Panthers rally in final minutes to edge Apprentice 21-14

Posted: Oct 30, 2010

LaGrange College scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes to turn back Apprentice School 21-14 before a Homecoming crowd Saturday at Callaway Stadium. The Panthers stopped a two-game losing streak and improved to 3-5.

Sophomore Michael May came off the bench to direct the Panthers' comeback. He threw for 141 yards in the fourth quarter and two touchdown passes to Stephen Tuck, the last the game-winner with 19.6 seconds left in the game.

Apprentice (2-6) had taken a 14-7 lead in the third quarter. Quarterback Trey Tillman threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Cain with 7:26 left in the third quarter. Cain, who had 110 yards receiving in the game, had three catches for 51 yards on the scoring drive.

Apprentice had a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown by Aaron Finley late in the quarter called back because of a penalty. The Builders had two interceptions in the game off starting quarterback Drew Carter.

May entered the game after Carter was shaken up on the Panthers' first series of the quarter. May drove the Panthers down to the Builders' 20 before turning the ball over on downs.

The Panther defense, which allowed a season-low 212 yards of total offense, forced a three and out by the Builders. The Panthers took over at their own 22 with six minutes left in the game.

On second down, May found Jo Jo Sweet for a 23-yard gain to the Builders' 48. He went 25 yards to Kent Gibson down the 2-yard line for a first and goal.

Two plays lost three yards and the Panthers face third down at the 5. May threw to the right side of the end zone to Tuck, who tight roped the sideline for the catch. Drake Nahrwold's extra point tied the game at 14 with 2:02 left.

The defense came up with another three and out after the score. Tillman misfired on three straight passes to force a punt by the Builders after taking only 27 seconds off the clock.

The Panthers took over at their own 45. May scrambled for 18 yards to the Apprentice 37. Three plays later, May went to Jordan Magaw for 24 yards to the 1. Magaw took the ball away from the Builders' Daniel Richmond to make the catch.

A delay of game penalty pushed the Panthers back to the 6. After nearly throwing an interception on second down, May found a wide open Tuck in the end zone for the game winner.

The two teams played to a 7-7 tie at halftime. The Builders drove 64 yards on their first possession, scoring on a 47-yard pass play from Tillman to Cain. The Panthers tied the game later in the quarter as Andrecus Lindley capped a short 41-yard drive with a 1-yard run. The Panthers had 165 of their 329 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter. The Panthers had only 77 yards rushing on 36 attempts in the game.

R.J. Miles set a school single-season pass reception record in the game. Miles had four catches in the game, giving him 42 for the season. He broke Erik Hardison's 2007 record of 39.

Jo Jo Sweet led the Panthers with six catches for 62 yards. The Panthers had seven different receivers with at least one catch.

Football

Panthers rally in final minutes to edge Apprentice 21-14