LAGRANGE, Ga. – The LaGrange College football team won 41-24 over visiting North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) in USA South Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Callaway Stadium in LaGrange, Georgia. For the second straight season, the Panthers open their conference schedule with a victory.
THE BASICS
Score: NCWU 24, LaGrange 41
Records: Panthers 3-1, 1-0 USA South | Battling Bishops 2-2, 0-1 USA South
DRIVE-BY-DRIVE
- On the opening kickoff, the Bishops flubbed the catch, giving the Panthers an outstanding opportunity when they recovered at the NCWU 16-yard line on just the first play of the game. On the very next play, LaGrange junior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) found junior running back Kolby Crawford (Douglasville Ga.) on a short out-route on the right side and Crawford dashed for the corner of the endzone as the hosts took a 7-0 lead.
- The Battling Bishops attempted to recover from that start on their ensuing drive, using a pass interference penalty and the rushing of NCWU junior running back Nahjir Seagraves (Southern Pines, N.C.) to power their way deep into Panther territory. The LaGrange defense stiffened, however, as LC junior linebacker Dezmond Jones (Thomasville, Ga.) tackled Seagraves for a loss on a third and short. The Bishops would settle for a 21-yard field goal by NCWU junior kicker Braxtyn Green (Live Oak, Fla.) to get on the board with a score of 7-3.
- The Panthers took control on their next drive, as Brodnax found Crawford on a clutch third down pass to get close to midfield. A facemask penalty against the Bishops gave the Black and Red a first down as they turned to the ground game. One third-and-seven at the NCWU ten-yard line, Brodnax found freshman wide receiver Dami'on Thompson (Atlanta, Ga.) in the corner of the endzone but a dropped catch forced the Panthers to settled for a field goal by senior kicker Landon Eaker (Ringgold, Ga.) to get the lead back to seven at 10-3.
- The second quarter saw the Bishops driving deep into Panther territory once again, as short passes by NCWU sophomore quarterback Javier Rice (Black Mountain, N.C.) and rushes by sophomore running back Trae Sechrest (Mooresville, N.C.) to power into the red zone. NC Wesleyan would ultimately punch it in on a one-yard run by Seagraves to tie the game at 10-10, concluding a 21-play drive.
- After a punt by LaGrange, NCWU would take over at their own 35 with 5:29 left in the half. Rice had an open receiver on what may have been a touchdown off a play-action pass only for LaGrange senior cornerback Legend Doggett (McDonough, Ga.) to make the clutch pass breakup as the Bishops were ultimately forced to punt.
- LaGrange found themselves backed up in their own territory after a costly penalty on the punt return, facing a second-and-eleven from their own twelve. As they have all season when they needed a big play, the Panthers turned to Thompson as Brodnax hit the WR1 for a 30-yard reception before he was forced out of bounds, breathing new life into the drive. Three plays later it was Brodnax on the QB rush to pick up the first down on a third-and-short. On the very next play, LaGrange attempted a flea flicker as Thompson drew a pass interference penalty against the Bishops, giving the Panthers a first down. Another pass interference flag on the next play setup a first-and-ten at the NCWU 17 in the closing moments of the half. The Bishops toughened up down the stretch, however, once again forcing them to settle for another Eaker field goal. The Panthers went into halftime clinging to a 13-10 lead.
- The Panthers received the kickoff to open the second half, and on their second play from scrimmage, LaGrange junior running back Michael Hays (Jacksonville, Fla.) busted out for a 60-yard rush, his longest of the season as LC picked up the first down at the NCWU 12. Facing third down after a sack by NC Wesleyan freshman defensive lineman Aarmon Randolph (Jacksonville, N.C.), the hosts were forced to settle for a field goal attempt. Eaker's kick went off the upright, and the score remained 13-10 in favor of the Panthers.
- NCWU was on their third play from scrimmage when Seagraves fumbled as LaGrange sophomore linebacker Ched Smith (Macon, Ga.) recovered, giving the Panthers another chance with a first down at the visitor 30. Brodnax would capitalize five plays later, finding Stillwell for a twelve-yard touchdown to put LC up 20-10.
