Quarterback Ryan Throndset and wide receiver Antwan Thorpe had a record breaking day as The Pride football team prevailed in a wild finish over LaGrange on Senior Day. Throndset finished the game 38-59 passing for 598 yards and four touchdowns. Thorpe hauled in 22 receptions for 391 yards and three touchdowns.
Thorpe hauled in the game winning touchdown pass on a 13-yard reception with 17 seconds remaining in the game. The reception capped a five play, 72-yard touchdown drive that used just 26 seconds of the clock.
The Panthers had one final shot to earn the win but were turned back on a desperation hail mary heave.
Prior to The Pride's late game heroics, LaGrange took a 27-25 lead on a 35-yard field goal by Will Jeffcoat with 49 seconds to go. Jeffcoat hooked his first attempt wide left but was given another opportunity following an offside penalty called on Greensboro.
After a scorless first quarter of action, the back-and-forth afternoon began less than five minutes into the second quarter as Kent Gibson rumbled into the endzone for a one-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 advantage. The Pride answered with a seven-yard scoring pass from Throndset to Dexter Russell Jr.to even the score with 8:19 remaining in the half.
Gibson put the Panthers back on top 14-7 two minutes later with a 15-yard rushing touchdown. Greensboro found the scoreboard again with 4:46 on the clock, as Throndset connected with Thorpe for a 65-yard touchdown. The extra point was off target, leaving the score at 14-13 in favor of LaGrange.
The Panthers would add to the lead with the final tally of the half, using a 14-yard run by Ed Russ to head into the break on top 21-13.
The scoring onslaught continued into the second half, with The Pride striking first on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Throndset to Thorpe to pull within 21-19. On the two-point conversion attempt, Throndset was forced to scramble but came up short of tying the score.
A 27-yard field goal by Jeffcoat with 7:28 left in the third extended the margin to 24-19 in favor of LaGrange.
Neither team would find the scoreboard again until Thorpe recorded the second of his three scoring receptions on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Throndset 4:02 into the final frame. The score put Greensboro ahead for the first time on the day and set-up a shoot out down the stretch.
As a team, The Pride put up 629 yards of total offense with 598 coming through the air. In addition to the big day by Throndset and Thorpe, Russell contributed 133 yards receiving on eight catches and a touchdown.
Defensviely, Greensboro held the Panthers to 347 total yards - 200 passing and 147 rushing. Julian Cinnotti led the effort with 11 tackles. Desmond Gillis recorded the lone turnover of the day for The Pride with an interception.
With the win, Greensboro concludes year one of the Bill Young era with an overall record of 5-5 and 3-4 in the conference. It marks the second time in school history that The Pride have finished a season with a .500 record.
Saturday's game also marked the final career game for nine Greensboro players. The Pride recognizedLorenzo Lesesene, Travis Welch, Rufus Lassiter, Derek Wike, Damion Reed, Nathan Perdue, Devin Bland, Spencer Shoffner and Antwan Thorpe.
Single Game Records Set on Saturday (unofficial total)
- Ryan Throndset -- pass attempts (59), completions (38), passing yards (598), total offense (599), touchdown passes (tied with 4)
- Antwan Thorpe -- receptions (22), receiving yards (391), touchdown receptions (tied with 3)
- Team -- total offense (629), total passing yards (598)
Season Records Set on Saturday (unofficial total)
- Ryan Throndset -- completions (227), passing yards (2,825), passing touchdowns (19), total offense (2,789)
- Antwan Thorpe -- receiving yards (1,270), receiving touchdowns (11)