[BOX SCORE]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Birmingham-Southern football team may have lost All-American running back Chris Shufford, but that did not stop them from rushing for over 250 yards and three touchdowns in their season opener against McMurry University.

The game started quickly for the Panthers. After the opening kickoff, Birmingham-Southern's first play from scrimmage was a 75-yard touchdown run by Jon Lewis. With all the momentum on their side it was the defenses time to shine for the Panthers. On the opening drive for McMurry the Panther forced a safety to take a 9-0 lead just a minute and a half into the game. For the remainder fo the first quarter both teams traded possessions with neither team being able to generate much offense. 

The Panthers got the ball back with 30 seconds left in the first quarter and strung a 10-play 75-yard drive together that ended with a touchdown in the second quarter. Grayson Stacey ran the ball in from 14 yards out to give the Panthers a 16-0 lead. On the ensuing McMurry drive, the Warhakws finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown of their own to cut into the Panther lead. BSC was able to get some of those points back with a 25-yard field goal and cling to a 19-6 lead.

Neither team scored before half and BSC took a 13-point lead into halftime. 

The third quarter was very defensive with a total of three points being scored in the quarter. Neither offense was able to get much going in the period, but McMurry drew closer kicking a 37-yard field goal to bring them within 10. That was as close as they would get. 

In the fourth quarter Birmingham-Southern put the game out of reach after a 15-play 82-yard drive put them up 26-9 late in the period. McMurry could not overcome the stout BSC defense and the Panthers earned their first victory of the season.

Records
Birmingham-Southern 1-0, McMurry University 0-1

Up Next
The Panthers will return home as they host Huntingdon on Saturday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.