BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Belhaven University football team snagged its first victory of the 2018 season on the road on Saturday afternoon at Howard Payne 20-19 in American Southwest Conference play.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Belhaven 20, Howard Payne 19

Records: Belhaven: 1-3 (1-2, ASC) | Howard Payne 1-3 (1-3, ASC)

Location:  | Gordon Wood Stadium | Brownwood, Texas

Get Social: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram | @BelhavenBlazers | www.blazers.belhaven.edu

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HOW IT HAPPENED

- David Hudson intercepted a pass on the opening drive and returned it for 32 yards deep in HPU territory to give the Blazers some early momentum.

- A fumble on the ensuing possession would give the ball right back to Howard Payne.

- Howard Payne got on the board first late in the opening quarter after marching down the field on a nine-play 53-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead.

- Belhaven would respond with an seven-play 56-yard drive capped off by a four-yard Noah Nix touchdown run to even the score at 7-7 midway through the second quarter.

- The Blazer defense did not allow a single first down in the second quarter, and gave up only five first downs the entire half.

- In the second half, Belhaven took the lead on a long 12-play 65-yard drive which chewed up nearly seven minutes of clock.

- Fabien Williams' 22-yard touchdown reception from Hunter McEachern gave the Blazers a 14-13 advantage with 6:15 left in the quarter.

- HPU would score on a 30-yard touchdown pass with under two minutes left in the quarter, but Maurice Stewart would block the PAT to keep BU ahead 14-13 heading into the fourth.

- With under 10 minutes left in the game, the Yellow Jackets would reclaim the lead after blocking a punt and returning it 40 yards for a touchdown to take a 19-14 lead.

- However, the Blazer defense made another big stop on the two-point conversion.

- Belhaven would get the ball back at their own 10-yard line with four minutes remaining.

- A clutch 11-play, 90-yard drive would put BU back up on top 20-19.

-The drive concluded as  Hunter McEachern tossed a perfect pass to Joey Walden for a 39-yard touchdown score with just 20 seconds remaining.

- The deal was sealed moments later as Seth Gatson picked off a pass at midfield to preserve the victory.

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KEY STATISTICS

- Hunter McEachern completed 12-24 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

- Noah Nix led the Blazers' rushing attack with 79 yards and a touchdown.

- The Blazers in total rushed for 108 yards on the ground.

- Fabien Williams led the receiving core with four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

- Joey Walden caught three passes for 55 yards, which also included the game-winning 39-yard touchdown reception.

- Defensively, David Lewis led Belhaven with 10 total tackles.

- Seth Gatson registered seven tackles and also posted an interception.

- David Hudson collected three tackles and a 32-yard interception return.

- Colton Strain added three tackles for loss and a sack.

- Belhaven posted 304 yards of total offense and held HPU to just 179 on the day.

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UP NEXT

Belhaven will return to the Belhaven Bowl Stadium for a matchup at home with ASC opponent McMurry on Saturday Oct. 6 at noon.

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