JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven University football team dropped their final contest of the 2017 regular season on senior day at the Belhaven Bowl Stadium on Saturday afternoon to Sul Ross State University 34-27 in American Southwest Conference play.
Before the game, Belhaven honored all of their seniors with a pre-game ceremony.
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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Sul Ross State 34, Belhaven 27
Records: Belhaven 2-8 (1-8), Sul Ross State 5-5 (4-5)
Location: | Belhaven Bowl Stadium | Jackson, Miss.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Things got off to a rough start for the Blazers after Sul Ross State scored on their first play from scrimmage on a 90-yard touchdown reception to go ahead 7-0.
- The Lobos continued on their offensive attack on their next drive going five plays for 61 yards to take a 14-0 advantage.
- Belhaven would respond late in the first quarter after a 64-yard pass from Hunter McEachern to Jareth Embry to cut the deficit down to 14-6.
- Both defenses held their own for a majority of the second quarter, but Sul Ross State would strike again after a 37-yard touchdown run, which catapulted an 8-play 89-yard drive to put the Lobos ahead 21-6.
- Just before the half, the Blazers collected a 77-yard drive, capping it off with a 15-yard touchdown reception from McEachern to Kyky Austin.
- Sul Ross State led 21-13 at halftime.
- On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, SRSU scored another touchdown with a 60-yard rushing score to push the lead back up to 28-13.
- The Lobos scored again on an 8-yard touchdown pass to increase their advantage out to 34-13 halfway through the third quarter.
- Belhaven would control the pace and tempo for nearly the remainder of the game as they attempted a comeback.
- The connection between McEachern and Embry was alive and well again following another touchdown reception from 8-yards out to make it a 34-20 game.
- Midway through the fourth, the Green and Gold would put together another solid drive of eight plays for 59 yards to make it a 34-27 game, after McEachern found Quan Jones in the back corner of the end zone.
- The Blazers defense played strong in the second half and stalled the Sul Ross state offense, giving Belhaven the ball back with a chance to even the score.
- However, a late interception from the Blazers gave the ball back to Lobos with less than three minutes remaining, and they were successful in running out the clock to preserve the victory.
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KEY STATISTICS
- The Blazers recorded 426 yards of total offense on 68 plays.
- Quarterback Hunter McEachern finished the afternoon 37-51 for 401 yards and four touchdown throws.
- Quan Jones posted 10 receptions with 104 receiving yards and a touchdown. Jones has registered at least 100 yards receiving in four games this year.
- Senior Jareth Embry finished with five catches for 96 yards and a team-high two touchdowns.
- Rydarrian Bowie notched four receptions with a total of 71 receiving yards.
- Defensively, Denarrius Noel and Isaac Nelson recorded six tackles apiece. Noel also added two tackles for losses and a sack in the backfield.
- Seth Gatson tallied an interception with five solo tackles.
- David Lewis registered a team-high seven total tackles.
- Sul Ross State recorded 530 yards of total offense with 294 rushing yards and 236 passing yards.
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UP NEXT
Belhaven ends the regular season with an overall record of 2-8.
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