LaGrange College’s Chris Prewett helps make a play during Saturday’s loss to Millsaps in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Panthers finished the season with a 9-2 record.
And what a journey it was.
After going winless in 2006 and 2007, the Panthers went 9-2 this season and made it to the NCAA Division III playoffs where they fell to homestanding Millsaps College 51-26 on Saturday in Jackson, Miss.
The Majors improved to 11-0 and advanced to the second round against Washington & Jefferson.
The Panthers, who won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, saw their eight-game win streak come to a close.
Sophomore quarterback Drew Carter threw for 360 yards and a record four touchdowns for the Panthers.
Carter finished the game 24-for-46 with an interception. Devin Billings had a game-high 100 yards receiving on seven receptions and two touchdowns for the Panthers. Eric Miller also had two touchdown receptions.
The Panthers played most of the game without running back Mario Wallace, who was injured on a kick return in the first quarter. Freshman Gerald Reed ran for a game-high 96 yards on 13 carries.
Millsaps rolled to a 31-14 halftime lead.
The Majors scored on their first five possessions of the half, amassing 403 yards of total offense. The Panthers only stop came late in the half when Tim Hill recovered a Majors' fumble at the Panthers 6-yard line.
The Majors took their opening possession and drove 71 yards in eight plays for a 7-0 lead. Shane Bowser scored on a 2-yard run. Taylor Russolino's 37-yard field goal upped the lead to 10-0.
Wallace returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Millsaps' 43-yard line. The Panthers needed only five plays to get back in the game. Carter hit Billings from 30-yards out and Josh Stripling's extra point cut the deficit to 10-7.
Millsaps came back with three straight scoring drives of 80, 86 and 53 yards. Juan Joseph had two touchdown short touchdown passes of 10 and 7-yards. Kenny Metzger's 20-yard run built the Majors' lead to 31-7.
The Panthers came back with a quick five-play 76-yard drive. Carter hit Miller, who broke a couple of tackles and raced 55 yards for the score. Stripling's extra point cut the Majors' lead to 31-14 with 3:45 left in the half.
The Panthers played the Majors on even terms for most of the second half. They had two drives end inside Millsaps' 35-yard line.
Trailing 38-14, the Panthers put together a four-play 55-yard yard to get cut the deficit. Carter finished the drive with an 8-yard pass to Miller to make it 38-20. Late in the fourth quarter, Carter completed his day with a 2-yard toss to Billings for the final 51-26 margin.
Thank you coaches and players for such an awesome year. Just 9 months to 09 kick off!
Seniors, you rock!!! 2009!!!! Lets do a repeat performance...and more!