Box Score Kentucky Wesleyan held on to defeat visiting Limestone, 43-41, at Steele Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers leading 43-27 with 9:09 in the fourth quarter survived two touchdowns by the Saints in the final four minutes to earn their fifth victory.
Xavier Mitchell opened the game with 71-yard kickoff return to set up a two-yard touchdown pass from
Dalton Oliver to
Keelan Cole and a
Cole Woodburn kick in the first 54 seconds to start the Panthers at 7-0.
Limestone came back with a 19-yard pass for the 7-7 tie at the 6:51 mark.
Cole then scored on a 18-yard pass from Oliver and a Woodburn kick for the 14-7 advantage with 1:59 remaining in the quarter.
The Saints started the second on a 17-yard run for the second tie of the game at 14.
Mitchell then ran back a 62-yard kickoff return before fumbling and
Phillip Francis picked up the ball and went for the touchdown to put KWC ahead 21-14 at with 14:32 left.
Limestone scored with 1:19 on the clock on a one-yard run for the 21-21.
Woodburn broke the tie with no time on the clock to connect on a 27-yard field goal to end the half, 24-21.
Cole caught his third touchdown pass on a 74-yard reception from Oliver for the only score in the third to push KWC's lead to 31-21. Cole followed with a 27-yard catch for his fourth touchdown from Oliver with 12 remaining in the fourth.
The Saints (2-7) responded with a nine-yard pass to cut the lead to 10.
Tyler Hermann 55-yard interception touchdown kept the Saints behind but not before a 18-yard pass and a one-yard run with both two-point conversion tries failed to settle on the Panther's victory.
Cole caught eight passes for 175 yards and a KWC single-game record four touchdowns while Oliver connected threw 258 yards and four touchdowns on 18 of 29 passing and one pick.
KWC had 335 yards in total offense compared to Limestone's 567.
The Panthers (5-4) host Virginia Lynchburg in their season finale next Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
