The Kentucky Wesleyan football team hung close throughout the game, but Lake Erie College scored with 23 seconds to play to top the Panthers 49-42 in Painesville, Ohio, on Saturday.
After the Panthers fell behind early and trailed 21-3 at the end of the first quarter, the offense rallied and put together their best game yet to give Wesleyan a chance at their first victory.
Twice in the fourth quarter the Panthers (0-4) were able to tie the score, but each time the Storm (1-3) went back ahead with a touchdown.
Wesleyan recorded a saftery early in the fourth to knot the game at 35-35, though Lake Erie later scored on an 88-yard return off a missed Panthers’ field goal.
With 3:31 to play, Corey Johnson tied the game at 42-42 on a 1-yard rushing score. The Storm then put together the game-winning drive in the final minute.
The second quarter featured three touchdowns by the Panthers. Landon Newman scored on a 2-yard run, and Wiley Cain had touchdown passes to Chauncey Greer (43 yards) and David Florence (70 yards).
Cain also had a 4-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Peters in the third quarter. Other scores for Wesleyan came on a 44-yard field goal by Chris Mangold in the first quarter, as well as a safety by the defense in the third.
Cain finished the game 28-for-52 with 337 yards. Johnson was the leading rusher with 15 carries for 52 yards, while Florence led all receivers with nine receptions for 176 yards.
Devyn Bledsoe and Jalen Humphrey each had eight tackles, while K Hurt had a fumble recovery.
