NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The Kentucky Wesleyan College football team let an early lead slip away on Saturday, falling to Walsh University by a score of 27-24 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference action.
The Panthers got on the board first in their first drive of the game. Quarterback Wiley Cain connected with Sam Thomas for a 54-yard touchdown pass, the longest touchdown the Panthers have recorded this season. Chris Mangold converted the extra point to give Wesleyan a 7-0 lead.
The two teams traded punts before the Panthers forced a three-and-out for the Cavaliers. Wesleyan got the ball back with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Facing fourth and seven, De'Ondre Boggs hauled in a 22-yard catch that put the Panthers inside the red zone. After a sack and pair of incompletions, Mangold nailed a 38-yard field goal, extending the Panthers lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Two possessions later the Cavaliers scored their first touchdown of the game, cutting Wesleyan's lead to three. The Panthers ensuing drive ended on a turnover on downs but the Panther defense came up big on Walsh's next drive. Moe Carter intercepted a pass on Walsh's first play and returned it 19-yards to put the Panthers in the red zone with 13 seconds remaining in the first half. Wesleyan was unable to put points on the board from there, but took a 10-7 lead to halftime.
The two teams traded three-and-outs to begin the second half before Walsh took their first lead of the game on an eight-yard rushing touchdown. The Panthers ensuing drive was intercepted and led to another Walsh touchdown, extending their lead to 21-10.
Treyshawn Lewis recorded back-to-back catches for a gain of 19-yards before Brennen McGuire hauled in a catch for 15-yards. A pass interference call on the Cavaliers gave the Panthers a fresh set of downs inside the five-yard line. Corey Johnson Jr. recorded a five-yard rushing score and Mangold converted the extra point to make it a four-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.
The Panther defense forced another three-and-out before the offense took over at Wesleyan's own 24-yard line. Cain found Lewis for a 30-yard pass before McGuire recorded an 11-yard gain. Three straight pass completions to Boggs set up the Panthers with first and goal at Walsh's three-yard line. A pair of runs from Johnson Jr. put Wesleyan ahead at 24-31 with just over three minutes remaining.
The Cavaliers notched a pair of first downs on their next drive but the Panthers forced a punt. Wesleyan recorded a first down but was forced to punt, giving the Cavaliers the ball back with less than four minutes remaining and a three-point deficit.
Walsh found the end zone with less than 20 seconds remaining but a holding penalty negated the score and made it third-and-goal at the 11-yard line. The Cavaliers found the end zone on the next play to take a 27-24 lead with six seconds left on the clock. The Panthers were able to get off two plays but were unable to score.
For the first time this season, the Panthers reached 100-yards receiving, tallying 362-yards in the air. Cain posted a season-high 31 completions on 47 attempts. Lewis led the receivers with 80-yards followed by David Florence with 69 and Boggs at 66.
Jalen Humphrey anchored the defense with 10 tackles while Ramond Jackson recorded six. Moe Carter tallied the lone interception for Wesleyan.
The Panthers head to Maryland next weekend for their final road trip and non-conference game of the season. Wesleyan takes on Frostburg State at 12 pm CT on November 9.
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