Belhaven University Athletics

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Belhaven needed 90 yards. Matthew Dial delivered them in six throws.

The freshman quarterback completed every pass on the Blazers' winning drive Saturday, finding Cannon Carruth for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:14 remaining to lift Belhaven past Methodist, 20-15, at Monarch Stadium.

Jimmy Byrd and Tre Chaffier combined for a sack on the Monarchs' final possession, and Belhaven forced an incompletion on fourth down to finish the game. The Blazers improved to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the USA South, while Methodist dropped to 1-7 and 0-5. Belhaven has won all four meetings between the programs.

Dial finished 29-of-40 for 355 yards and two touchdowns. Wyatt Locastro caught nine passes for 94 yards, Carruth added eight receptions for 80 yards and the winning score, and John Davis had five catches for 74 yards.

Belhaven's defense recorded seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss, held Methodist to 97 passing yards and allowed just one conversion in 13 third down attempts.

How It Happened

Points were hard to come by early. Belhaven had two touchdown passes erased by holding penalties, while its defense and special teams kept Methodist off the scoreboard.

Byrd and Brayden Bullock stopped Kyan McCollum for a loss on fourth-and-one late in the opening quarter. In the second, John Ross Craven blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt to end an 11-play Methodist possession.

The Monarchs broke through following an interception, taking a 6-0 lead on Asa Windham's 25-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Atkinson with 2:32 left in the half. Jayden Evans blocked the extra point.

Belhaven answered before the break. Facing fourth-and-one at his own 39, Dial found Locastro for 14 yards, and a Methodist personal foul moved the ball to the Monarchs' 32. Consecutive completions to Carruth covered 22 and nine yards, setting up Clayton Mains' one-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds remaining. Lyndell Boatman's extra point put the Blazers ahead, 7-6, after the eight play, 70-yard drive.

The Blazers extended their lead with their longest possession of the afternoon in the third quarter. Starting at its own 5, Belhaven kept the drive alive when Kaleb Browning gained eight yards on fourth-and-one. Later, Dial connected with Dwayne Winfield for 51 yards on third-and-15, moving the ball to the Methodist 32 yard-line. A six-yard completion to Johnathan Lampkin converted another third down before Dial found Draten Norwood for a 20-yard touchdown. The 11-play, 95-yard drive gave Belhaven a 14-6 advantage with 6:50 left in the quarter.

Methodist responded with a 75 yard touchdown drive, capped by Windham's one-yard pass to Colin Fay on fourth-and-goal. The two-point attempt failed, leaving Belhaven in front, 14-12.

A muffed punt gave the Monarchs possession at the Belhaven 13 yard-line early in the fourth quarter, but the defense limited the damage. Byrd opened the series with a seven-yard sack, and London Bullin later dropped Ian Hicks for a two yard loss on third-and-goal. Methodist settled for Ethan Emery's 21-yard field goal and a 15-14 lead with 10:23 remaining.

Belhaven's next two possessions ended in a punt and a lost fumble. The defense answered both times, forcing Methodist to punt and giving Dial one more opportunity with 2:52 left.

He opened the eventual-winning drive with an 18 yard completion to Locastro, then hit Davis for 43 yards to the Methodist 29 yardline. Completions to Browning and Carruth brought up 3rd and 2, and Locastro's seven-yard reception moved the chains once again.

On the next snap, Dial found Carruth for the go-ahead touchdown. The Blazers covered 90 yards in 1:38 without an incompletion.

Methodist took over at its own 29 with 1:09 remaining. After Windham gained nine yards, Byrd and Chaffier brought him down for a seven-yard loss. A short scramble left the Monarchs facing fourth-and-four, and Windham's deep pass fell incomplete with 29 seconds left. Belhaven took a knee to seal the victory.

Byrd led Belhaven with nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Chaffier contributed three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while Quincy Jackson added 1.5 sacks. Jaivyn Carter finished with seven tackles and a sack, Bullock had seven tackles, and Alex Desarzant made eight stops.

Kyle Norris averaged 46.7 yards on six punts, with a long of 59 yards and five punts inside the 20. He twice pinned Methodist inside its own 5.

Belhaven outgained Methodist 388-328 despite being held to 32 rushing yards. The Blazers converted both fourth-down attempts and scored touchdowns on all three trips inside the red zone, overcoming three turnovers and 14 penalties for 111 yards.

McCollum led Methodist with 167 rushing yards on 19 carries. Windham completed eight of 24 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns, with Tanner Zill catching five passes for 61 yards.

Up Next

Belhaven returns to Belhaven Bowl Stadium to host LaGrange on Saturday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

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