Box Score MCKENZIE, Tenn. – It what turned out to be a difficult season, the Belhaven football team found a way to end the 2013 campaign on high note Saturday afternoon, defeating Bethel University (TN) 55-45 in a Mid-South Conference West Division contest in McKenzie, Tennessee. The two teams combined for 100 points and 985 yards of total offense, but it was the Blazers offensive firepower proved to be too much for the Wildcats.

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"This was a great way for the seniors to go out," said Belhaven Head Coach Joe Thrasher. "This year has been filled with a lot of adversity due to the loss of Coach Heidelburg and multiple injuries. The team always kept fighting and gave a great effort today."

One of those players was senior quarterback Ian McGinnis who used his arm and legs to carry the Belhaven offense. McGinnis completed 20 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns against one of the top passing defenses in the nation. In addition, he carried the ball 13 times for 28 yards and three more scores in his final collegiate game.

Senior running back Rashad Wynes broke the century mark with 152 yards on 16 carries that included a touchdown run. Senior wide receiver Justin Kenyon and senior fullback Patrick Wilson combined for 11 receptions. Kenyon reeled in six passes for 84 yards and a TD followed by Wilson with five receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Lamiquell Roberts made some big grabs as well, latching on to three passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Belhaven (3-8, 1-4 MSC West) jumped in front 14-0 on two quick first quarter scores. The first was a seven yard touchdown pass from McGinnis to Kenyon followed by a one yard run by McGinnis with 8:51 on the clock.

However, Bethel (2-9, 0-5 MSC West) roared back to put the next 14 points on the board to knot the score early in the second quarter. Running back Quincy Walden broke loose for a 33 yard run and followed that up with another 27 yard burst on the opening play of the second quarter. Walden was one of two Wildcat running backs to break the century mark on the ground, finishing the afternoon with 101 yards on six carries with two scores.

From there the game went back and forth with each team taking turns putting points on the scoreboard. The Blazers pulled back in front with 10:45 left in the half on a 16 yard run by McGinnis, his second rushing TD of the afternoon. Then it was Bethel's turn to counter on the arm of quarterback Will Nicks who hit Cole Delano with a 14 yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 21-21.

With just under three minutes to go until halftime, the Blazers were determined to find the end zone again and they did just that. McGinnis led Belhaven on a five play 63 yard drive that culminated in a 27 yard touchdown pass to Wilson with 1:30 to go until the break.

Out of the intermission, the offenses picked up right where they left off and this time it would be Bethel to strike first. Nicks found an open Jahron Reynolds from 51 yards out less than a minute into the third quarter to tie the game at 28-28.

However, the game didn't stay tied for long with McGinnis going back to work on the ground for his third rushing touchdown the game with 12:55 to play in the third quarter. Less than two minutes later, the Blazers went to the house again on a 72 yard pass from McGinnis to Lamiquell Roberts. It was setup on an interception by defensive back Syndrick Malone that stopped a Wildcat drive inside Belhaven territory, creating a potential 14 point swing.

Bethel continued to fight and pulled to within one touchdown again, but this time it was the defense that put points on the board. Tyler Pittman stepped in front of a McGinnis pass and returned the interception 53 yards for a touchdown cutting the Blazers lead to 42-35.

Freshman kicker Alonso Acosta, who has been out the past few weeks with an injury, booted a 40 yard field goal to start the fourth quarter and extend the Belhaven advantage back to a two score game at 45-35. However, the Wildcats would not go away and instead of three points answered with seven on a Nicks one yard touchdown run with 12:08 on the fourth quarter clock. All of a sudden, Bethel was just a field goal away from tying up the ballgame.

The Blazers were able to keep the Wildcats at arm's length when Wynes capped a short four yard drive with a two yard touchdown run. The Belhaven defense stripped the ball away from Bethel running back Travis Smith at the four yard line putting the Blazers right on the doorstep. It came one play after a McGinnis interception placed the ball in Bethel's hands.

Neither side would march into the end zone from that point forward, but it would be the kickers who would cap the scoring. Bethel's Robbie Phillips brought the Wildcats to within seven points again at 52-45 on a 19 yard field goal before Acosta put the exclamation point on the win for Belhaven. Acosta blasted his second three pointer of the day through the uprights from 37 yards out with 15 seconds to go, sealing the 55-45 win.

The Blazers offense rolled up 622 total yards on offense with 356 coming through the air. Belhaven had a season high 266 yards on the ground.

Linebacker Alonzo Peavy led the Blazers with nine tackles on defense. Cornerback Syndrick Malone had four tackles and an interception followed by Darius Wren with four stops and a sack. Linebacker Dwight Armbrust and Brennan Dunklin each had interceptions as well.

Nicks completed eight passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns although he was intercepted three times. Smith led the Wildcats with 123 rushing yards and a 5.6 yards per carry average. Wide receiver Jahron Reynolds caught three passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, the Wildcats tallied 363 yards of total offense. Defensively, Tyler Murray ended the day with 13 tackles followed by Brenton Davis and Damani Taylor with 10 apiece.

The Blazers will now turn their attention to the offseason and begin preparing for 2014.