ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – 329 days after hoisting the USA South Athletic Conference championship trophy for the first time, the LaGrange College football team began their title defense with a 41-31 victory at North Carolina Wesleyan University on Saturday at Vernon T. Bradley Jr. Stadium in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to open their 2026 league schedule.
THE BASICS
Score: LaGrange 41, NC Wesleyan 31
Records: Panthers 3-1, 1-0 USA South | Battling Bishops 2-2, 0-1 USA South
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Panthers took a 38-21 lead into halftime, then held off a Bishops rally in the second. Leading by ten with 10:50 to go after getting the ball back at their own 18 yard line, LaGrange embarked on a 15-play drive with 14 of those plays coming off runs to milk the clock down to 2:40 and force the Bishops to burn two timeouts. On the ensuing drive, LaGrange sophomore defensive lineman Zymarion Hudson (Cordele, Ga.) sacked NCWU sophomore quarterback Braden Selvage (Garner, N.C.) for a nine-yard loss on first down, laying the foundation for the Panther defense to hold firm as the Bishops went four and out to end the game.
TOP PANTHERS
- LaGrange senior running back Michael Hays (Jacksonville, Fla.) exploded for a career-high 147 yards rushing with two touchdowns to go along with two receptions for another 22 yards. Hays' performance gives him 1012 rushing yards for his career, becoming just the sixth Panther in school history to reach the 1000 career rushing yard milestone.
- LaGrange senior quarterback Henry Brodnax (Newnan, Ga.) threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
- LaGrange junior quarterback Aaron McLaughlin (Alpharetta, Ga.) was a utility offensive threat all afternoon, passing for eight yards, rushing for 21 yards and catching two passes for a combined 85 receiving yards and a touchdown. McLaughlin's 68-yard touchdown catch from Brodnax with 6:36 left in the first quarter gave the Panthers a 21-0 lead.
- LaGrange freshman cornerback Paul Davis (Tallahassee, Fla.) got the scoring started just 2:18 into the game when he blocked an NCWU punt, then recovered the ball for a 59-yard touchdown.
- LaGrange junior cornerback Tavares Simmons Jr. (Perry, Ga.) finished with five tackles and a pass breakup. Simmons' interception with 10:50 remaining in the game put the Panthers in position to ice the game.
- The LaGrange offensive line continued to show why they are one of the best protective units in the region, allowing no sacks and allowing the Panthers to rush for 190 yards. Through four games, LaGrange has given up just two sacks.
- Selvage led the Bishops with 318 passing yards and four touchdowns.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the field next Saturday when they return to Callaway Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. conference game against Methodist University.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
