The Matchup
North Carolina Wesleyan at LaGrange
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
12:00 p.m. ET | HUDL
Rocky Mount, NC / Stallings Field at Vernon T. Bradley Jr. Stadium

North Carolina Wesleyan (2-1, 0-0 USA South)
Head Coach: Jeff Filkovski
Career Record: 48-68

LaGrange (2-1, 0-0 USA South)
Head Coach: Wes Dodson
Career Record: 8-17

Series History
All-Time Series Record: North Carolina Wesleyan leads, 8-5
Last Meeting: LaGrange won, 31-9 (2024, Rocky Mount)

Battling Bishops Outlook

The Bishops enter their USA South Conference opener at LaGrange with a 2–1 overall record, having showcased both offensive firepower and defensive grit through the first three weeks of the season.

In the opener, Wesleyan overwhelmed Averett 64–12 behind 627 yards of total offense. Quarterback Javier Rice threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns, while Nahjir Seagraves broke loose for 152 rushing yards, including an 86-yard score. Wideouts Michael Pannell and Tyson Resper each added long touchdown receptions as the Bishops put the game away early.

Wesleyan followed with a 49–16 road victory at Newport News Apprentice, led by another big day on the ground. Seagraves finished with 159 rushing yards and four touchdowns, highlighted by a 76-yard breakaway run. Rice added a 32-yard touchdown strike to Marti McKnight, while the Bishop defense and special teams contributed a blocked punt returned for a score by Mathias Winston.

Last time out, the Bishops dropped their first game of the season in a 33–0 setback to Sewanee at Vernon T. Bradley Stadium. Seagraves again paced the offense with 138 rushing yards on 21 carries, while Resper caught seven passes for 63 yards. Defensively, Winston and Andrew Brown each tallied seven tackles, with Brown adding three tackles for loss. The Bishops' red zone bid midway through the third quarter came up short, and Sewanee used a powerful rushing attack to seal the result.

Scouting LaGrange

The Panthers (2–1) enter Saturday's USA South opener riding momentum from a 20–6 win over Centre College at Callaway Stadium. Quarterback Henry Brodnax led the way with 293 passing yards and a touchdown, while freshman wide receiver Dami'on Thompson continued his breakout start to the season with an 88-yard touchdown reception and 132 yards receiving overall.

LaGrange opened the season with a 36–14 win at Point University before falling to nationally-ranked Berry College, 48–0, in its home opener. The Panthers rebounded quickly against Centre thanks to a defense that forced three interceptions and registered multiple sacks, while kicker Landon Eaker added two field goals.

Defensively, LaGrange is led by veteran standouts Deon King Jr. and Keyon Stoutemire in the secondary, with linebackers Dezmond Jones and Brandon Williams playing key roles in run support.