Official Stats
Jackson, MS-It was a disappointing afternoon for the Belhaven football team as the Blazers could not slow down Bethel University losing to the Wildcats 43-28 in a Mid-South Conference Western Division battle at H.T. Newell Field. Bethel pounded out 221 yards on the ground and added 214 yards passing on their way to the victory. Belhaven racked up 419 yards of total offense, but three interceptions proved to be costly.

Belhaven (3-2, 0-1 MSC) got the ball on the opening kickoff and after gaining eight yards on the first three plays were faced with a fourth and two situation. Belhaven setup in an unconventional punt formation with quarterback Alex Williams lined up as the punter. The Blazers caught Bethel off guard and instead of punting Williams tossed a pass to Jarrard Sterling deep down the sideline that went through his hands and fell incomplete.

Fortunately, the Belhaven defense clamped down on the Wildcats and forced a punt after Bethel had taken over on the Belhaven 40 yard line. Following a 34 yard punt by Brandon Reagan that landed in the end zone, the Blazers took over on their 20 and marched 80 yards on six plays for the first touchdown of the afternoon. On second and two from the Bethel 13, Williams found Kyle Henry wide open in the back of the end zone for the first score of the game giving Belhaven a 7-0 lead.

However, the second quarter belonged to Bethel as the Wildcats exploded for 16 unanswered points to grab a 16-7 halftime lead. Bethel (2-3, 1-1 MSC) got on the board with a 45 yard field goal by John Graham at the 10:52 mark of the second frame after the Wildcat defense forced a Belhaven punt from the one yard line setting up the drive at the Blazer 29 yard line. On the ensuing Belhaven possession, Steve Small intercepted a pass by Williams which led to a Josh Boyd one touchdown run to make it 9-7 Bethel. Graham's extra point attempt was no good and it remained a 9-7 contest.

Late in the second quarter, Belhaven failed to convert on another four down conversion and the Wildcats took over at their own 37 with 1:21 on the clock. Bethel proceeded to march the ball 63 yards in five plays with 43 of those yards coming on a touchdown pass from Will Masoud to Jahron Reynolds. The extra point was good making it 16-7 Bethel. Belhaven had a chance to get a field goal right before half, but James Bryan's 33 yard attempt sailed wide left as time expired.

Bethel then took control of the game on the opening drive of the third quarter moving the ball 77 yards in seven plays for the score. Running back Cordarius Mann capped the drive on a five yard touchdown run that extended the Wildcat lead to 23-7. The Blazers were finally able to answer back with a scoring drive of their own which ended with an 18 yard touchdown pass from Williams to Cordario Calvin cutting the Belhaven deficit to 23-14.

Bethel came right back with a touchdown of their own on a Boyd 36 yard run that bumped the lead back to 16 points at 30-14. The Wildcats then turned another Williams's interception into six points as Keith Perry picked off an errant pass and was finally stopped at the Belhaven 33 yard line. Two plays later Masoud hooked up with tight end Jeremy Akins for a 26 yard strike to make it 36-14 after another missed extra point.

In the fourth quarter, the Blazers tried to get back in the game when running back Barry Johnson ran in from four yards out with 12:46 to play in the game. However, as was the case the entire second half, Bethel answered with yet another score when Mann found the end zone again from the one yard line pushing the lead to 43-20. The touchdown capped the longest drive of the game for Bethel which ended up going 80 yards on 14 plays while chewing up 6:43 on the clock.

Belhaven added a late score on Johnson's second rushing touchdown of the afternoon with this one coming from three yards out. The Blazers made the two point conversion on a pass from Williams to Calvin bringing Belhaven to within in 15 points at 43-28 with 3:06 left in the game. What hope the Blazers had of any last minute heroics was extinguished when Bryan's onside kick bounced out of bounds. The Blazers got the ball back one more time, but failed to score as Bethel eventually ran out the clock to end the game.

The Blazers were led on offense by quarterback Alex Williams who completed 21 of 38 pass attempts for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Williams was also intercepted three times in the game. Johnson broke the 100 yard rushing mark using 13 carries to move the ball 107 yards while adding two touchdowns. Calvin ended the afternoon as the Blazers leading receiver with six receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. Henry had six catches for 56 yards and a touchdown followed by Kevin Dizer who came up with four receptions for 82 yards. As a team, Belhaven ran the ball 25 times for 181 yards and put it in the air 38 times for 238 yards.

Defensively, Ricky Wadlington had a big game for Belhaven with 13 total tackles including 1.5 for a loss. Wadlington also had a quarterback hurry on Saturday afternoon. Michael Johnsa had 11 total tackles followed by Jonathan Gamberi and Billy Hammer who recorded 10 each. Gamberi had a sack and Hammer was credited with a tackle for a loss.

Bethel was led by Cordarius Mann who carried the ball 24 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Patrick Cann had 63 yards rushing and Josh Boyd chewed up 54 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns. Quarterback Will Masoud was efficient throwing the football completing 13 passes for 214 yards and two TD's. He was sacked twice, but did not throw any interceptions. Reynolds paced the Wildcats in receptions hauling in 5 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Zach Wallace came up with eight tackles followed by Keith Perry who had six tackles, a tackle for a loss, and an interception. Derrick Williams and Wade Vandergriff made five tackles each.

The Blazers will try and regroup next week when they travel to Faulkner University in Montgomery, AL for another MSC Western Division matchup at 1:30 PM. All the play-by-play action can be heard via Stretch Internet through the Belhaven Athletics website beginning with the pregame show at 1:15 PM.