JACKSON, MS - The Belhaven University football team lost their first home game of the 2017 season at home to Howard Payne by a score of 45-37 at the Belhaven bowl Stadium on Saturday evening in American Southwest Conference play. With the loss, Belhaven drops to 1-3 overall on the season and 0-1 in ASC play. 

The Blazers found themselves in an early 28-0 hole due to turnovers and the inability to stop Howard Payne's offensive attack.

However, the Blazers turned the tide in the momentum of the game in the second quarter when they scored 17 unanswered points to cut the lead to 28-17.

LaMarcus Caradine put the Blazers on the scoreboard with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Hunter McEachern with 10:48 left on the clock in the 2nd quarter.

After a Nick Guzman short field goal, the green and gold tacked on another score with a 36-yard touchdown reception by Kyky Austin to trim the score to 28-17 

Just minutes into the second half, senior Nolan Satcher would catch a 4-yard touchdown pass from Hunter McEachern to bring the score to 28-24.

Howard Payne would once again extend their lead with another touchdown run from Brett Martinez, this time from 9 yards out to extend the lead to 35-24.

The Blazers would answer yet again with another deep pass to Kyky Austin on a 57-yard connection between him and McEachern once again. This time the connection would bring the Blazers within four points, trailing 35-31 with 9:43 left in the 3rd quarter.

Two more Howard Payne touchdowns would give them a 45-31 point cushion.

Belhaven would try to mount a last-minute comeback, as Watson Fondren would find LaMarcus Caradine to make it a one score game with a 9-yard touchdown.

Belhaven was unable to recover the onside kick as Howard Payne was able to put the game away.

For the game, Belhaven ran for a team total of 89 yards, while adding 343 more yards through the air. On the night, the Blazers were able to register 432 yards of total offense compared to 326 yards for Howard Payne. 

Hunter McEachern was 25-41 for 317 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

After McEachern was sidelined in the 4th quarter with an injury, Watson Fondren was able to step in at quarterback and finished 3-4 for 26 yards and 1 touchdown.

For the second game in a row, Brad Foley was able to gain more than 70 yards on the ground, this time leading the Blazers with 71 rushing yards on 15 attempts. He also recorded 36 yards receiving on 6 catches.

Kyky Austin led the team with 3 catches for 97 yards and 2 touchdowns. LaMarcus Caradine would add 2 more touchdowns on 3 receptions. He would total 53 yards receiving through the air. Senior Jacob McNeill had a respectful game with a team-high 5 receptions and 60 yards receiving.

On the defensive side of the ball, Parker Robinson led the Blazers with 8 total tackles, 4 solo and 4 assisted. 

Keith Marshall would tally 6 tackles while adding a 25-yard interception return on the night. Seth Gatson would also record an interception on the night while leading the team with 3 breakups.

The Blazers (1-3) will now turn their attention to next Saturday as they head to Abilene, Texas to take on the McMurry Warhawks (1-4). The game is set to kick off at 12:30 p.m. 

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