ST. PAUL, Minn. - Greenville football and Northwestern (Minn.) fought back and forth in a decisive matchup for the conference championship title, but the Panthers came up just short in a 42-34 loss.

How it Happened:

The Panthers struggled early, with Northwestern taking a 7-0 lead on an 8-yard touchdown. But Greenville responded in the second quarter, as quarterback Max Lynch connected with Terrance Brown for a 14-yard touchdown, followed by a 2-yard rushing score from Adrian Hinton to give the Panthers a 13-7 lead.

The Eagles responded with another touchdown to make it a close 14-13 game at halftime. 

However, the third quarter proved costly as Northwestern exploded for 21 points. 

Greenville's LaShawn Williams electrified the game with an 82-yard kickoff return and a 37-yard touchdown reception, but Northwestern's strong offense kept the Panthers at bay. Hinton added a late 32-yard rushing touchdown, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.

Braeden Wells led the defense with ten tackles, and Elias Velasquez followed closely behind with nine. 

Up Next:

The Panthers (6-3, 4-2 UMAC) play their last game of the season at Crown on Saturday.