Jackson, MS-First year Head Coach Joe Thrasher and the Belhaven football team got things rolling in the right direction in 2009 as the Blazers finished the year with an overall record of 6-5 and took second place in the Mid-South Conference Western Division with a mark of 4-2. It was the programs first winning season since 2006 and a vast improvement over the teams 2-9 finish in 2008.

The 2009 campaign got off to a rocky start losing to a very good NCAA Division II University of Alabama team 47-3 in the opening contest of the year. The Tigers eventually made it to the second round of the Division II playoffs and upset number one ranked University of North Alabama during the regular season.

Belhaven had a bye the next week before facing cross town rival Millsaps College on September 12th in the “Riverside Rumble” game. Unfortunately, the Majors had Belhaven's number for the second consecutive year upending the Blazers 27-10 although the game was closer than the score might indicate. Belhaven had some chances to put more points on the board, but four interceptions and three fumbles made things difficult for the offense to score.

With a record of 0-2, Belhaven met up with Kentucky Christian University in their Mid-South Conference Western Division opener the following week at H.T. Newell Field. Desperately needing a win, the Blazers dominated the Knights 41-14. The Belhaven offense rolled up 445 yards of total offense and the defense held KCU to 20 yards of passing in the contest. The win improved Belhaven's record to 1-2, 1-0 in the MSC West, and ignited a four game winning streak.

Fresh off their win against Kentucky Christian University, Belhaven entertained Bethel University in game four of the season. The Wildcats were 0-3 heading into the contest, but all three of their games were against ranked opponents and by no means would the game be a walk in the park. The Blazers jumped ahead early 7-3 in the second quarter and then added 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to build a 21-3 lead. However, Bethel battled back to score 10 points in the four quarter to make it a one possession game at 21-13. Jeffery Maxwell sealed the 21-13 win for the Blazers recovering an onside kick in the final minute after Bethel had put a field goal on the board. Senior safety Cameron Achord had an outstanding game defensively with 21 total tackles and was named MSC Defensive Player of the Week for efforts against the Wildcats.

Riding the momentum of two straight wins, Belhaven hit the road the next two weeks for showdowns at Faulkner University and West Virginia Tech University. The Blazers tallied the first 22 points against the Eagles and made some big plays on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in route to a 29-10 win. The biggest play from scrimmage was a 79 yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Alex Williams to senior running back Ricardo Bolton. With the win over Faulkner in the books, the Blazers owned a 3-2 overall record and improved to 3-0 in the MSC Western Division.

The matchup with West Virginia Tech proved to be battle from start to finish on a cool and rainy afternoon in Montgomery, WV. The offense struggled to put points on the board, but two big pass play plays from senior quarterback Jerred Wallace to Bolton of 66 and 31 yards proved to be the difference in the game. The Blazer defense held the Golden Bear offense in check and Belhaven returned to Jackson with a 17-7 win and pushed their record to 4-2 as a home contest with Campbellsville awaited the next Saturday.

In what was arguably the toughest loss of the season, Campbellsville rallied to overcome a 20-7 deficit in the final two minutes scoring a touchdown with six seconds left to pull out a win over the Belhaven. The Tigers made some key fourth down conversions and recovered an onside kick in their final two possessions of the afternoon to setup the win. The loss ended the Blazers four game winning streak and dropped their record to 4-3.

Belhaven regrouped the next week at Cumberland with some last minute heroics of their own in a 7-6 overtime win. Neither offense could get much going on a muddy field although the Bulldogs got into the red zone five times, but were turned away by the Blazer defense. It looked like Belhaven had taken the lead with just over a minute to play in regulation, but Justin Miller's field goal was ruled no good by the officials as it evidently went wide of the uprights.

Cumberland took the ball first in overtime and scored on a touchdown run by Mitch McCurch. The Bulldogs went for two and failed to convert as the Blazers set up for their overtime possession down 6-0. On a second down play from the 11, Belhaven caught Cumberland in an all out blitz and Wallace found Bolton open in the flats for an 11 yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 6-6. Miller split the uprights on the extra point as the Blazers escaped with the win and moved their overall record to 5-3 and 4-0 in the MSC West.

Belhaven traveled to Jackson, TN the next week to face fifth ranked Lambuth University for first place in the MSC Western Division. The Blazers stayed with the Eagles through the first half trailing 28-16 at the break thanks in part to a 71 yard touchdown pass from Wallace to Bolton with 31 seconds to go in the second quarter. Unfortunately, Belhaven failed to score the remainder of the game while Lambuth tallied 26 unanswered points in the second half to cruise to the 54-16 victory.

The Blazers returned home for their final two games of the season starting with Shorter in the annual Homecoming game. It was arguably Belhaven's best offensive performance of the year as the Blazers racked up 496 yards of total offense. Wallace tossed six touchdowns and passed for 414 yards while Cordario Calvin hauled in 13 catches for 145 yards and three scores. The bad news is that the Hawks were just as good with only exception being that the majority of their yards were chewed up on the ground. A.J. Cooley racked up 256 yards and four touchdowns against the Blazers defense garnering Mid-South Conference and NAIA national offensive player of the week honors in Shorter's 55-42 win.

