Game Notes
JACKSON, Miss.- The Belhaven football team has high hopes for the 2013 season, which gets underway on Saturday night at H.T. Newell. The Blazers tied for second in the Mid-South Conference West Division and fell just a bit short in their bid for a conference title, losing to Bethel (TN) 21-17 in the 2012 season finale. The team feels that this could be the year it all comes together.

Blazer Bits
Game 1: Belhaven (0-0) vs. Texas College (0-0), Saturday August 31^st 7:00 P.M., in Jackson, Mississippi. Last Meeting: Belhaven won 47-3 on August 27^th, 2011.
Radio: Listen Live at blazers.belhaven.edu Powered by Stretch Internet GameCentral

Coaches: Joe Thrasher (Belhaven-5^th Season), George Cumby (Texas College 3^rd Season)

Series vs. Texas College (BU Leads 3-1): This will be the fifth overall matchup between Belhaven and Texas College.

Home Opener: Belhaven will play Texas College in its season opener for the third time in four seasons. The Blazers topped the Steers to kick off the 2010 and 2011 campaigns and have won the last three games against them. Head Coach Joe Thrasher is entering his fifth season and under his direction the team is 2-2 in home openers. Belhaven was 3-3 at home last season.

Quick Stat: The Blazers are ranked 21st in the 2013 NAIA Football Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, announced by the national office early this month. The ranking came on the heels of being named a co-favorite to win the Mid-South Conference West Division crown. The poll marks the programs first venture into the top 25 since poll 4 of the 2004 season.

Player to Watch: Belhaven's Matt Hall is projected to be one the nation's top offensive linemen heading into the 2013 season. Hall, a senior tackle from Yell County Ark., helped pave the way for multiple new school records in rushing yards and points in 2012. Hall will be one of the anchors on the offensive line again this season for the 21st ranked Blazers.

Hall is a Preseason NAIA First Team All-American selection on tonysoftli.com, Phil Steele's College Football Preview, and USA Football News Small College preseason rankings. In addition, Gil Brandt of NFL.com has ranked Hall on his "Hot 100 Seniors" list for the upcoming season.

Record Books Re-Written: The Blazers shattered the school record for most rushing yards in a season with 2,488 in 2012. The previous mark was set in 1999 with 1,709. Belhaven also set a new bench mark for rushing touchdowns with 27 last year. The previous school record was 19 recorded during the 2011 campaign. Belhaven was the third best rushing team in the MSC with 226.2 yards per game and fourth in the conference in scoring at 32.9 points per contest.

For a closer inside look at this week's matchup, fans can click on the game notes link above. Media coverage this weekend includes live play-by-by play audio and live stats courtesy of Stretch Internet through the Blazers Sports Network. Fans can access the broadcast by clicking here. Follow Belhaven Athletics on Twitter and get score updates throughout the game. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 PM with the pregame show online at 6:45 PM.