Kentucky Wesleyan College wasn’t able to get much going as they lost 34-0 on the road to No. 25 Hillsdale College.
It was the second time in three weeks that the Panthers (3-5, 2-4 G-MAC) faced a nationally ranked team in conference action.
On just the third play of the game, Alijah McGhee picked off the Hillsdale quarterback for his sixth interception of the season, and Wesleyan took over at midfield. The Chargers got an interception of their own and dominated the first quarter, holding possession for more 10 minutes of play and scoring a pair of touchdowns.
The Panthers’ Dessi Austin got a 13-yard run in the second quarter to get the Panthers in the red zone for the first time. Facing 4th-and-two at the 14-yard line, Wesleyan was unable to move the chains.
Hillsdale scored on the ensuing drive to take a 21-0 lead that remained until halftime. The Panthers got to the 4-yard line with 12 seconds remaining in the half before an interception in the end zone halted their momentum.
Neither team was found success in the third quarter as the two teams combined for just six first downs and three interceptions. Armand Childs tallied a pair of picks and Shedrick Kirk recorded one.
Hillsdale recorded 433 yards of total offense to Wesleyan’s 250 yards. Corey Johnson led the Panther offense with 127 yards on the ground for his second consecutive game with more than 100 yards rushing.
Childs led the defense with 12 tackles, and James Todd added eight. McGhee and Childs both finished with two interceptions, while RJ Wilson recorded the lone sack for the Panthers.
Wesleyan heads to Columbus, Ohio, next week to take on Ohio Dominican University. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Saturday.
Information courtesy of KWC Athletics.
