JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven football team opened up their 2021 season with a stunning 56-28 win in this year's edition of the Riverside Rumble. The Blazers cruised past Millsaps with the most point production under Head Coach Blaine McCorkle.

The Blazers wasted no time getting the scoring under way with QB Mayowa Asagunla hitting Michael Simpson Jr. for a 51-yard touchdown on Belhaven's first offensive play of the game. Leading 7-0, the Blazers doubled their lead quickly after the Blazers defense got into the pocket and forced a fumble recovered in the endzone for another score.

Millsaps answered later in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown run up the middle by Jaidon Horton to cut the Belhaven lead in half. The Blazers would get the score back quickly when Asagunla found Brooks Brymer in the endzone after a play-action fake extending the lead to 21-7 Belhaven. 

Brad Foley, the Blazers new all-time leading rusher, added a touchdown run early in the second quarter from less than five yards out as Belhaven continued to flex their offensive muscle. Shortly after Mayowa Asagunla would hit Nygil Owens for a 17-yard touchdown pass which included a sliding grab in the end zone by the Tupelo-native.

Leading 35-7, Belhaven added a final score before the end of the first half using a little trickery to manufacture the score. Running back Brad Foley lofted a pass to Mayowa Asagunla to take the Blazers into the break with a 42-7 advantage.

At the start of the second half the Blazers picked up right where they left off marching down the field and capping off their drive with a touchdown run by Kolbe Blunt. The Majors would strike back bringing the score to 49-14 Belhaven. The Blazers final score of the game would come via fullback Bogan Brewer who punched it in for a score from a couple of yards out putting Belhaven up 56-14 in the third quarter. 

In the fourth, the visitors would take on a pair of touchdowns but it was not enough with the Blazers securing their first win of the 2021 season. 

The Blazers offense was humming from the start of the game and went on to put up 437 total yards. Belhaven had nine different ball carriers in the game and totalled 229 rushing yards and three rushing TDs. Kolbe Blunt led the way with 91 yards on seven carries and a score. Asagunla ran for 66 yards in the game including the longest rush of the matchup, a 42-yard gain. Rounding out the leading rushing trio for the Blazers was Brad Foley who added 33 yards on the ground and a touchdown of his own. In the air, Belhaven totalled 208 yards with three different passers logging a completion. Asagunla finished 12-17 with 169 yards through the air and three passing touchdowns. 

On the defensive side of the ball the Blazers were locked in. The Belhaven defense forced three turnovers which contributed to 14 points, including a forced fumble in the endzone that Belhaven fell on top of for a defensive score. They limited the Majors to just over 300 yards of total offense and a pass completion percentage under 52%. Emmanuel Stanley racked up seven total tackles for the Blazers with Connor Fordham recording five total tackles in the game. TJ Hersey led the secondary with a pair of pass breakups while Connor Fordham was credited with an interception.

The Blazers return to action next weekend playing host to Southwestern University in their first ASC match up of the year. Kick off on Saturday, Sept. 11th is set for 7 PM inside Belhaven Bowl Stadium. 

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