Methodist rallied to tie it before eventually winning 26-23 in overtime.
It was a disheartening loss for the Panthers, who came into the game tied for the conference lead in the USA South.
With the loss, the Panthers (3-5 overall) fell to 3-2 in conference play, and they’ll now need some help if they want to win the USA South championship.
When Will Jeffcoat made a 20-yard field goal with 7:18 left in the game, the Panthers were up 23-13, but the Monarchs weren’t done.
Methodist went 91 yards in eight plays on its ensuing possession, with Max Reber finding Vaughn Cross for a 23-yard touchdown with 3:04 left in the game.
After the Panthers recovered an onside kick, they had a chance to run the clock out, but they were stuffed on a fourth-down play at the Methodist 36-yard line with 57 seconds left.
The Monarchs moved the ball down the field, and as time expired, Cody Ausherman booted a 45-yard field goal to tie it, and it was on to overtime.
The Panthers got the ball first in overtime as they began the possession at the 25-yard line.
The first two plays went nowhere, and on third down, quarterback Ed Russ was sacked for a 9-yard loss.
Jeffcoat attempted a 51-yard field goal that fell short, and Methodist got the ball back needing a field goal or a touchdown to win it.
A 17-yard run by John Flanagan got the Monarchs close, and Ausherman won it with a 23-yard field goal that went through after bouncing off the goal post.
The Panthers led 14-10 at the half.
Russ gave the Panthers the lead in the first quarter with an 85-yard touchdown run as he outraced Methodist’s defenders to the end zone.
Methodist went up 10-7 in the second quarter, with Reber hitting Cross for an 8-yard score, and Ausherman making a 37-yard field goal.
Back came the Panthers.
With 4:13 left in the first half, Kent Gibson scored on a 22-yard run to cap a five-play, 58-yard drive, and the Panthers took a 14-10 lead into the break.
In the second half, the Panthers continued to move the ball, but instead of scoring touchdowns they had to settle for three field goals.
In the third quarter, Jeffcoat made field goals of 22 and 26 yards, and the Panthers were up 20-10 as the fourth quarter began.
After Ausherman made a 34-yard field goal to get Methodist within seven, the Panthers responded with a 15-play, 70-yard drive that stalled inside the 5-yard line.
Jeffcoat made a 20-yard field goal, and the Panthers were up by 10, but Methodist controlled the action from there to earn the comeback win.
Russ led the Panthers’ offensive effort with 141 yards on 20 carries, and Gibson had 63 yards on 26 attempts.
Linebacker Andre Carter continued his stellar defensive play with 12 tackles, and he had his first interception of the year.
Defensive back Anthony Cochran also had an interception to go along with five tackles.
LaGrange College will be on the road at Ferrum (Va.) on Saturday.
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