Box Score
Jackson, MS-It was a record breaking day at H.T. Newell Field on Saturday afternoon as the Belhaven football team shattered the single game school rushing record en route to a 45-27 victory over Faulkner University in a Mid-South Conference matchup. The Blazers ran for 323 yards breaking the previous record of 278 yards set earlier this season against Lindsey Wilson.

Belhaven (3-3, 1-1 MSC) jumped on the board first on the opening drive of the afternoon going 70 yards on six plays for a touchdown. Quarterback Alex Williams connected with wide receiver Justin Kenyon on a 39 yard pass play and Justin Gaines reeled off a 13 run yard run to help setup a one yard TD run by Williams to make it 7-0. Gaines carry would be the first of many big runs on the afternoon.

Following a punt by Faulkner that put Belhaven at their own six yard line, the offense manufactured a nine play 94 yard drive resulting in the second touchdown of the game with 5:02 remaining in the first quarter. Gaines was instrumental in the Blazer drive once again with runs of 15 and 17 yards and a reception for 15 yards. Williams capped the drive on a quarterback sneak from a yard out to make it a 14-0 game.

Faulkner (1-4, 0-2 MSC) on their ensuing possession got back in the game on a touchdown pass from Josh Hollingsworth to David Amos from five yards out. Dylan Vires extra point attempt went wide of the mark and kept the score at 14-6 with 2:01 left in the first quarter. The Eagles then inched closer as defensive back Zeke Pigg intercepted Williams with 13:17 to go in the second quarter giving Faulkner the ball at the Belhaven 32 yard line. The Blazer defense stopped the drive at the 14 forcing a Jacob Smith 32 yard field goal that made it a 14-9 game.

Unfortunately, Belhaven did not have the ball long on the ensuing possession as Gaines fumbled the ball at the Faulkner 42 yard line setting up the Eagles in great field position once again. Faulkner took advantage and went 58 yards in 10 plays to take their first lead of the day. With a first and goal at the Belhaven 10 yard line, Hollingsworth completed a pass to Dimitri Smith, but defensive back Craig McDonald dislodged the ball at the one yard line. However, the ball went forward into the end zone and Amos fell on it for the touchdown. Hollingsworth then connected with Chris Kordakis on the two point conversion giving Faulkner a 17-14 lead with 6:25 remaining until halftime.

Belhaven would tie the score late in the first half on a James Bryan field goal from 29 yards out knotting things at 17-17. The Blazers had a chance to get more, but a second and goal reverse play at the five yard line resulted in a 12 yard loss forcing the Blazers to kick the field goal with 1:16 on the clock.

Faulkner would enjoy their biggest lead of the day at the beginning of the third quarter as the Eagles marched 50 yards in six plays for a touchdown. Hollingsworth had a scramble of 35 yards and then completed a 15 yard touchdown pass to Courtney Pete for the score. The extra point made it a 24-17 game with 12:16 to go in the third quarter.

Belhaven would tie the game again with 5:45 to go in the third quarter on a Williams touchdown pass to Rashad Wynes from three yards out. The scoring drive started at the Blazer 43 yard line and Williams was able to pick a couple of big completions of 18 yards to Kylan Pollard and 33 yards to Kenyon prior to the Wynes TD.

Faulkner would regain the lead briefly with 12:20 left in the fourth quarter on a 38 yard field goal by Jacob Smith to make it 27-24. The rest of the game belonged to the Blazers as Belhaven scored 21 unanswered points over the final 12 plus minutes. Following the Eagle three pointer, Belhaven answered with a 68 yard scoring drive as Gaines took it 27 yards to the house for the score. Leading 31-27, Belhaven got the ball back on the Faulkner 49 yard line after a botched punt by the Eagles. Gaines had his number called again and this time he raced 43 yards for the score extending the lead to 38-27 with 5:51 left in the contest.

Hollingsworth then led the Eagles to midfield, but on fourth and eight, his pass was intercepted by Justin Mims at the Belhaven 25 and he returned it 22 yards to the Blazer 47 yard line with 4:36 left in the game. The Blazer offense marched 53 yards and fullback Jameel Jackson topped off the win with a two yard touchdown plunge giving the Blazers the 45-27 decision.

“This was a big win for us and one we really needed,” said Belhaven Head Coach Joe Thrasher. “We had lost our last two games coming in and needed to get back on track which we did. I thought our defense played well against one of the top offenses in the NAIA limiting their scoring opportunities. Justin (Gaines) came up huge for us and our offensive line did a great job of opening holes for him to run through. Our running game enabled us to put the game away late and maintain possession of the ball for over nine minutes in the fourth quarter.”

Gaines was a major reason for the single game rushing record falling as he carried the ball 22 times for 250 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 11.4 yards per carry against the Eagles and on the season is averaging 6.3 yards every time he touches the ball. Gaines came into Saturday's game leading the NAIA in total scoring and with the two scores against Faulkner he now has 12 total touchdowns on the year. Eleven of them have come on the ground.

Williams completed 17 of his 25 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for two more scores on the afternoon and tossed two interceptions. Kenyon had a big game as the wide receiver caught three passes for 90 yards on the day. Pollard added five catches for 90 yards and Wynes had the one touchdown reception on Saturday. Belhaven's offense racked up 547 yards on 66 plays in the game and were once again outstanding in the Red-Zone going 5 for 5 with four touchdowns. On the season, Belhaven has scored least field on 21 of 22 trips into the Red-Zone this year.

Defensively, Justin Mims recorded 12 stops and Craig McDonald along with Ricky Wadlington brought down 11 Faulkner ball carriers. Mims also grabbed his fourth interception of the year. Mims was seventh in the NAIA in INT's coming into the game with Faulkner. Wadlington and McDonald continue to share the team lead in tackles with 54 following the game. Ryan Rice also had a solid afternoon with nine tackles and William Triplett was in on seven stops with two going for losses. Belhaven defenders broke up seven passes by Hollingsworth throughout the course of the day.

Faulkner was paced by Hollingsworth who completed 27 of his 47 passes for 201 yards and three TD's. Hollingsworth also rushed for 104 yards on the afternoon. He was the NAIA's top passer coming into Saturday's game. Running back Brandon Cheatham picked up 89 yards rushing and Dimitri Smith caught six passes for 40 yards. Courtney Pete hauled in three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. Faulkner's offense generated 407 total yards including 206 on the ground.

Zeke Pigg led the Eagle defense with 11 total tackles and he also had one of Faulkner's two interceptions. J.T. Barker ended the day with eight tackles and a fumble recovery followed by Quinton Prothro who contributed seven tackles and an interception. Paramore Tapa and Kenterris Williams had the Eagle sacks on Saturday.

Belhaven will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to Shorter University for another Mid-South Conference West Division battle in Rome, GA. The kickoff is slated for 2:30 PM and all the play-by-play action can be heard on 87.7 FM WJMF in the Jackson, MS area or online at blazers.belhaven.edu.