Birmingham-Southern spoiled LaGrange's 2015 season opener with a 29-28 comeback win over the Panthers on Saturday at Callaway Stadium.

Junior Josh Hardrick caught three touchdown passes from sophomore Connor Blair, who was making his first start at quarterback. Hardrick tied the school record for touchdown receptions in a game. He finished with eight catches for 90 yards.

Junior Ervens Oge came within a yard of tying his career high with 131 yards receiving on eight catches. The Panthers had nine players have at least one reception in the game.

Blair was 30-for-48 throwing for 367 yards the three touchdowns to Hardrick and three interceptions. He had 196 yards in the first half as the Panthers built a 21-3 lead.

"We talk to our guys at the half about the game being 0-0 and not to relax," Coach Matt Mumme said. "I thought offensively in the second half we relaxed a little bit,

"I thought our O line for being as young as they were played well. We just needed to make some plays at the end."

In the first quarter, the Panthers took a 7-0 lead despite having the ball for less than four minutes. The defense forced three punts and got an interception on Birmingham's first four drives.

The Panthers took a 7-0 lead with a quick seven-play 80-yard drive. Blair's 31-yard pass to Oge to the Birmingham 5-yard line set up Hardrick's first touchdown on the next play.

Leading 7-3 in the second quarter, the Panthers put together back-to-back scoring drives. Freshman Nick Searcy finished the first drive with a 1-yard run, then Blair went back to Hardrick again on a short 5-yard toss to up the lead to 21-3.

Birmingham got two scores in the third quarter to cut the Panthers' lead to 21-16. The Panthers answered with a 12-play 83-yard drive, spanning the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth.

Blair's 18-yard completion to Wesley Hughes set up Hardrick's 16-yard catch from Blair on the third play of the fourth quarter and a 28-16 lead.

Leading 28-22 with the clock winding down, the Panthers were at their own 27. Kerrigan Pennington stepped in front of Blair's pass and ran it in from 37 yards out to give Birmingham its first lead of the game, 29-28, with 2:42 left.

The Panthers were forced to punt on their last possession as Birmngham was able to run out the clock.

"I take it upon myself for some poor play calling right there at the end," Mumme said. "We could have run the ball or something and see where we were on third down before we had to throw it.

"I think we have a great football team in the making; we just have to step up and overcome this and start getting ready for Berry."