- On their ensuing drive, the Bishops went three and out as LaGrange senior defensive back and team captain Deon King Jr. (Vienna, Ga.) made the pass breakup on third down to force the punt with 7:28 to go in the third quarter.
- A promising start to the LC drive saw Brodnax find Thompson for a couple of short passes, but a QB hurry by Randolph helped force an incompletion on third down, forcing a punt.
- Once again, miscues proved costly for NC Wesleyan as Seagraves fumbled at the Bishop 41 as LaGrange junior defensive end Anthony Lovett (Atlanta, Ga.) recovered to give possession back to the Panthers. Three plays later the hosts would give the ball right back as a pass by Brodnax went off his receiver's hands and into the mitts of NCWU sophomore safety Solomon Young (Massillon, Ohio). The visitors took over at the LC 42 with new life as the third quarter came to an end.
- The Battling Bishops went on a seven-play drive, capped off with a three-yard pass from Rice to NCWU sophomore tight end Marti McKnight (Rocky Mount, N.C.). Just like that the it was cut to a one possession game, 20-17.
- On the ensuing kickoff, LaGrange freshman kick returner Aaron Bryant (Homerville, Ga.) returned it 58 yards to set up the Panthers with outstanding field position at the NCWU 31. Four plays later, LC junior running back Tacaris Bozeman (Montgomery, Ala.) cut the corner and found his angle for an 11-yard touchdown rush, putting the hosts back up 27-17 with 11:38 to go.
- Just when it seemed like the Panthers might be close to putting the game away, the Battling Bishops found the answer. Facing a 3rd and nine at his own 37, Rice capitalized on a busted coverage to hit NCWU sophomore wide receiver Michael Pannell (Knightdale, N.C.) for a 63-yard touchdown reception, cutting the lead back to three at 27-24.
- With 4:58 left in the game and LaGrange looking to finally put it away, Brodnax faked the handoff then rushed the other way to punch it in from nine yards out, The Panthers took a 34-24 lead with the game entering crunch time.
- The Battling Bishops went back to their ground game, pounding their way to midfield. Forced to go for it on fourth down, Rice's pass was broken up by King, giving the ball back to the Panthers with just over three minutes left.
- On a second and short, LaGrange freshman quarterback Kirk Scott (Richmond Hill, Ga.) took the snap and scrambled for five yards, giving the Panthers a first down after the two-minute warning. Bozeman then took over, rushing on three straight snaps for 27 yards, then eight yards, then three yards for the touchdown with 26 seconds left and the hosts in control, up 41-24 to bust the game wide open. That would hope up for the final score as the Panthers improved to 3-1 on the season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- LaGrange saw 207 of their 375 total yards on offense come on the ground as they averaged 5.4 yards per rush on 38 attempts.
- Brodnax finished with 168 passing yards and three total touchdowns for the Panthers, throwing 18 completions on 27 attempts in arguably his best performance of the season. Brodnax had entered the day leading the conference in passing yards and passing yards per game.
- Rice passed for 166 yards and two scores for the Bishops.
- Hays rushed for 97 rushing yards for the Panthers while Bozeman added 87 yards and two scores.
- Seagraves rushed for 88 yards for the Bishops while Sechrest went for 34.
- Eaker's missed field goal in the third quarter was only his second of the season, that earlier miss coming off a block.
- Thompson added five receptions for 80 yards, both team-highs for the Panthers.
- Pannell went for seven receptions and 122 yards to lead the Bishops.
- Smith posted a season-high ten tackles to lead the Panthers' defense. King had two pass breakups and two hurries.
- After dropping five straight to the Bishops between 2018 to 2023, the Panthers have now won two straight. NCWU still leads the all-time series 9-6.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the field next Saturday when they travel to Methodist University for another USA South game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
- NCWU plays their next game at home when they host Belhaven University, that also coming next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