Belhaven entered the final week of the season with a 5-5 overall record with a chance to finish the 2009 schedule with an above .500 record for the first time since 2006. The Blazers hosted Union and the game proved to be a memorable one for multiple reasons. First and foremost Belhaven pulled out a dramatic 37-31 overtime win to secure the 6-5 season. On defense, Reginald Lumpkin had nine tackles and is now Belhaven's all time career tackles leader with 292. He also broke the Belhaven single season tackles record with 111. Tramaine Brock tied the Belhaven single season interception record with six on an interception and 75 yard return for a touchdown while Calvin eclipsed the 1,000 yard receiving mark with nine catches for 98 yards. The win also provided a huge boost for the program heading into the offseason.

Belhaven had 12 players earn Mid-South Conference Western Division All Conference honors when the announcement was made by the MSC following the conclusion of the regular season.

Defensive lineman Melvin Dyson, linebacker Reginald Lumpkin, defensive back Cameron Achord, defensive back Tramaine Brock, and punter Michael Wilson were named to the MSC Western Division defensive team. Lineman Sarron Anderson, wide receiver Cordario Calvin, and running back Ricardo Bolton were selected to the MSC Western Division offensive team. Wide receiver Kevin Dizer, quarterback Jerred Wallace, defensive lineman Jack Hayes, and defensive lineman Jonathan Gamberi were MSC Western Division honorable mention selections as voted on by the MSC coaches.

Dyson, a senior from New Orleans, LA, led the Belhaven defense in sacks with seven and recorded 55 total tackles. Lumpkin, a senior from Magnolia, MS, led the Blazer defense in total tackles with 111 and is now Belhaven's all time career tackles leader with 292. He also broke the Belhaven single season tackles record in 2009. Lumpkin was this seasons Jackson Touchdown Club Top Senior award winner. Lumpkin was one of 10 players to receive this honor which is given to one senior player from each of Mississippi's four year College's and University's that play football.

Achord, a senior from Brookhaven, MS, was second on the team in total tackles with 74 and intercepted three passes. Brock, as senior from Long Beach, MS, had a team high six interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. Brock tied the Belhaven single season record for most interceptions and compiled 51 total tackles with 2.5 sacks, and 13.5 tackles for a loss. Wilson, a senior from Madison, MS, averaged 35 yards per punt, had six punts travel 50 plus yards, and pinned opponents inside the 20 yard line 22 times.

On the offensive side of the ball, Anderson, a junior from Atlanta, GA, helped anchor a young offensive line that continued to improve over the course of the season. Calvin, a junior from Greenville, MS, led the Blazers in receiving with 85 total catches for 1,028 yards. Calvin also hauled in 12 touchdowns and averaged 93.5 yards per game receiving. He was also chosen as one of ten finalists for the 2009 Conerly Trophy which goes to the top college football player in Mississippi as voted on by select media representatives in the state.

Bolton, a senior from Gulfport, MS, averaged 50.5 yards per game on the ground and was second on the team in receiving with 43 receptions for 597 yards. Bolton caught eight TD passes and rushed for another during the 2009 season.

Dizer, a junior from Sterlington, LA, was an honorable mention selection with three touchdown catches and a 34.7 receiving yards per game average this year. Wallace, a senior from Warren, TX, was injured at the beginning of the year, but finished strong completing 54.8 percent of his passes with 16 touchdowns including 10 in the final two games. Hayes, a junior from Columbia, MS, had 42 total tackles, four sacks, and eight tackles for a loss. Gamberi, a junior from Natchez, MS, had 2.5 sacks, five tackles for a loss, and 28 total tackles.

“I very proud of what we were able to accomplish this season, but at the same time not satisfied,” said Head Coach Joe Thrasher. “I want our players to strive for more in competing for conference championships, working towards getting into the playoffs, and it's our job as coaches to recruit and prepare these young men to be successful on the field and in the classroom. We did some good things on the field, having a winning season is a good step for our first year and we want to continue to build on that. It's also good for our alumni to see that we are moving in the right direction.”

“We are losing a number of great senior players as we head into the 2010 season, but we have a lot of quality returning players who we expect to come in and be big contributors for us,” added Thrasher. “The biggest keys to taking the program to the next level are consistency, stability, and ownership in what we are doing. We have got to be a first choice program and these players have to come in and be proud to be Belhaven University Blazers. We need to work hard in the offseason and not get complacent with both coaches and players striving for the best and honoring God in doing it. We are already excited for next year and look forward to building on what we accomplished this past year.”

With a talented group of both returning players and newcomers; next year should equate to an exciting 2010 campaign.