Box Score
Kentucky Wesleyan dug itself an early hole it could never climb out of Saturday night in Rolla, Mo. — giving up 21 points in the first six minutes of a 47-23 college football loss to undefeated Missouri S&T.
The Panthers take a 1-3 record into next Saturday's game against McKendree at Steele Stadium, while the Miners improve to 4-0.
“We can't put ourselves in those situations,” veteran KWC head coach
Brent Holsclaw said. “I give credit to Missouri S&T – they played a good football game, but we beat ourselves. And, that's become a common theme.”
The Miners jumped in front 7-0 on a one-yard touchdown run by Scott Hendricks at 11:16, and following a KWC turnover, Joseph Hyman scored on a 22-yard pass play from Josh Firm at 1101.
KWC was forced to punt on its ensuing possession, and Carl Westbrook returned the kick 74 yards for a touchdown that put Missouri S&T on top 21-0 at 9:10 of the opening quarter.
Wesleyan got on the board midway through the period when
Matt Wilson booted a 38-yard field goal, but the Miners answered early in the second period as Curt Golden scored from a yard out to make it 28-3.
KWC battled back, however, with two consecutives scores – a 22-yard pass play from
Will Barnes to
Shawn Mooney and a two-yard pass play from Barnes to
Jeff Ward – to trim its deficit to 28-17.
Missouri S&T answered, however, when David Druse kicked a 35-yard field goal at 10:09 and then with only 19 seconds remaining I the half, Firm connected with Hyman for a seven-yard scoring pass to make it 37-17 at intermission.
Wesleyan pulled within 37-23 at 5:50 of the third on a blocked punt by
Kendall Tinsley.
The Miners added a Druse field goal late in the third period and close out the scoring at 6:46 of the fourth when Hendricks scored on a five-yard run.
Barnes, who had 158 yards and two TDs in the first half, was held out of the game after halftme as a medical precaution after being shaken up in the first half, according to Holsclaw.
“We played poor tonight, but I loved the effort our guys put forth,” Holsclaw said. “I love the fact that this team continued to fight.”
