JACKSON, Miss. – The 2018 college football season kicked off on Thursday night as the Majors traveled down Riverside Drive to take on Belhaven University in the Riverside Rumble: The Battle for the Sword.

Millsaps took an 18-0 lead to the halftime locker room, and the defense surrendered just one field goal early in the 4^th quarter, as the Majors opened up the season with an 18-3 win over their rival.

Early on, the Millsaps defense forced a Blazer three and out, and after a poor Belhaven punt Millsaps started the drive on the Blazer 29-yard line. On the first play of the drive Fritz Walker III ripped off a 21-yard run to set up 1^st and goal for the Majors. After a four-yard run by Walker and a Belhaven offsides penalty, freshman Quinton Oliver found the end zone from two yards out for his first collegiate touchdown.

A pair of Blazer offsides penalties on the PAT try placed the ball just outside the goal line and gave Millsaps the opportunity to go for the two-point conversion. Walker made good on the rush attempt to make it 8-0 Millsaps.  

Later in the opening quarter the Majors got the ball back after an incredible interception by Christian Roberts. On the ensuing drive Chance Clowers needed just five plays to lead Millsaps 75 yards down the field for the second touchdown of the game. To start the drive Clowers found Austin Russell on back-to-back passes, one for 45 yards and another for 13, to put the Majors in the red zone again. Just a few players later Oliver scored again on a two-yard rush, the PAT try was good off the foot of Hunter Sellen, and Millsaps led 15-0 late in the 1^st quarter.

Early in the second the Majors' defense forced one of the many Blazer three-and-outs, and after a 25-yard punt return by Walker, the offense started with the ball in Belhaven territory at the 46-yard line. Andrew Warren ripped off a 20-yard run to get things going, and freshman Amryn Jeffrey followed it up with a pair of completions to Russell. Unfortunately a holding penalty stalled the drive. On 4^th down Sellen split the uprights for a 30-yard field goal to give Millsaps the 18-0 advantage with 7:44 to play in the half.  

That score would hold throughout the remainder of the second quarter.

In the second half, the Millsaps defense went to work holding on to the 18-0 lead. Belhaven did get a field goal early on in the 4^th, but the Blazers offense only managed 107 total yards the entire half. Late in the final quarter, the Majors forced their last three-and-out, and the offense ran out the remaining 2:01 to secure the 18-3 win, and the Belhaven University sword.

Walker led all rushers with 70 yards on the ground, while Clowers finished 13-25 for 175 yards through the air. Russell hauled in a team-high seven receptions for 89 yards. The Majors outgained the Blazers 291 to 122, and won the turnover battle 2-0 as Roberts and Hooch Jeansonne both had interceptions for Millsaps.

What's Next?
Week 2 is the home opener for Millsaps as the Majors welcome Westminster College to Harper Davis Field. Kickoff is slated for 1:00pm on Saturday, September 8^th.