The LaGrange College Football team traveled to North Carolina Wesleyan and lost 37-22 in a rain-soaked contest, dropping to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
The Panthers had to play on a Friday, as the game was moved up a day due to the impact of Hurricane Ian on the North Carolina Wesleyan campus.
LC started off slow, as the Bishops outscored the Panthers 14-0 in the first quarter. After a Shedrick Lindsey fumble, which resulted in a North Carolina Wesleyan touchdown, and a blocked Alex Rivera PAT that was returned for 2, the Panthers were down 30-6 with just under nine minutes before halftime.
After that, the Panthers stayed in the game and made it interesting. LC outscored North Carolina Wesleyan 15-7 in the second half, but the effort came up short, as the Bishops prevailed for 15-point win.
Due to the heavy rain, each team's passing offense was ineffective, with Lindsey only throwing for 36 yards all day. He did complete one touchdown and ran for 29 yards. LC was led on the ground by Christian Waymon, who ran for 120 yards on 9 carries, including a 65-yard burst for the only Panther score in the first half. Aubrey Carter and Jaydon Cooper both offered a combined 45 yards on the ground and a touchdown.
The defense struggled at times, giving up 348 yards on the ground, but held the Bishops to only seven points in the second half. Timothy Hill led the Panthers with 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss.
The Panthers are back home next Saturday against Maryville for homecoming, aiming for their first conference win.
Story by Eli Rogers
