Belhaven University Athletics

JACKSON, Miss. - A game that opened with touchdowns on back-to-back kickoffs ended with a game-saving interception nine seconds from the finish.

Belhaven erased a 13-point second-half deficit and scored the final 14 points of the night to defeat East Texas Baptist, 45-44, in a wild home opener Saturday at Belhaven Bowl Stadium.

The win moved the Blazers to 1-1 on the season.

ETBU needed only 13 seconds to open the scoring, with Paul Woodard returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Javon Slaton answered on the ensuing kickoff, racing it back for a score just 18 seconds later.

That set the tone for a first quarter that featured six touchdowns and 42 combined points.

ETBU moved back in front with a 15-yard touchdown pass from former Blazer Jack Crawford to Eric Stovall, but Belhaven responded with a five-play, 76-yard drive. Julien Tabor broke through the right side and sprinted 62 yards to tie the game at 14.

After the Belhaven defense forced a punt, Ian Burleson found Will Jones over the middle for an 82-yard touchdown that gave the Blazers their first lead. It lasted only 20 seconds, as Woodard answered with a 73-yard touchdown run to make it 21-21.

Belhaven's defense created the first turnover late in the quarter. Bralen Steele sacked Crawford and forced a fumble before Jimmy Byrd recovered at the ETBU 39. Lyndell Boatman finished the short drive with a 41-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter, putting the Blazers ahead 24-21.

The lead changed hands twice more before halftime. Woodard scored from 39 yards out, but Belhaven answered with an eight-play, 85-yard march. A 42-yard completion from Burleson to Cannon Carruth moved the Blazers across midfield, and Cayson Williams finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run for a 31-28 advantage.

ETBU reclaimed the lead on a seven-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Kennedy with 3:32 remaining in the half. Xander Roberts blocked the extra point, keeping the Tigers' lead at 34-31 - a single point that would ultimately decide the game.

Belhaven nearly scored again before the break, moving 73 yards in 17 plays and reaching the ETBU 2. The Tigers recovered a fumble at the goal line as time expired to preserve their three-point halftime lead.

ETBU stretched its advantage to 37-31 with a third-quarter field goal. A 65-yard interception return then gave the Tigers the ball at the Belhaven 1, and Woodard scored on the next play to make it 44-31 with 5:32 remaining in the quarter.

The Blazers did not blink.

Tabor accounted for 48 yards on Belhaven's next possession, including a 33-yard reception that moved the ball deep into ETBU territory. He capped the eight-play, 66-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 44-38 with 53 seconds left in the third.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Belhaven defense.

ETBU did not score over the final 15 minutes, and the Blazers came up with the game's turning point midway through the period. Facing fourth down near midfield, the Tigers attempted a fake punt, but Belhaven blew up the play behind the line of scrimmage. Terrell Sutton recovered the ensuing fumble at the ETBU 44.

Burleson connected with Carruth for 18 yards on the first snap of the drive. Six plays later, facing third-and-12, Burleson found Dwayne Winfield in the end zone for the tying touchdown. Boatman calmly added the extra point to give Belhaven a 45-44 lead with 5:55 to play.

The Blazers forced a punt on ETBU's next possession, with Tre Chaffier recording a sack and Roberts dropping Woodard for a loss on third down.

ETBU got one final chance with 1:42 remaining and drove from its own 22 to the Belhaven 28. The Tigers converted a fourth-and-eight to keep the game alive, but Alex Desarzant stepped in front of Crawford's next pass and secured the interception at the Belhaven 6 with nine seconds on the clock.

One kneel-down later, the comeback was complete.

Belhaven finished with 485 yards of total offense, including 244 through the air and 241 on the ground. The Blazers collected 24 first downs, converted 11-of-17 third downs and held the ball for more than 32 minutes.

Burleson went 15-of-27 for 244 yards and a touchdown. Tabor carried 24 times for 119 yards and two scores while adding 36 receiving yards. Martavious Stevens provided 62 rushing yards on four attempts, highlighted by a 49-yard run.

Jones led the receiving corps with 93 yards and a touchdown on two catches. Carruth added 68 yards on three receptions, while Draten Norwood caught a team-high four passes.

Slaton totaled 209 yards on seven kickoff returns to go with his first-quarter touchdown. Boatman was perfect on the night, making a 41-yard field goal and all six of his extra-point attempts.

Defensively, Belhaven recorded 13 tackles for loss, five sacks and three takeaways. Byrd led the way with 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. Chaffier added six tackles and a sack, while Quincy Jackson finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and three quarterback hurries.

Steele had a sack, a forced fumble and three pass breakups. Roberts added two pass breakups, a tackle for loss and the blocked extra point that proved to be the difference.

Belhaven remains at home next Saturday, Sept. 19, to face Central College. Kickoff at Belhaven Bowl Stadium is set for 11:00 a.m.

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