Jaden Sanders had a key interception for LaGrange in the Panthers' win. LaGrange athletics photo

LaGrange and Bates each won for the first time since 2022, the MAC saw its four-way tie at the top of the conference cut in half, and Rochester and Springfield each improved to 4-0 in Saturday's action among unranked teams in Division III football.

For LaGrange, Saturday's 40-24 win against Methodist was a long time coming, as the Panthers had not won a game since defeating Ferrum on Sept. 17, 2022, dropping 18 consecutive games. But against Methodist on Saturday, LaGrange scored twice in the first three minutes, led 24-10 at the end of a wild first quarter, and led 33-17 at the half, the first time the Panthers had led at half since Oct. 30, 2021. Ched Smith unleased three and a half tackles for loss, three sacks and returned a fumble 20 yards for a score late in the first quarter, and after Methodist (1-3, 1-1 USA South) answered with a touchdown drive to make it 24-17, LaGrange scored the next 16 to put it out of reach. It's the first win for Wes Dodson, who is in his second year as LaGrange's head coach.

"I am very excited for our guys," Dodson said. "They have been working hard for the last two years, especially our older guys. I am happy for them, and hopefully we can build off of this and keep getting better each week."

Colton Bosselait completed all seven of his passes, while Ryan Lynskey ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns as Bates snapped its 11-game losing streak in unexpected fashion, defeating Wesleyan on the road, 24-13. Not only had Bates lost 11 in a row overall, but the Bobcats had lost 17 consecutive games to Wesleyan since their last win in 2005. In fact, Bates had not won at Wesleyan since 1981. Marquez Narvaez-Estrada had a huge pass breakup at the goal line on fourth down from the 1-yard line to help preserve a 21-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, and he broke up another fourth-down pass at the Bates 31 as Wesleyan was driving inside a minute remaining. The Bobcats had scored just seven points apiece in each of their first two games this season.

The University of Rochester improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2000, as the Yellowjackets wrapped up non-conference play with a 42-21 win against the University of New England. After a scoreless first quarter, the Yellowjackets scored a pair of touchdowns in each of the next three quarters to power to the victory. Graduate student Daniel Papantonis had two rushing touchdowns and 121 yards rushing, while Aidan Papantonis had two touchdown catches as Creighton Wise got his first start and threw for 86 yards on 9-for-20 passing.

Calvin rallied from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to take a 31-27 lead with 2:13 left and was in position to pick a conference win in its first-ever football game in the MIAA. But Kalamazoo did not want that happening on its watch, and the Hornets came back the other direction with Josh Nichols finding Jonah Spates in the right back corner of the end zone for a touchdown with 22.1 seconds left to give Kalamazoo a 33-31 win. The Hornets, playing a night game on their home Angell Field for the first time since 1960, improved to 4-0. Calvin had worked the clock in the first quarter, scoring on a 19-play 92-yard drive that took 7:20, and in the fourth. The drive on which the Knights took the lead had taken 9:16 of the fourth quarter, going 63 yards in 20 plays.

FDU-Florham ran wild on Lebanon Valley and into a tie for first place in the MAC with a 48-26 home win over the Flying Dutchmen. The Devils jumped out to a 27-0 lead and rode the legs of tailback Kwanir Edwards (197 rushing yards, two touchdowns) and quarterback Ryon Thomas (147 yards, three touchdowns) in a 535-yard rushing effort. Thomas also threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns for Florham (4-0, 3-0 MAC).

King's joins the Devils in first in the MAC after a 28-25 home win over Widener. Trailing 28-18 in the fourth quarter, the Pride got a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Bryce Cash that cut the deficit to 28-25. King's fumbled the ball on its ensuing possession and Widener recovered at the Monarchs' 41. The Pride drove to the King's 4-yard line with four seconds remaining and decided against kicking a potential game-tying chip shot field goal. Instead the Pride attempted a jump pass on fourth-and-2 that fell incomplete, and the Monarchs secured the win. Quarterback Russell Minor-Shaw ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns for King's (3-1, 3-0 MAC), which travels to FDU-Florham on October 26.

Springfield continued to put big numbers on the scoreboard, as the Pride outlasted Coast Guard 52-34 to improve to 4-0. Springfield finished with 540 yards on the ground, the second time the option team has run for more than 500 yards in four games this season. Jacob Silvester, Dante Vasquez and Blane Hart each ran for more than 100 yards, and each averaged more than 10 yards per carries as they combined for six touchdowns in the win.

Ithaca got back onto the field after an 0-2 start and the Bombers got their feet under them, winning 38-13 at Curry. Ithaca had lost two in a row at home, to the current No. 20 team in Johns Hopkins and the current No. 12 team in Eneicott. Ithaca picked up 19 first downs on the ground, 14 through the air and two more on penalties. The Bombers rushed for 224 yards on 47 attempts and threw for 262 yards as three quarterbacks saw action in the win. IC also did not punt.