Owensboro, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan football team suffered defeat against William Jewell in their second and final non-conference game Saturday evening.
For the second consecutive week, Wesleyan's opponent scored on the first play, and this week, William Jewell never looked back. The Cardinals scored twice more before the Panthers could respond, ultimately taking a 20-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Wesleyan took some momentum into the break after AJ Bullard recorded a pick-six before forcing a Cardinals safety, all in the final four minutes of the first half. Payton Lewis also had an interception in that span.
With the score at 20-9 coming out of halftime and the Panthers receiving possession, Wesleyan had a chance to put serious pressure on WJC, but the home team forced a Panthers turnover and returned it for a touchdown to widen the gap.
KWC responded with a 13-play, 78-yard drive, capped off by a Dominick Hollis touchdown pass from Harrison Burch to cut the deficit to 27-15.
The two teams next exchanged scores again, with Burch throwing a second touchdown pass, this time to Camron Brogan, to make the score 34-21.
That was as close as the Panthers could claw, in the end falling 48-21 in Liberty.
Burch finished 31-52 for 266 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Brogan continued his impressive start to the season with nine catches for 103 yards and a touchdown, and the same could be said for Will Ray and his seven catches for 63 yards.
Defensively, Bullard shined with the pick-six and the forced safety. Josh Noble led the Panthers with seven tackles and recovered a fumble, while Lewis and Taveris Albury each added an interception.
The Panthers next return home to begin G-MAC play, set to battle the Walsh Cavaliers on Saturday, September 20. Kickoff is set for 12:00 PM inside Steele Stadium.
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