JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The football team moved into second place in the UMAC standings all alone with a 41-30 victory at MacMurray on Saturday.
The Panthers slipped behind 3-0 after the first quarter on a MacMurray field goal, but the Panthers took the lead on their first possession of the second half when Paul Garrett ran the ball five yards for a touchdown and Rafael Soares de Castro made the extra point.
MacMurray regained the lead on the next possession with a touchdown, but Greenville received another touchdown run from Garrett and PAT from Soares de Castro to establish a 14-9 lead.
The Panthers quickly got the ball back when Anthony Esquivel forced and recovered a fumble. On the first play from the MC28, George Harris connected with Kyler Henson with a touchdown pass. After the extra point by Soares de Castro, Greenville held a 21-9 advantage.
MacMurray made the score 21-16, but the Panthers scored their fourth touchdown of the quarter when Christian Moss capped a nine-play 73-yard drive with a TD and a PAT from Soares de Castro.
Before the half, MacMurray scored and cut the GU lead to 28-22.
In the third quarter, Harris completed a pair of touchdown passes to Eric Kranh. The first was a 14-yard connection with 7:11 remaining in the third quarter, and the second came on a 20-yard pass with 1:15 to go in the period. After three quarters, the Panthers held a commanding 41-22 lead.
MacMurray managed to make it a two possession game with a touchdown and two-point conversion on their first drive of the fourth quarter, but that was the final time either team scored.
The Panthers outgained MacMurray with 534 yards of total offense. MacMurray managed 382 yards.
Harris went 23-of-34 for 284 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Garrett ran the ball 29 times for 164 yards, and Christian Moss had 17 rushes for 76 yards.
Kyler Henson caught seven passes for 117 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Gavin Jordan had a team-high nine tackles.
Anthony Esquivel came away with a quarterback sack.
Herman Esquivel and Javiera Bovell combined for a sack, and Bovell added a solo sack.
Brock Bullar collected an interception and returned it for 14 yards.
The Panthers (6-2, 5-1 UMAC) host Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday at 1 p.m.
