The Malone University football team fell at home to Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon by a final tally of 34-30. 

The Pioneers jumped out to a 20-3 advantage midway through the second quarter before the Panthers roared back, rattling off 21 straight points to grab a 24-20 edge in the early stages of the second half.  Malone would then pull in front on two separate occasions over the remainder of the contest, grabbing a 27-24 lead on a 36-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Dulin with four minutes to go in the third stanza and then taking a 30-27 advantage on 26-yard field goal by Marcus Moeller just over five minutes into the fourth quarter.  However, Kentucky Wesleyan remained resilient, eventually taking the lead for good on a 63-yard touchdown pass with just over eight minutes to play in the contest.  Malone would move to within the Panthers' 10-yard line on its next possession, but Kentucky Wesleyan came up with a big fourth-down stop to preserve its four-point advantage and secure its second victory of the season.

The loss drops Malone to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference while the Panthers improve to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in conference games.

Recap
A blocked Kentucky Wesleyan field goal by the Pioneers' Jordan Johnson helped set up the first touchdown of the afternoon.  Following the block, the Malone offense took over at its own 39 and marched 61 yards on eight plays, scoring on a two-yard touchdown run by tailback Xavier Garland.

Malone would then surprise the Panthers with an on-side kick, recovering the ball at its own 46-yard line.  The Kentucky Wesleyan defense would force a three-and-out and, after getting the ball back, the Panther offense moved down the field before settling for a 23-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 early on. 

The Pioneers would add to their lead on the first play of the second quarter as wide receiver Ashton Dulin caught a short pass from quarterback Zane Bunnell and then hit the jets, outrunning the Panther defense on his way to an 81-yard touchdown reception. 

After the Malone defense came up with a fourth-down stop on Kentucky Wesleyan's next possession, the Pioneer offense moved 79 yards on just six plays.  Another long reception by Dulin - this one for 50 yards- helped get the drive moving.  Four plays later, Garland plunged across the goal line from five yards out for his second rushing touchdown of the day.  Malone would follow with a two-point attempt, but the pass attempt fell just off the fingertips of the intended receiver, leaving the score at 20-3 with 9:42 to go in the first half.

The Panthers answered with a 75-yard drive, pulling to within 20-10 on a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mike McGee to receiver Jared Beard.  Malone would then fumble at its own 33 on the first play of its next drive and KWC cashed in on the opportunity, putting together a quick seven-play TD drive that culminated with another four-yard pass.  The Panthers would then tack on an extra point to wrap up the first-half scoring with Malone on top 20-17.

After the hosts went three-and-out on their first drive of the third quarter, the Panthers moved down the field and took their first lead of the game on a one-handed touchdown catch by wide receiver Chauncey Greer.

The Panthers picked off a Pioneer pass attempt on the hosts' next drive, but Malone's Daniel Tepe returned the favor moments later, intercepting McGee to give the ball back to the MU offense.

Bunnell then connected with Dulin again as the junior wideout hauled in a short pass, broke a Panther tackle attempt and then burst down the far sideline on a 36-yard touchdown reception.  Moeller followed with the extra point to give the hosts a 27-24 edge.

Kentucky Wesleyan answered back with points on its next possession as kicker Chris Logsdon knotted the score up 27-27 just before the end of the third quarter with a 20-yard field goal.

A muffed punt return by the Panthers would set Malone up with a short field near the start of the final stanza.  After giving up a first down, the Kentucky Wesleyan defense would force a 23-yard field goal try by Moeller.  The junior would make the attempt, but the Malone drive would continue thanks to a roughing the kicker penalty.  However, once more, the Panther defense held, turning back three straight Pioneer rushing attempts from inside the five-yard line before Moeller connected from 26 yards to put Malone back in front 30-27.

The back and forth affair would continue on Kentucky Wesleyan's next drive.  On third-and-nine, McGee found wide receiver Alex Gray on a deep crossing pattern.  The Panthers' senior wide receiver hauled in the pass over the middle of the field and then sprinted to the end zone untouched, putting the visitors on top 34-30.

Malone continued to battle back, moving the ball inside the Panthers' 6-yard line on its next drive.  Down four and needing a touchdown to pull ahead, the Pioneers went for it on fourth and goal, but Bunnell's pass fell incomplete, giving the ball back to Kentucky Wesleyan with just over three minutes to play.

The Panthers then managed to drain two and a half minutes off the clock before being forced to punt.  Malone took over at its own 40-yard line with 42 seconds left an no timeouts, but a sack on first down short-circuited the Pioneers' comeback hopes.

Game Highlights
-Malone totaled 245 rushing yards, its highest total since totaling 252 yards on the ground during last year's contest against Notre Dame College
-The Pioneers added 215 passing yards for an offensive output of 460 yards, its highest total of the season thus far
-KWC countered with 118 rushing yards and 410 passing yards for 528 total yards. 
-Malone held a nearly 10-minute edge in time of possession
-The Panthers were 8 of 15 on third down while Malone converted five of its 15 attempts on third down
-Malone celebrated Homecoming on Saturday.  Pioneer student assistant football coach Camden Baucke was named Homecoming King while swimmer Quincy Livchak was crowned Homecoming Queen.

Malone Individual Highlights
 -Dulin totaled 199 receiving yards with two TDs on nine catches, marking the second-highest single-game total in school history - second only to the school-record 235 receiving yards he racked up earlier this year against Missour S&T
-Garland, a redshirt freshman, tallied the first 100-yard game of his career, notching 123 yards on the ground and two scores; It marked the first 100-yard game for a Malone rusher since Matt Blasiole totaled 150 yards in last year's contest at Kentucky Wesleyan
-Bunnell, filling in for senior John Iacucci, completed 12 of 23 passes for 217 yards.  He also registered 78 rushing yards on 19 attempts
-Freshman linebacker Dane Coleman racked up 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss, in his first career start
-Safety Jaylon Doss also posted 10 stops
-Defensive Back Dawalyn Washington and linebacker Josh Correll each made nine tackles
-Defensive lineman Roy Johnson had two sacks and a forced fumble
 
Kentucky Wesleyan Individual Highlights
-McGee completed 23 of 32 attempts for 410 yards with four touchdowns and one interception
-Running back Corey Johnson posted 122 rushing yards on 22 attempts
-Gray totaled 10 catches for 160 yards, including the big 63-yard TD catch
-Wideout Ladarrius Dunn posted 133 receiving yards on just three catches
-Defensive lineman Dalan Cofer posted 10 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble
 
Up Next:
Malone will travel to Lake Erie College next Saturday for a 7:00 pm contest against the Storm.