JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven football team started off the 2022 campaign in impressive fashion, dominating crosstown rival Millsaps by a score of 49-21. With the 28-point win, the Blazers have now won two straight over the Majors by that margin.

After a couple of drives stalled in the early going, running back Kolbe Blunt kicked off the scoring with a 74-yard touchdown run to put Belhaven on the board. Millsaps responded with a four-play, 65-yard touchdown drive to cut the Belhaven lead to 7-6.

From that point on, it was all Green and Gold. Quarterback Tim Johnson found receiver Ras Pace for a 25-yard score to extend the lead. Late in the first quarter, Johnson connected with a wide-open Zach Hammett in the endzone to put the Blazers up 21-6. After a Phazion Locke interception, Johnson threw his third touchdown pass of the half, a 50-yard dart to receiver Cooper Tullo to give Belhaven a 28-6 lead at the break.

The second half saw much of the same from Johnson and the Blazers' offense. Sophomore receiver Jacobey James-Grace hauled in Johnson's fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 10-yard strike to cap off 28 unanswered points from the Blazers.

The Majors reached the endzone on a Moise Tezzo 21-yard touchdown reception with 3:57 to play in the third quarter. Belhaven went back to work offensively as running back Devin Daniels punched it in from five yards out. After a fourth-down stop from the Blazers' defense, running back D'Ante Gallashaw raced past the Majors' defense for a 60-yard score midway through the final frame.

Millsaps tacked on a late score and two-point conversion to finish off the scoring, but it wasn't nearly enough as the visiting Blazers wrapped up a 49-21 season-opening victory. 

The Blazers used a balanced offensive attack in the win, racking up 281 yards on the ground and 241 through the air. Johnson went 14-23 for 221 yards and four scores to lead the way. Running backs Kolbe Blunt and D'Ante Gallashaw both eclipsed the century-yard mark on the night, going for 137 and 106 respectively. 

Belhaven's defensive unit was stout all game long. The Blazers allowed just 37 yards on the ground and finished the game with 12 tackles for loss. Linebacker Jay'Den Jones led the team in tackles with seven with Connor Fordham finishing with six. Senior defensive back Phazion Locke snagged the first interception of the year for the Blazers' defense. 

The Blazers open up the home slate next Saturday night against Southwestern University. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm at the Belhaven Bowl Stadium.

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