QUINCY, Ill. - Tionne Harris scored with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Hawks a 31-24 victory over the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers on Saturday (Sep. 8). The Hawks picked up their first victory of the season, coming from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat the Panthers.  

Play by Play

1st Quarter

Just 57 seconds in to the game, Harris connected with senior Shane Barrett for a 71-yard touchdown pass to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead.  

QU extended its lead at the seven minute mark in the first quarter.  Harris and the offense mounted a six play, 73-yard drive to take a 14-0 lead.  The drive was capped by a Harris two-yard rushing touchdown.  

The Hawks defense forced a turnover on the very next possession.  Safety Keenan Stegall intercepted a pass to give QU the ball in Kentucky Wesleyan territory.  

The Hawks put points on the board for the third time in the first quarter on a Michael Klotz 31-yard field goal following the interception.  

QU took a 17-0 lead into the second quarter.  

2nd Quarter

Both teams punted on the first two possessions of the second quarter.  

Kentucky Wesleyan began its second possession of the second quarter on the QU 48-yard line.  

Linebacker Sam Mock stepped in front of a pass for the Hawks second interception of the first half.  

The Hawks were unable to take advantage of the turnover and were forced to punt.  

Nathan Kewney boomed a punt to the Wesleyan 18-yard line.  A few key blocks sprung Panthers punt returner Derek Barnes.  Barnes took the punt 82 yards to the end zone and cut the Hawks lead to 17-7. 

With 2:14 remaining in the first half the Hawks looked to extend their lead.  After an incompletion, a Hawks fumble gave the Panthers the ball at the QU 22-yard line. 

Two plays later, the Panthers quarterback found an open receiver in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 17-14.  

QU took a 17-14 lead into the half.  

3rd Quarter

The Panthers mounted a scoring drive on their third possession of the second half.  Kentucky Wesleyan used a 10 play, 59 yard drive to tie the game at 17-17.  A 21-yard field goal tied the score with 5:12 to play in the third quarter.  

Kentucky Wesleyan took its first lead of the game on the following possession.  

Tionne Harris was intercepted and his pass was returned for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 24-17 lead with 4:16 to play in the third quarter. 

The Panthers 24 unanswered points gave them a 24-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter.  

4th Quarter

The Hawks defense forced a punt on the first possession of the quarter and the offense took over at their own 19-yard line.  

QU's offense marched 81 yards, capped by a Tionne Harris rushing touchdown to tie the game at 24-24 with just over eight minutes remaining. 

The Hawks defense forced another punt and the offense took over with 6:32 to play in the game.  

QU's field goal attempt went wide left with 3:19 to play in the fourth quarter.  

The Panthers took over and pushed the ball to their own 43 before being forced to punt.  A high snap sailed over Kentucky Wesleyn's punter. He retreated and fell on the ball at the Panther six-yard line.  

Two plays later, Tionne Harris scored his third rushing touchdown to give the Hawks a 31-24 lead with 20 second to play.  

The Hawks defense held firm and QU held on for a 31-24 win.  

Stats Leaders

Tionne Harris: 12-31, 208 yards 1 TD, 20 Rushes, 49 yards, 3 TD
Chris Brinson: 25 Rushes, 174 yards 
Shane Barrett: 2 Receptions, 101 yards, 1 TD

Cody Leonard: 13 Tackles, 1 TFL
Sam Mock: 10 Tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT

Nathan Kewney: 6 Punts, 46.2 Per Punt, 3 Punts Inside the 20, 2 Punts of 50 yards

Next Up for QU

The Hawks host St. Francis next Saturday (Sep. 15).  

QU's Record 

1-1