JACKSON — The Belhaven Football team opened the 2025 season in dominant fashion, powering past cross-town rival Millsaps 50-24 at Belhaven Bowl Stadium on Thursday night in the latest edition of the Riverside Rumble.
Millsaps struck first on its opening possession with a 66-yard touchdown run just 1:32 into the game. Belhaven responded in the following sequence with a 15-play, 72 yard drive capped off by a Caleb Gallashaw one-yard score.
The Blazers continued to put pressure on the Majors defense with consecutive rushing scores. Julien Tabor scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his Belhaven career, followed by another one-yard rushing touchdown by Gallashaw.
Millsaps fought back, scoring 10 points in the final 2:55 of the first half, cutting the Belhaven lead down to 21-17 at the half. Belhaven found its rhythm in the second half when Brock Morris connected with RJ Garrison for a 59-yard touchdown pass on the second drive of the third quarter.
The Blazers scored two more times with TJ Hatch breaking loose on a 15-yard reverse before Martavious Stevens powered across the goalline from 4 yards out to cap off a 21-0 run before the teams traded late scores late in the fourth quarter, securing the 26-point victory.
Morris finished the game 16-for-25 for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Garrison led all players with 155 receiving yards on just five receptions along with a touchdown. Gallashaw had 21 carries for 87 yards, two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown.
Defensively, Wyatt Beck led the team with eight tackles. Tyler Miller and Tre Chaffier each had six tackles and combined for five tackles for loss.
Belhaven (1-0) heads to Texas next weekend for a matchup against Trinity (TX) next Saturday, September 13th, with kickoff set for 6:00 PM. The Tigers enter the game following a 26-14 win over Texas Lutheran and are receiving votes in the D3football.com Top 25 poll.
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