BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After winning the last three Wesley Cups, and four contests, the Birmingham-Southern football team lost 38-35 to Huntingdon College on Saturday, Sept. 10. Turnovers proved to be costly in the game that was back and forth. 

Huntingdon would draw first blood in the game grabbing a 7-0 lead after a six play drive resulted in a touchdown for the Hawks. BSC quickly responded back with a score of their own as Matt McClary found Braden Rew over the middle in the endzone to tie the game at 7-7. Huntingdon then got the ball back just before half and went on an 11 play 75 yard drive that put them up 14-7 in the early stages of the second quarter. 

On the first play from scrimmage for the Panther offense in the second quarter McClary and Rew connected again for a 68 yard touchdown score and tying the game back up 14-14. Huntingdon would not be outdone as they regained the lead after another touchdown drive. They ended up missing the extra point and clung to a six-point lead. BSC came back with a quick two play drive, to take their first lead of the game. After a 36-yard pass and 26-yard touchdown run by Grayson Stacey the Panther offense was rolling. As time expired in the second quarter Huntingdon made a field goal and would go into halftime up 23-21.

The Panthers were the lone team to score in the third quarter as the defenses stepped up in a big way in the quarter. Neither team was able to get much going on offense. But late in the third quarter McClary broke away for a 78-yard touchdown run. He later found Lionel Grant III for the two-point conversion and the Panthers led 29-23.

Headed to the fourth quarter both teams went back and forth as Huntingdon regained the lead with a touchdown. Then late in the period BSC took the lead back with Jon Lewis finding the endzone. The Panthers had all the momentum on their side. A long methodical drive by the Hawks silenced the crowd as Huntingdon took the lead back with 1:09 remaining in the game. 

The Panthers were able to make it the Huntingdon side of the 50 yard line, but a few penalties set them back and were unable to get into field goal range. The Panthers fell to Huntingdon 38-35 in the Wesley Cup. Their first lost in four years.

Records
Birmingham-Southern 1-1, Huntingdon 1-1

Up next
The Panthers will have a bye week before they return home as they host Point University on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.