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Panthers came up short against Saints
Kentucky Wesleyan College's Jeff Ward sprints past Siena Heights University's Lyle Van Fleteren on his way to an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first half of their game Saturday in Steele Stadium. Ward set a school record with the run, but the Panthers ended up losing to the Saints 28-26. Photo by Gary Emord-Netzley

Panthers came up short against Saints

Box Score

The short-handed Kentucky Wesleyan College football team missed a pair of chances at a tying two-point conversion late and fell to Michigan's Siena Heights University 28-26 on Saturday at KWC.

The Panthers played without eight starters who were suspended for the game due to violating team rules, KWC coach Brent Holsclaw said.

“Siena Heights didn't beat us, we beat ourselves,” he said.

KWC (0-3) jumped out to a 14-0 lead. The Panthers then saw the Saints (2-0) rally in the second half, taking a 28-20 lead with 4:51 to play when Matt King hit Ian Thornton with a 16-yard touchdown pass.

The Panthers responded with a seven-play drive that ended when quarterback Chris Owen passed to Ta'Ron Squires with a four-yard strike to pull KWC within two, 28-26, with 2:30 to play.

Owen's first two-point conversion pass failed, but a pass interference call gave KWC a second chance. That pass also fell incomplete.

The loss overshadowed a solid game by Owen, who threw 21-for-30 passing for 221 yards and two TDs with no interceptions.

Squires caught seven passes for 53 yards. Shawn Mooney hauled in six catches for 47 yards.

The Saints running game racked up 185 yards on the ground. Freshman Jonathan Russell picked up 102 yards on 10 carries.

KWC opened strong when Owen connected with Derek Brown with a 25-yard TD pass with 8:15 to go in the first period. The Panthers followed that up when Jeff Ward broke loose on a record-breaking 85-yard punt return to end the first period.

The Saints, a first year program, got on the board when Travis Damron scored from the 1 on their first possession of the second period. Matt Wilson then connected on a 30-yard field goal for a 17-7 KWC lead.

Siena Heights scored on a run from the 8 by Calebb Goings with 1:44 to go in the first half. Taking the lead, 21-17, on a 10-yard pass from Matt King to Raphael Dunson with 5:11 to go in the third quarter.

Wilson hit a 21-yard field goal with 10:05 left in the fourth quarter to pull KWC within one, 21-20.

Two turnovers hurt KWC. So did eight penalties for 85 yards. Among those were personal foul calls that gave the Saints good field position on critical drives.

The KWC coaching staff will work to address those issues, including the status of the suspended players, Holsclaw said.

The Panthers face another tough test when they host Kentucky State on Sept. 24.

“It's a lack of discipline,” Holsclaw said. “We'll make those decisions tomorrow and get ready for Kentucky State.”

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