Game Notes (PDF)
JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Blazers (2-0) make the road trip to Eastern Kentucky to face the No. 4 University of the Cumberlands Patriots in a Mid-South Conference cross-division battle this Saturday. The Blazers are coming off a 32-14 win against the Mississippi Choctaws, while the Patriots suffered a season opening 27-34 loss at No. 25 Cuberland University.

Series History
In Belhaven's last meeting with the Patriots, the Blazers fell 41-17 to the University of the Cumberlands. Belhaven and Cumberlands are tied at 6-6 in the series history between the two schools. The Patriots hold the edge over the Blazers in recent years, winning the last three meetings and six of the last seven. Belhaven started off the series with five straight wins, but have not won in Williamsburg in the last five strips to Kentucky.

Year-by-Year
Date - Location - Result
11/14/98 - Williamsburg - W 29-22
10/2/99 - Williamsburg - W 32-6
9/16/00 - Jackson - W 21-7
9/15/01- Williamsburg - W 10-3
9/21/02 - Jackson - W 14-7
9/20/03 - Williamsburg - L 24-48
10/30/04 - Williamsburg - L 16-35
10/6/07  Williamsburg - L 28-41
10/30/10 - Jackson - W 24-21
10/29/11 - Williamsburg - L 0-58
9/1/12 - Williamsburg - L 10-21
9/14/13 - Jackson - L 17-41

Record against the state
Belhaven is 28-37 all time against teams from the state of Kentucky. The Blazers struggled against teams from the Blue Grass State in 2013, going 0-4.

Home openers
Belhaven is now 8-9 in home openers after last week's 32-14 win over MC. The Blazers have won their last two home openers and are 4-1 in home openers at H.T. Newell Stadium in the last five years.

Looking for four
The Blazers have won three straight games dating back to last season's finale. Belhaven last won four straight in the middle of the 2012 season from Oct. 13 to Nov. 3, which included a trip to Kentucky.

Mumme off to blazing start
Belhaven head coach Hal Mumme implemented his Air Raid offense successfully against Texas College, helping the Blazers to jump out to a 29-0 lead just 8:45 into the first quarter against Texas College. Belhaven's 44-6 win is Mumme's largest win in a debut with his programs in his 23 years as a head coach. Mumme's largest win prior to last Saturday in a debut came when Mumme's Kentucky Wildcats team defeated Louisville 38-24 in 1997.

Debuts    Date    Opponent    Score
Iowa Wesleyan - 9/9/89 - @ Dubuque (IA) - L 22-9
Valdosta State - 9/12/92 - @ Ga Southern - L 24-13
Kentucky - 8/30/97 - Louisville - W 38-24
Southeastern Louisiana - 8/30/03 - Ark-Monticello - W 22-17
New Mexico State - 9/3/05 - Texas-El Paso - L 34-17
McMurry - 9/5/09 - Trinity - L 31-26
Belhaven - 8/30/14 - Texas College - W 44-6

Big win Blazers
The Blazers 38-point win over Texas College is the largest win for Belhaven in nearly two years, dating back to 66-10 win at Bluefield College on October 13, 2012.

Pieces of eight
Quarterback Conner Preston has been able to connect with eight different receivers in both games so far this season. The result has been a spreading of the ball around for 66 completions that have totaled 599 yards and seven touchdowns. In both games, Preston found seven of his receivers multiple times, and at least four receivers at least four times.

One dimensional opponents
Belhaven's Defense has made its opponents one dimensional in each of the first two games, helping to hold opponents to a combined 20 points and 403 yards of total offense.  Texas College finished with -27 yards rushing in the season opener. Mississippi College wasn't much better through the air last week, totaling just 31 yards passing.

Protecting the ball
The Blazers have done a good job of holding onto the ball through the first two games, not turning it over via fumbles or interceptions, allowing for a +3 turnover margin in 2014.

Ranked defense
The Blazers success at limiting opponents has the Green and Gold third in the NAIA in total defense, sixth in scoring defense, sixth in passing efficiency defense, seventh in rushing defense, and second overall in sacks.

Ranked passing attack
Belhaven enters Saturday's game sixth overall in passing offense in the NAIA and ninth overall in passing offense per game. The Blazers are averaging 308 yards per game through the air for a total of 616 yards. Belhaven is also 21st in passing efficiency. Belhaven also ranks fourth in the nation in passing sacks allowed per game, averaging one against.

Livingston leading nation
Greg Livingston leads all players in the NAIA with 19 receptions through two games. The senior transfer followed up a 10 reception performance in the opener with nine receptions against MC. Livingston has 189 yards receiving in the two games, averaging 94.5 yards/game to go along with three receiving TDs.