LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Millsaps football team triumphed in its spring finale against Rhodes in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Championship Crossover, 27-13 at War Memorial Stadium on Sunday.

Millsaps (1-3, 1-3 SAA) broke out offensively with 433 yards (257 passing, 176 rushing) despite torrential rainfall in the second half.

Senior wide receiver Austin Russell led both teams with eight receptions for 99 yards. Rookie running back Jaidon Horton continued his upward trajectory with 72 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Amryn Jeffrey ended the spring 12-of-19 passing for 176 yards with one touchdown pass and interception.

Defensively the Majors held Rhodes (0-4, 0-4 SAA) to 107 yards rushing and two scoring drives on the day. Millsaps was spearheaded by a quartet of punishing defenders. Mickale Massey (11 tackles, one TFL), Christian Roberts (10 tackles), Drew Hopkins (eight tackles) and Dylan Higgins (eight tackles, two TFLs, 1 sack) provided a combined stout effort.

The defensive prowess got the Majors on the board first as Ryan Taix picked off a Luke Macias pass and returned it 51 yards for the score less than five minutes into the game.

Rhodes would be stopped yet again on its next possession before Hunter Sellen would add a 26-yard field goal to build Millsaps' lead to 10-0 with 1:12 to play in the first. Sellen earlier in the week was named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week.  

The Lynx would answer with a 13-play, 60-yard drive in the opening minutes of the second quarter. The extra point was blocked by Roberts.

After a pair of back-to-back punts, Millsaps would string together its own 13-play drive, covering 63 yards capped off by a one-yard touchdown scamper by Horton. The Majors would enter the halftime break up 17-6.

Rain would begin to drench the field in the final two quarters, but it didn't slow the Majors. With 1:14 remaining in the third, Horton would push through for 20 yards to open the drive. Jeffrey would then find Moïse Tezzo two plays later for 44 of his 83 receiving yards on a crossing route that sprang Tezzo up the middle for a score.  

The Lynx would not go quietly as they would respond with a touchdown on their next possession to cut the Millsaps advantage down to 24-13.

Following a pair of back-to-back punts, the Majors would take 6:42 off the clock and add a 19-yard Sellen field goal to ice the game with 55 seconds remaining for the final tally of 27-13.

Teams of equal rankings in the standings faced off in four games combined over the weekend in the SAA Championship Crossover. Berry took home the conference crown.


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