WAXAHACHIE, Texas – The Millsaps football team (0-2) was defeated by the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (2-1) by a score of 38-21. The Majors were unable to overcome a 21-0 deficit after the first quarter at Lumpkins Stadium on Saturday.

Sophomore quarterback Kaleb Thompson finished with 268 total yards and three passing touchdowns. He also added 24 on the ground.

Connor Ladner (34 receiving yards), Moïse Tezzo (85 yards) and Austin Russell (75 yards) were all on the receiving end of touchdowns for Millsaps.

Freshman running back Byron Phillips had a solid day on the ground averaging 4.2 rushing yards per attempt following six carries.

Freshman defensive back Jett Coolman intercepted his second pass in consecutive games. Sophomore defensive lineman William Zachary Clark led the Majors defensively with eight total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Senior defensive back Ryan Taix tallied four tackles, one tackle for los, and one pass breakup while freshman defensive back Jacoby Howard led the Majors with two pass breakups.

After SAGU jumped out to 21-0 lead in the first quarter, the Majors found life in the second. Millsaps would force their first three-and-out of the game to open the second quarter.

In the following possession, the Lions would jump offsides on fourth down to help the Majors move the chains. A few plays later Millsaps would cut into the lead when Thompson would find Ladner in the back-left corner of the endzone for his first career catch and a toe-dragging touchdown.

The Majors' defense provided another stop and the offense took over at their own 27-yard line, down 21-7. Seemingly in rhythm, Millsaps drove the ball all the way to SAGU's 15-yard line. On a crucial fourth-and-one, the Lions' defense stood tall on a quarterback sneak by Thompson.

With momentum back on their side, the Lions marched down the field until Coolman picked off his second ball in as many games to begin his freshman campaign. However, SAGU would get another stop defensively and use their run game to get into the endzone to take a 28-7 lead into halftime.

The Majors came out the second half inspired to make a comeback. After receiving the ball first in the second half, Thompson would find Tezzo streaking down the middle of the field for a 36-yard touchdown.

Up two scores, SAGU would use up more than seven minutes of game clock and kicked a 51-yard field goal to take a 31-14 lead with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter.

With the offense rolling, Thompson would find his number one target Russell in the endzone on a contested catch to cut the lead to 31-21 early into the fourth quarter.

Millsaps would then force a three-and-out. With an opportunity to cut the deficit to a single score, the Majors found themselves trying to convert on another fourth-and-one, this time at midfield. Millsaps would draw SAGU offsides on a hard count and continue the drive with 8:30 remaining.

After a couple of long catches from Tezzo and Russell, the Majors would be in field goal range. A sack by SAGU on third down would force the Majors into a 41-yard field goal attempt that would sail wide left.

The Lions would then use a three-minute drive capped off by a 63-yard run to put the game out of reach at 38-21.

Millsaps will host Olivet College in their first home game of the season at Harper Davis Field on Saturday, Sept. 25, beginning at 12 p.m. CT. Football season tickets, which includes all five scheduled home games, may be purchased here.


To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps football program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.