MARSHALL, Texas - The Belhaven University Football team took to the road on Saturday, February 13, to face off against the East Texas Baptist University Tigers. The Blazers fell to the Tigers by a final of 44-16 in their first road game of the 2020-21 season.

The Blazers opened the scoring for the game as the defense forced a fumble on the Tigers opening drive that rolled through the back of the end zone resulting in a safety and a 2-0 lead with 12:15 remaining in the first quarter. The Blazers would hold onto that lead throughout the remainder of the quarter as the Blazers defense held the Tigers forced and recovered a fumble on the Tigers second drive of the game and then forced a three and out on the Tigers third drive.

The Tigers defense would get their scoring going as KJ Kelley picked off Blazers senior quarterback Mayowa Asagunla and returned the ball 94 yards for a touchdown. The successful PAT gave the Tigers a 7-2 lead with 14:45 left in the first half. However, the Blazers would respond as they regained the lead on their ensuing drive as Asagunla connected with sophomore running back Kolbe Blunt on a 57-yard catch and run for a touchdown. A successful PAT by sophomore kicker Daniel Croskey gave the Blazers a 9-7 lead with around 13 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The Tigers responded by regaining the lead on their next drive as Aaron Brown connected with Cris Williams for a seven-yard touchdown pass completion capping off a six play, 71-yard drive and the successful PAT gave the Tigers a 14-9 lead with around ten minutes left in the first half. The Tigers took that lead into the locker rooms at halftime.

The Tigers received the second half kickoff to start the third quarter and scored their third touchdown of the game as Cornelius Merchant punched the ball in from six yards out to cap off the seven play, 60-yard drive. Another successful PAT increased the Tigers lead to 21-9 with 13:12 left in the quarter. The Blazers offense stalled on their opening drive of the half, but once again the Blazers defense put more points on the board on the next Tigers drive as they forced the third Tigers fumble of the game and senior linebacker Isaiah Blackmon recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. The PAT by Croskey cut the Tigers lead to 21-16 with 11:51 remaining in the third quarter. 

The Tigers then scored 23 unanswered points against the Blazers as Aaron Brown had a one-yard touchdown run to cap off a 14 play, 66-yard drive and KJ Kelly nabbed his second pick six of the game as he intercepted Asagunla and returned the ball 52 yards on back-to-back drives. Both scores had successful PAT attempts increasing the Tigers lead to 35-16 at the end of the third quarter. The final nine points for the Tigers came from a ten-yard field goal and a forced fumble from the Blazers that was recovered in the end zone. The Blazers blocked the PAT after the fumble recovery touchdown giving the final of 44-16.

Offensively the Blazers had Asagunla complete 11 of 23 pass attempts for 105 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions paired with 14 rushes for 60 yards. Senior running back Brad Foley was the leading rusher with 91 yards on 20 attempts. Blunt was the leading receiver for the Blazers having two receptions for 58 yards with one touchdown, while sophomore tight end Brooks Brymer had three receptions for 50 yards. Sophomore defensive back TJ Hersey led the Blazers defense with 11 total tackles (six solo, five assisted) while junior linebacker Connor Fordham and senior defensive lineman Colton Strain had seven and six tackles respectively.

The Blazers fall to 0-2 overall and 0-2 in American Southwest Conference play and will return to action with a road contest against the Southwestern University Pirates on Saturday, February 20. The action is set to kickoff at 1 p.m.

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