BOX SCORE
JACKSON – After falling behind 28-16 at halftime, the Millsaps Majors Football Team came out firing on all cylinders as they mounted a second half comeback highlighted by 28 consecutive points en route to a 44-36 win over the Rhodes Lynx. The win moved the Majors overall record to 4-3 and keeps them in striking distance in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference standings at 3-1.
Millsaps won the toss and took the opening kickoff to start the game. Freshman Alex Jackson took a short squib kick and took it 36 yards to the Rhodes 40. Junior Garrett Pinciotti got the start and found freshman Trevor King across the middle who made many tacklers miss as he went all the way to the Lynx 1. Sophomore Thomas Theriot finished the 4-play, 40-yard drive off with a one yard score to put the Majors up 7-0.
Rhodes (2-3, 0-2 SCAC) responded with an 11-play, 79-yard drive which including conversions on three third downs. Dane Wilson finished the drive with a 17 yard scamper to tie the game.
After a Millsaps fumble, Rhodes put another long drive together that went 10-plays, 64-yard drive that ended with quarterback Brett Stoots finidng Buddy Leggens in the endzone for the 14-7 lead.
The Majors responded back thanks to strong running from Theriot to put them in striking distance in Lynx territory. Pinciotti reared back and found one of his favorite targets in junior Jason O'Rear for a 25-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Rhodes as they held on to a 14-13 lead.
Again, the Lynx offense continued to move well thanks to Stoots as he took them 68-yards down the field in 14 plays. He capped it off with his second touchdown pass, this time to Jake Jackson to extend the lead to 21-13.
The Majors responded with a 23-yard field goal from freshman Beau Brady, but the Rhodes offense marched down the field yet again. Stoots went out of the game with an injury, calling upon backup quarterback Tyler Perkins. Perkins came in and threw another touchdown pass for Rhodes to Jack Lartigue to put the Lynx up 28-16 going into half.
Rhodes received the second half kickoff to try and extend their lead, but the Millsaps defense held strong to force the first punt of the game. From there, Millsaps went 11-plays, 73-yards on their way to a score. It was highlighted by a roughing the kicker penalty against Rhodes as they ran into junior punter Stephen Gates.
After a huge completion from Pinciotti to sophomore fullback Jett Williams for 23 yards, Pinciotti found O'Rear again from 12 yards out to cut the deficit to five. The touchdown reception by O'Rear tied him for the All-Time Record in touchdown reception in Millsaps History.
On the ensuing Rhodes series, Millsaps forced a three and out thanks to a sack on third down by freshman Nick Ehrhardt. On fourth down, sophomore Mario Warren darted through and blocked the punt. Junior Russell Pellichino picked up the loose ball and cruised 30 yards for the touchdown to give the Majors a 30-28 lead.
Rhodes received the ball back and on the first play of their new drive, senior defensive back Brent Jerrell intercepted a Perkins pass and took it to the house from 30 yards out and in a blink of an eye, it was 37-28, Majors.
Both teams stalled offensively before Rhodes had possession late in the third quarter and going into the fourth quarter. Rhodes was looking to cut into Millsaps lead before a tipped pass found the hands of junior cornerback Greg Blasiar who went 65 yards to the endzone to extend the lead to 44-28.
Rhodes responded with a seven play, 58-yard drive resulting in a 15 yard rushing touchdown for Chris Rose. Perkins connected with Lartigue on the two point conversion to make it an eight point game.
Both defenses held the offenses on the next two series and the Millsaps offense went to work. The Majors used an eight play drive to eat up 4:03 of clock, but Brady could not convert on a 41-yard field goal.
Rhodes went to work as they looked to tie and completed two fourth down conversions in the process to get into Millsaps territory. A unsportsmanlike penalty, followed by a huge sack from freshman Jeff Milner sent Rhodes all the way back to their own 31 as they faced 3rd and 36. The Millsaps defense held thanks to relentless pressure from its front four and took the win, 44-36.
Pinciotti was sharp as he went 18-for-34 with 282 passing yards and two touchdowns along with an interception. Theriot added 94 yards rushing on 19 carries while O'Rear picked up his third consecutive 100-yard game as he had seven catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Stoots threw for 228 yards and two touchdown before leaving with an injury while Perkins added 95 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Lartigue and Legens each had over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Defensively, junior linebacker Jeb White and senior safety Jordan Nolan each led the team with 10 tackles. Blasiar added nine tackles, a tackle for loss, and the interception return for a touchdown. The freshman trio of Ehrhardt, Milner, and Leland Elchos each had a sack. The Major defense held Rhodes to 113 yards of total offense in the second half. Tom Zigtema led the Lynx with 10 tackles.
Millsaps will enjoy a bye week next weekend before returning to action on October 29th for Homecoming as they will take on the Centre Colonels. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Harper Davis Field.
