Box Score
Walsh had too much size and play-making ability for Kentucky Wesleyan College to handle on Thursday night.
The visitors from North Canton, Ohio rolled to a 40-10 win over KWC in the season-opener for both teams at Steele Stadium.
"It was a tale of two halves," KWC coach Brent Holsclaw said. "I was proud of how our guys battled."
The Panthers were ahead 7-6 early in the second quarter when a handful of plays turned the momentum totally for Walsh.
KWC punted and Walsh all-purpose back Toba Olarewaju had the ball knocked loose by KWC's Matt Smith and returned by Yorell Branch to the Walsh 9, before it was fumbled back to Walsh.
The Cavaliers went on a 10-play drive that culminated with a 3-yard Jack Dawson run, who also scored the 2-point conversion, to put the visitors in front 14-7 with 3:24 left before halftime.
KWC went three-and-out on its next possession, and Walsh aimed for another score on its first play after getting the ball back.
Dawson hit Anthony Schrock with a 71-yard pass down the sideline to set up Olarewaju's 8-yard scoring run, giving Walsh a 21-7 lead with 1:36 left before halftime.
Walsh kept up the pressure in the third quarter with two scores on its two possessions in the period. Dawson scored on a 6-yard run to finish off an 11-play drive, and George Walker carried five straight plays, scoring from 1 yard out, to push Walsh's lead to 34-7.
Walsh tallied its final touchdown off a blocked punt return of 39 yards by Darryl Gary.
The Panthers got on the board first with a 21-yard pass to Joey Kramer from Will Barnes with 11:23 left in the second quarter.
Walsh answered with an 86-yard return by Olarewaju of the ensuing kickoff, but it missed the extra point.
Holsclaw thought there would be a lot of work on special teams for the Panthers this week.
"We have got to get better in the kicking game," Holsclaw said.
KWC got its last points of the night on a 29-yard field goal by Matt Wilson.
Olarewaju was responsible for 190 yards in total offense, including 76 rushing yards. Dawson hit 6-of-10 passes for 162 yards. Walsh had 340 yards in total offense compared to 221 for KWC.
Barnes made 23-of-38 passes for 176 yards. Walsh's relentless defensive pressure accounted for nine sacks on Barnes.
