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Jackson, MS-The Belhaven football was narrowly defeated again, falling to Cumberland University in the Annual Homecoming game 46-43 Saturday afternoon. The Blazers overall record falls to 2-6 and 1-2 in the Mid-South Conference Western Division. Cumberland jumps over the .500 mark on the year picking up their four win of the season and stand at 4-3 overall. The Bulldogs remain unbeaten in the conference at 3-0.

 

Belhaven would strike first in the game at the 9:15 mark of the first quarter. Ricardo Bolton scored the first if his three touchdowns on a 51 yard run to put the Blazers on top 7-0. The Bulldogs got a touchdown from their defense to get them on the board. Melvin Armstrong picked off a Jerred Wallace pass and took it back 31 yards for the touchdown tying the score at seven all.

 

Cumberland would then grab the lead as Quarterback Matt Eads executed a perfect play-action fake and tossed a 70 yard touchdown pass to James McClain to make it 14-7 Bulldogs. The Blazers then struck back to knot the score again as Wallace hooked up with Shaun Ector for a 54 yard touchdown strike and just like that the score was 14-14.

 

Belhaven's special teams would get credit for the next touchdown as Anthony Embry took a punt by Michael Hinson 59 yards to pay dirt giving the Blazers a 21-14 lead. Cumberland would then mount a late second quarter drive going 90 yards on six plays culminating in a James McClain 18 yard touchdown run. The score would remain tied at 21-21 going into halftime.

 

The game continued to be a back and forth battle the entire afternoon and the third quarter would prove to be no different. Belhaven reclaimed the lead as Wallace connected with Bolton on a 17 yard touchdown pass and the Blazers found themselves back on top 28-21. With 4:39 left to go in the third quarter, Matt Eads found McClain on another play-action pass from 58 yards out for the touchdown. However, Michael Hinson pulled the extra point wide left and Belhaven maintained a one point lead 28-27.

 

Cumberland would mount another quick drive late in the third quarter as McClain would score his fourth touchdown on the afternoon taking a sweep play in from seven yards out. The Bulldogs tried for two and failed making the score 33-28. The Blazers would then jump right back into the lead with 1:19 to play in the third quarter as Wallace fired a 37 yard touchdown pass to Ector, and with the extra point the score was 35-33.

 

Cumberland would then grab some momentum scoring the next two touchdowns, with one being a 66 yard touchdown pass from Eads to Michael Moore and then an Ervin Young touchdown run of five yards. After another failed two-point conversion and a made PAT, the score was 46-35. Belhaven made a late rally to make things interesting when they drove 58 yards on nine plays culminating in a Bolton 2 yard touchdown scamper. Bolton then added the two point conversion and the Blazers found themselves down by just a field goal with 4:32 on the clock and all three timeouts.

 

However, a fumbled punt return and some other unfortunate plays proved to be challenging down the stretch. Belhaven would get the ball back with about a minute to go in the game following a missed Bulldog field goal. Unfortunately for the Blazers, they couldn't put together a drive to get in field goal range themselves. Wallace's last second desperation pass was picked off and Cumberland escaped with a 46-43 win.

 

Ricardo Bolton had three touchdowns on the afternoon carrying the ball 13 times for 113 yards and two rushing touchdowns for Belhaven. Bolton also caught 5 passes for 33 yards including a touchdown catch. Shaun Ector also had a big day hauling in 6 passes for 129 yards and two Blazer scores. Quarterback Jerred Wallace was 28-50 through the air with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

 

Defensively, Reginald Lumpkin had nine tackles to lead the team while Mlevin Dyson picked up six tackles and also swatted down two passes. The Blazers only had one sack on the afternoon and that was by Baqui Thomas. The Blazers forced one fumble but could not come up with any interceptions.

 

Belhaven returns to action next week in their final home game of the season. The Blazers will take on Lambuth University at H.T. Newell Field beginning at 1:30 Saturday afternoon.