JACKSON, Miss. - The Blazers football team lost on Saturday dropping a conference match-up against Southwestern University by a final score of 31-21 at Belhaven Bowl Stadium. 

The Blazers would take the lead early in the game when Brad Foley broke off a 19-yard touchdown run with 8:38 remaining in the first quarter. The Pirates answered back though with 3:16 to go in the quarter when Elijah Smith capped off a quick 3-play, 50-yard drive with a rushing touchdown from five yards out. The score would stay 7-7 entering half time. 

The Pirates would receive the opening kickoff of the second half and put together a 10-play, 56-yard drive that would end with a 30-yard field goal by Wil Herbst. The ground attack would be dominant in the second half for Southwestern and the Pirates would take a 17-7 lead with 7:34 to go in the third quarter off a 1-yard touchdown run by Nicholas Smith. 

Southwestern would add to their lead in the fourth quarter when Devin Shaw punched it in from 3-yard line giving the Pirates a 24-7 lead with 12:47 left in the game. The Pirates would add their final score of the game when Nicholas Smith hit David Brandenburg for a 26-yard score. Trailing 31-7, the Blazers would try to mount a late comeback and scored with 2:26 left after a 3-yard run by Brad Foley. The Blazers would tally the final score of the game when Hunter McEachern would find LaMarcus Caradine for a 65-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds remaining in the game. 

Offensively, the Blazers were led by Hunter McEachern who went 20-32 for 249 yards and a passing touchdown. LaMarcus Caradine would lead Belhaven with 125 yards receiving and a score on six catches. McEachern would lead the Blazers on the ground with 68 yards rushing. Brad Foley would finish with 36 yards on 10 carries and a pair of touchdowns. 

David Lewis led the Belhaven defense with nine total tackles on the day including one tackle for loss. Colton Strain also had nine tackles on the day four of which were tackles for loss. Carlton Brown had the Blazers lone sack on the day. Belhaven would force one turnover, a fumble recovery in the first half. 

On the day the Pirates would run 75 plays for 452 yards, 277 on the ground and 175 through the air. Belhaven would finish with 402 total yards on 60 plays. Of those 402 yards, 139 yards were gained on the ground with Belhaven throwing for 263 yards. 

Belhaven will return to action next Saturday, October 19th, when they travel to Abilene, Texas to take on Hardin-Simmons University. Kickoff between the Blazers and Cowboys is set for 1 PM. 

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