JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven football team scored the first touchdown of the game versus No. 3 Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday afternoon, but ultimately fell to the Crusaders 59-21 inside Belhaven Bowl Stadium. 

The Blazers found the end zone on the first drive of the game, marching 77 yards down the field in 13 plays. Hunter McEachern completed four passes to senior Nate Williams on the drive, including a 9-yard touchdown reception. 

Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-0) wasted no time matching the Belhaven (1-8) score as Markieth Miller ran it in from 42 yards out on the ensuing Crusaders' possession. 

After a couple of Belhaven punts, the Crusaders orchestrated a 72-yard, nine-play drive, ending in a Blake Jackson to Bryce Wilkerson 8-yard touchdown pass, giving Mary Hardin-Baylor a 14-7 lead with 5:40 remaining in the first quarter. 

Belhaven gained four extra possessions in the first half by recovering four Mary Hardin-Baylor fumbles, but were unable to to take advantage, and went without a point for the final 26:47 of the fist half. The Crusaders, meanwhile, found the end zone twice in the second quarter to take a 28-7 advantage into the halftime break. 

In the second half, Mary Hardin-Baylor continued to display the offensive prowess that has landed them the No. 3 ranking in the country, scoring 24 unanswered points. 

After a Crusaders touchdown early in the fourth quarter made the score 52-7, Kevin Shief broke off a 58-yard kickoff return to give the Blazers possession at the Mary Hardin-Baylor 40-yard line. Belhaven would then need only one play to find the end zone as Clayton Webb threw a 40-yard strike to Williams for his second touchdown of the game. 

With just over three minutes to play, the Blazers defense stopped a Crusaders drive short at the Belhaven one-yard line, forcing Mary Hardin-Baylor to turn the ball over downs. The Blazers then proceeded to march 99 yards down the field, resulting in a 36-yard Darien Thomas touchdown catch with just six seconds remaining. 

Belhaven finished the game with 492 total yards of offense while Mary-Hardin Baylor recorded 749 yards, 560 of which came through the ground game. Miller paced the Crusaders with 235 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. 

The Blazers had possession of the ball for 30:35 of the total 60 minutes of game time, and converted five of nine fourth down opportunities. 

Williams led the Belhaven receiving corps with 145 yards on 11 receptions, both season-highs. Thomas tallied 55 yards on three catches. 

Latevinan Glass paced the Blazers defense with six tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. David Green added five tackles, including two for a loss. 

Belhaven will wrap up its 2016 season on Saturday, Nov. 12, traveling to Brownwood, Texas to take on Howard Payne University. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. 

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