Graham Craig scored with 1:36 remaining to cap a second half rally as LaGrange edged Averett 30-29 on Saturday at Callaway Stadium.

The victory lifted the Panthers' record to 3-1 overall and evened their USA South record at 1-1. The Panthers are on the road next week at defending conference champion Maryville.

The Panthers and the Cougars (1-3, 0-2 USA South) combined for 1,075 yards of offense. The two teams also turned the ball over nine times in the game.

Craig overcame two first quarter interceptions to throw for 397 yards and three touchdowns plus running in the game-winner. He was 31-for-46 in the game.

The Panthers' had four turnovers and a safety in their first six drives. The Cougars took advantage of two of the turnovers to take a 13-0 first quarter lead. 

The offense got back on track with an 11 play 84-yard drive to cut the Averett lead to 13-7. Craig was 8-for-8 on the drive, finishing it with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Dixon on a screen play with 2:57 left in the quarter.

Averett pushed the lead to 22-7 in the second quarter. Craig was sacked for a safety and the Cougars had a 57-yard drive capped by Ray Brown's 1-yard plunge on fourth and goal to up the lead to 15 at halftime.

The Panther defense forced a fumble and an interception on Averett's first two possessions of the second half. The offense turned the Cougar miscues into 10 points to make it 22-17.

Jake Dean recovered the fumble at the Averett 34 to set up the first score of the half. Craig's short 3-yard pass to Griffin Roelle on third and goal brought the Panthers within eight.

On Averett's next possession, Larry Murdock returned an interception to the Cougars' 24. After the drive stalled, Will Jeffcoat kicked a 22-yard field to make it a five point game.

The Cougars went up 29-17 after a short 43-yard drive. But the Panthers needed only three plays to go 66 yards for their next score.

Craig opened the drive with a 39-yard strike to Marsalis Jackson, who had five catches for 122 yards in the game. Lord Smith ran the ball 12 yards to the 15. On the next play, Craig dumped the ball over the middle to Roelle, who did the rest and went in the endzone standing up to make it 29-24 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Cougars' first drive of the quarter ended in a missed field goal. After an exchange of possessions, the Panthers found themselves at their own 2-yard line with 6:40 to play.

Craig completed back-to-back passes to Roelle to get the Panthers out of the shadow of their own goal. He came back and found Michael Gray coming across the middle for 27 yards to get inside Averett territory at the 48.

Facing third and 10, Craig went to Patrick Goodin for 23 yards down to the 25. He threw 12 yards to Gray for another first down at the 13.

Two plays and a false start penalty had the Panthers facing third and 2 at the 5-yard line. Craig ran right up the middle untouched with 1:36 showing and a 30-29 lead after the missed 2-point attempt.

The defense rose up, forcing four straight incompletions by the Cougars to seal the win.

The second half rally from 15 points down at halftime was the second biggest comeback by the Panthers. They beat Huntingdon 44-40 last season after trailing 27-10 at the half.