Panthers hope to build on success, defeat Blue Knights - Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

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The Kentucky Wesleyan College football team got into the win column last week with an overtime victory against Central State.

Now, the Panthers want to build on that success against surprising Urbana University at 1 p.m. today at Steele Stadium.

"We needed a win around here," KWC coach Brent Holsclaw said. "You hope winning is contagious. We will be tested again this week. But we finally won a game, and that's just so important."

KWC (1-4) will face the Blue Knights (2-3) for the first time. Urbana made a splash in its third game of the year, beating NCAA Division I Daytona 13-10, but has since lost two straight.

The Blue Knights feature a high-flying passing game. They're also coming into Owensboro for their first contest in two weeks following a 59-21 loss to Walsh on Sept. 26.

"What concerns me is they had a week off," Holsclaw said. "They are going to be fresh and healthy. We can't afford a letdown."

Urbana is throwing for 247 yards a game and rushing for just 55. Quarterback Evan Gehlert has thrown for 1,165 yards and is 110-for-214 with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Most of those TD passes have gone to Tariq Kalimullah, who has six catches for scores.

Gelhert is a pocket passer, so getting pressure on him will be the key for the KWC defense, Holsclaw said.

Defensively, Urbana is giving up 142 yards rushing per game.

The Panthers passed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing this season last week and are running for an average of 172 yards a game.

Gordon Thomas is the leading rusher with 83 carries for 397 yards and four TDs. Quarterback Vincent Lalonde has run for 297 yards on 58 carries.

KWC's rushing game has accounted for the majority of its yardage, but the passing game has produced 10 scores while the rushing game has punched in six.

KWC guard Jay Fallin, a Hancock County High School product, is expected to be back in the lineup this week after missing the Central State contest. Free safety Heath Smith might miss the game due to a knee injury.

Last week's win was also notable for how KWC pulled it off, with big plays in overtime. It was proof, Holsclaw said, of the Panthers' mental toughness.

"I've got a really mature group of kids, and they kept believing all along we were a good football team," he said. "We stared a loss in the face and continued to play relentless football."

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