LaGrange's strong second half rally ran out of time against Ave Maria in Callaway Stadium on Saturday. 

Sophomore Connor Blair threw for 400 yards and three touchdowns for the Panthers. Blair had 270 yards passing in the second half as the Panthers (0-3) almost overcame a 21-0 deficit in the hard-fough 28-21 loss to the Gyrenes (1-2).

"It was a valiant effort against a scholarship program. We did a great job of never giving up and fighting to the very end," Coach Matt Mumme said. "We have a great team in the making and I'm proud of these young men."

Ave Maria used three short scoring drives in the first half to build their lead. The Panthers got back in the game with their final drive of the first half and their opening drive of the second half.

The Panthers marched 87 yards in 12 plays to close out the first half. Blair capped the drive with a 12-yard toss to Lavell Meeks with 28 seconds left as the Panthers trailed 21-7.

The Panthers needed only eight plays to cover 72 yards to open the second half. Untorrey Thomas kept the drive going with a 21-yard catch and run on third down to the Gyrenes' 46-yard line. Blair hooked up with Ervens Oge from 15 yards out to make it 21-13.

Ave Maria got a third quarter score to go up 28-13. The Gyrenes took that lead into the fourth quarter.

The Panthers pulled with a touchdown, 28-21, when Blair and Marsalis Jackson connected on a 40-yard scoring strike with 8:16 left. Jackson finished the game with six catches for 114 yards. The touchdown tied Jackson with Griffin Roelle for career toucdown receptions with 17.

The Panthers take next week off before traveling to Averett on Oct. 3 to open their USA South schedule.