The Hawks punched the ball out to their 34 after getting the ball back.

But two quarterback sacks and a penalty left the Hawks with fourth down at their own 24. Punter Parker Allen fumbled the snap and Dean scooped the ball up at the 5 for the score and with Jeffcoat's extra point tied the game at 17 with 5:14 left.

The defense forced the Hawks to punt the ball away with 2:43 remaining.

Taking over at their own 13, the Panthers covered the 87 yards in just six plays to take the lead.

Craig opened the drive with a 17-yard completion to Gray out to the 30. Facing third and 7, Craig and Griffin Roelle hooked up on a 48-yard strike to the Hawks' 19-yard line.

After a running play lost two yards, Craig came back to Gray for the game-winner from 21 yards out with 1:01 showing on the clock. Gray finished the game with five catches for 91 yards and the two scores.

Huntingdon came back after the kickoff and drove to the Panthers' 23. But Bulock sealed the win by picking off Luke Bailey's pass on the final play of the game, returning it 75 yards as the clock ran out.

The Panthers play at Christopher Newport in a USA South game next Saturday.