JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps football team returned to the field after a 14-month hiatus and kicked off its spring season against Hendrix at Harper Davis Field on Saturday. Millsaps (0-1, 0-1 SAA) fell 37-27 to Hendrix (1-0, 1-0 SAA).

Senior Austin Russell had a huge day with a stat line of nine catches, 128 yards receiving, and three touchdowns. Freshman running back Jaidon Horton debuted with 45 yards on the ground to lead the Majors.

Seniors Liam Vincifora and Christian Roberts had stellar performances for the Majors on the defensive side, with both players tallying 10 tackles each. Vincifora, an D3football.com All-American, also had two tackles for loss and one sack.

The Hendrix quarterback-wide receiver duo of Jacob Wood and Blake Hinton was too much for the Majors. Wood had 371 total yards (274 passing, 97 rushing) and three total touchdowns on the day. Hinton hauled in two touchdown catches to go along with 194 yards receiving.

The Majors trailed 14-0 after the Warriors scored a pair of touchdowns late in the opening quarter.

Russell then answered with his first touchdown of the day with a catch up the middle. Hendrix would answer on the ensuing drive with a 30-yard Wood touchdown drive.

The Covington, La., product then made a spectacular one-handed grab to cut the deficit to 21-13 on the Majors' opening drive of the third quarter. Junior quarterback Amryn Jeffrey found the senior in the corner of the end zone before he made the acrobatic play. The point-after attempt was unsuccessful.

After a bobbled snap on fourth down from Hendrix's punter on the ensuing possession, the Majors took control of the football at the Warriors' 12-yard line. However, Hendrix's Dalton Lindelof jumped in front of a Jeffrey attempted pass and picked it off at the goal line before taking it 84 yards the other direction. The Warriors would add a field goal.

Russell then caught an electrifying 52-yard pass for a touchdown sprinting down the sideline to reduce the deficit to 24-20.

However, the Warriors would score the next 13 points to grow their lead to 37-20. Sophomore wide receiver Moïse Tezzo added a score midway in the fourth quarter, which ended up being the final tally of the game.

Millsaps will next host Trinity University on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 12 p.m. The game will double as the home finale and Senior Day at Harper Davis Field. Live video, stats and radio links will be available on gomajors.com.
 
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the football program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.