In an exciting, back-and-forth game, it was Team AD earning a come-from-behind win over Team Pres on Saturday afternoon at Callaway Stadium.
The game, which was part of Panther Pride Day, featured the players on the LC football roster, and the teams were led by President Susanna Baxter and Director of Athletics Terlynn Olds.
Team AD trailed 14-13 in the second half, but it scored the game's final 10 points to earn the 23-14 win.
This was the second edition of the Team AD vs. Team Pres game, and Head Coach Earl Chambers believes the game itself and the entire day is a huge benefit for the athletics program.
In addition to the football game, Panther Pride day featured food trucks, music, meet-and-greets with LC student athletes, as well as a women's soccer match.
"Just to have something that we can call our own, and have every sport participate, we need it," Chambers said. "It's invaluable."
For the Panthers, it was another step in the process as they gear up for the start of a new season on Sept. 10 at Berry College.
"I felt like we got better," Chambers said. "We talked about what we are, and where we're trying to go. We're trying to take that next step."
The more than 100 players on the roster were divided equally among the two teams.
For Team TO, Alex Rivera made three field goals, including one that gave his team the lead for good in the second half.
Team TO also got touchdown passes from Will Dean to Jasharie Anderson, and Rashod Brockington to Ajani Williams.
Team Pres scored its two touchdowns through the air.
Shedrick Lindsey, the Panthers' number one quarterback, tossed a touchdown pass to LJ Flint.
Team Pres also scored on a trick play, with Flint taking a lateral and throwing a strike to Dana Lucas for the score.
Team TO struck first, with Rivera making a 41-yard field goal to make it a 3-0 game.
Team Pres answered, with Flint getting behind the defense and catching a touchdown pass of about 65 yards from Lindsey.
Back came Team TO, with Anderson catching a short pass from Dean and turning it into a 70-yard touchdown.
A Rivera field goal gave Team TO a 13-7 lead, and that's the way it remained until Team Pres got creative in the second half.
Quarterback Jaryn Kelly threw a backward lateral to Flint, and he dropped a perfect pass into the hands of Lucas, who caught the ball in stride and raced to the end zone for the 60-yard touchdown, and the extra point gave Team Pres the 14-13 lead.
With Dean at quarterback, Team TO made it to the 1-yard line on the ensuing drive before settling for a Rivera field goal, and the lead was 16-14.
Following a defensive stop, Team TO put the game away with Brockington finding Williams for the touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers were supposed to open the season this week against Middle Georgia, but that game was canceled.
Despite that, the Panthers will go through their normal game-week routine before opening next week against Berry.
"We'll treat this week as if we're playing," Chambers said. "We'll look at film and find ways to get better."
