CLINTON, MS — CLINTON, MS - The Mississippi College
football team won their second game in as many weeks over a
cross-town rival with a 21-14 score over Belhaven on Saturday night
at Robinson-Hale Stadium. The Choctaws (2-0) sealed the victory
over the Blazers (2-1) with sack from junior defensive lineman Brad
Holt on fourth and 10 from the MC 11-yard line with just 2:06
remaining in the game.
With just 3:51 remaining in the game, Belhaven looked as though
they would tie it up after a fumble and a personal foul set them up
at the MC 12-yard line. After three straight incomplete passes,
Holt sacked Williams to clinch MC's second win of the season.
The Choctaw defense was stingy on the ground, only allowing 54
yards rushing to the Blazers. Overall, MC outgained the Blazers,
406-286.
MC opened the scoring in the first quarter with 7:37 remaining
when quarterback Tommy Reyer hit tight end Demetrius Randolph with
a 19-yard touchdown pass. Reyer completed 18 of 26 passes for 241
yards and two touchdowns.
The Choctaws would take a 14-0 lead with 1:33 left in the first
quarter on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Reyer to Kenderick
Johnson. Johnson led MC with four catches for 52 yards.
Belhaven got on the board in the second quarter when Barry Johnson
cashed in on a one-yard run after an MC turnover. The Choctaws
fumbled the ball five times on the night, losing four of them. The
two teams would go into the halftime break with the 14-7 score.
Reyer opened the second half scoring with a seven-yard touchdown
run to give MC a 21-7 lead. Reyer rushed for 33 yards and the one
score. Senior Austin Divinity recorded his first 100-yard game as a
Choctaw, going for 102 yards on 16 carries.
Belhaven would close the gap back to seven with 3:14 remaining in
the third quarter on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Alex Williams to
Cordario Calvin on a flea-flicker. Williams completed 20 of 36
passes for 232 yards and one touchdown.
Both teams would trade punches in the fourth quarter, culminating
with the final fourth quarter drive by Belhaven that was snuffed
out by Holt and the Choctaws.
MC was led defensively by Jeremy Bertrand, who recorded seven
tackles and two tackles for loss. MC recorded seven tackles for
loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery, and an interception by Luke
Petitto, which accounted for his second pick of the season.
Belhaven was led on defense by Michael Johnsa, who tallied 15
tackles. Ricky Wadlington also recorded double-digit tackles with
11.
The Choctaws will move into conference play next Saturday when
they travel to Abilene to face nationally-ranked Hardin-Simmons at
2:00 p.m.