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Trailing Randolph by a point at 14-13 with 3:54 remaining in the game the Iowa-Grant Panthers knew they had their hands full.
So, to empty those hands they rode the arm of Blake Welu who threw a scoring pass to Brandon Pierick that spanned 60 yards. The Panthers crossed the goal line with 2:59 to play and the score held up for a 19-14 win in the non-conference opener for both teams.
The Rockets scored first just after the start of the second quarter when AJ Alexander got in from the one and Thomas VanderGalien added an extra point kick.
With 4:53 left in the half Logan Bollant stepped across from the two and Welu added the kick.
After a scoreless third quarter the Panthers scored first when Pierick hauled in a 40 yarder from Welu to make it 13-7.
The Rockets took the lead when VanderGalien scored from the two and kicked the conversion.
That set the stage for the Welu to Pierick game winner.
The Panthers had 231 yards on134 passing yards and another 97 rushing. The Rockets totaled 278 with 188 on the ground and 90 passing.
Welu was six for 12 passing for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Pierick grabbed three passes for 111 yards.
"We knew that Randolph has an excellent program and that we would need great effort to win," Panther coach Gary Allen said. "Although we made several mistakes we gave great effort and were fortunate enough to come out on top."
Iowa-Grant hosts SWC's Richland Center Friday.