Official Stats
Jackson, MS-The Belhaven football team saw their four game winning streak come to a close with a tough 21-20 loss to Campbellsville University Saturday afternoon at H.T. Newell Field. The Blazers held a 20-7 lead with just over two minutes to go in the game, but the Tigers were able to mount a late comeback to pull out the victory in Mid-South Conference cross divisional play.

 

Belhaven scored the first touchdown just three minutes into the game on a three yard touchdown pass from Jerred Wallace to Cordario Calvin. It was Calvin's seventh touchdown reception of the year and the third touchdown pass by Wallace. The scoring drive was setup thanks to a fumble on the opening kickoff by Campbellsville's Cedric Taylor and was recovered by Belhaven's Ryan Rice. The Tigers helped the Blazers out with a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone that kept the drive alive. Two plays later, Wallace found Calvin for the score after eluding the pass rush putting Belhaven up 7-0.

                                                             

It didn't take long for the Tigers to answer the Belhaven score as on the very next possession quarterback Nathan Cooper fired a pass into the flats to Harold Small who got away from three Blazer defenders and took it down the side line for the touchdown. The extra point by kicker David Hon pulled Campbellsville even at 7-7.

 

Belhaven's offense on their next possession advanced the ball to the Tiger 15 yard line, but could get no further as the Campbellsville defense held on a third down and 11 play. Justin Miller came on to attempt a 33 yard field goal which sailed to the right and the game remained tied at seven.

 

The Blazer defense put Belhaven back on top with just over four minutes to go in the first quarter on a 73 yard interception return for a touchdown by strong safety Tramaine Brock. Cooper had completed two straight passes in the flats on the far side of the field, but on his third attempt Brock anticipated the play by stepping in front of the receiver for his third interception of the season to make it 14-7 Blazers.

 

Neither team could punch it into the end zone in the second quarter although the Blazers had a couple of opportunities that went by the boards. Belhaven had a first and goal at the Campbellsville one yard and had nine plays to cross the goal line, but could not cash in. Belhaven turned it over on downs at the four, but the defense forced a three and out for Campbellsville and got the ball back into the hands of the offense at the Tiger 25 with just over a minute to play in the half. However, the Blazers could not capitalize as time ran out in the second quarter.

 

Belhaven opened the third quarter with the football and engineered a 12 play 60 yard touchdown drive to make it a two score contest. Belhaven went to the “Wild Blazer” formation and had success moving the football. Barry Johnson was effective running the ball out of the shotgun and Jerred Wallace found Ricardo Bolton for a fifteen yard pass completion on third down and ten to move the chains early in the drive. The Blazers struck pay dirt with a reverse pass on third and 12 from the Tiger 21 as Wallace hit Calvin for the touchdown strike giving Belhaven a 20-7 lead. The extra point was missed and the Blazer advantage remained at 13 points.

 

Belhaven's defense continued to play hard and kept the Campbellsville offense off balance for the remainder of the third quarter. Safety Cameron Achord came up with an interception and a fumble recovery in the third period to lead the defense. Achord's interception was the third of the game for the Belhaven defense which included the earlier pick by Brock and a second quarter interception by DeMorrius Jones.

 

Unfortunately, Campbellsville's defense was just as effective at shutting down the Blazer attack in the fourth quarter and kept the Tigers in the game. Campbellsville began their comeback with 5:41 to go in the contest on a drive that began at their own 39. The Tigers converted twice on fourth down in a possession that resulted in a 14 yard touchdown pass from Cooper to Calvin Mann. The touchdown itself came on a fourth and goal play from the 14 after it looked like the Blazers were going to hold off the Tigers.

 

Campbellsville then attempted an onside kick and came up with the loose ball at their own 45 yard line to put it right back into the hands of the offense. The Tiger offense drove the ball down to the one yard and completed the comeback on a one yard touchdown plunge by Dy'lan Underwood with six seconds to go in the game. The scoring drive included two more fourth down conversions, and a key pass interference penalty against the Blazers on third and goal granted the Tigers a couple of extra cracks at the end zone. Bolton returned the ensuing kickoff to the Blazer 35 yard line, but could get no further as Tyler Jackson brought him down to end the game.

 

Belhaven wide receiver Cordario Calvin had a big day offensively catching nine passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Calvin has a team high of eight touchdown catches on the season and is averaging 99 yards receiving per contest. Blazer quarterback Jerred Wallace completed 11 passes for 169 yards and two TD's in his first start of the season. Wallace has four touchdowns passes on the year which include the two on Saturday and two the previous week at West Virginia Tech. Ricardo Bolton led Belhaven in rushing with 11 carries for 37 yards. The Campbellsville defense did a good job of containing Bolton who has been effective at both running and catching the football in 2009.

 

On the defensive side of the ball for the Blazers, Tramaine Brock had a 73 yard interception return for a touchdown along with six solo tackles. Reginald Lumpkin led the Blazers with 13 total tackles on the afternoon followed by Jack Hayes with eight. DeMorrius Jones and Cameron Achord also had interceptions in Saturday afternoon's game. Achord also contributed a forced fumble, recovered a fumble, and made four total tackles. Brock and Jonathan Reed each lead the team with three interceptions followed by Achord and Antwon Hamilton who have two apiece in 2009.

 

Tiger quarterback Nathan Cooper went 24-42 for 264 yards, threw for two touchdowns and had three interceptions. Harold Small was Campbellsville's leading receiver with 10 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown catch. Campbellsville's ground attack was led by running back Dy'lan Underwood who carried the ball 21 for 68 yards and the game winning touchdown. Calvin Bini led the Tiger defense with eight total tackles followed by Trap Williams and Henri Baynham-Baker with six each. The Tigers also sacked Wallace four times on the afternoon.