JACKSON, Miss. – It was a terrific Southern Athletic Association battle, but Centre College prevailed over Millsaps College, 24-20 Harper Davis Field on Saturday. The Majors scored the final 20 points of the matchup, but fell just short in the comeback.

Millsaps freshman quarterback Cole Canatella passed for 94 yards and one touchdown, while adding 16 yards and a rushing score on the ground.

Senior wideout Connor Ladner hauled in the receiving score for 34 yards. Freshman running back Chase Jacobs added a rushing touchdown and 28 yards with his feet. Other offensive standouts in the defensive battle included freshman Jaylen Mathis (seven rushes for 25 yards) and classmate Kaiden Reese (two receptions for 24 yards).

Freshman Davis Dare added 20 receiving yards and 41 total yards on three returns. Also excelling in special teams were senior Ethan Klapatch (eight punts, 322 yards) and freshman Connor Babin (four kickoffs, 214 yards).

Defensively, junior Nehemiah Coalson led the Majors with 10 tackles, including six solo tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. Fellow classmate Braylon Wills finished next with seven tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.

Senior Darren Labit (pass breakup), freshman Micah McKay and sophomore Jamison Rankins all totaled six tackles each. Additionally, sophomore Tre Jones tallied five tackles and added an interception, while classmate Luke Bridges (1.0 TFL) broke up a pass and registered five solo stops. Labit was honored at halftime with the Juan Joseph Memorial Award and is wearing number 11 this season in Joseph's memory.

The game would open in a stalemate as it would take Centre (4-1, 2-0 SAA) their third drive to start the scoring, courtesy of a two-yard rush. The Colonels would cash in on a short 45-yard drive after the Majors punted from deep in their territory.

Defense would continue to be the dominant side of the ball as Centre would eventually score again and make it 14-0 with 1:17 remaining in the half. The visitors converted a seven-yard passing play after a seven-play, 72-yard drive.

Centre stopped the Majors and quickly got the ball back in their possession with 35 seconds before intermission. The Colonels with great field territory at the Millsaps 48-yard line marched down to the 29-yard line. Cam Tegge connected on a 46-yard field goal as time expired, giving Centre a 17-0 advantage at the half.

The Colonels utilized a seven-play, 79-yard drive to extend their margin to 24-0 following their opening drive of the third quarter.

Jones then sparked the Majors with an interception at midfield off a Colonels' helmet. The Birmingham, Ala., native returned the pass 35 yards down to the Centre 20-yard line.

It only took one play for Canatella to rush 20 yards down to the left end zone and put the Majors on the board with 4:05 left in the third.

A pair of Colonel penalties then helped the Majors enter Centre territory as the quarter closed to a conclusion. The Majors looked to cut further into the deficit with a 4th-and-goal on the 1-yard line. Jacobs surged forward up the middle and made it 24-13. The extra point was missed, but Millsaps made it a two-score game with 13:28 to play.

After holding the Colonel attack once more, the Majors earned great field possession at the Centre 31-yard line after a short punt. Following a sack, Canatella connected with Ladner on fourth down in the middle of the end zone. The Majors made it 24-20 with 10:05 on the game clock.

Millsaps got the ball back three minutes later after holding the Colonels on a fourth down of their own at the Major 34-yard marker. The home team reached midfield but was stopped on fourth down at the Millsaps 40-yard line.

Only having one timeout and the two-minute timeout at their disposal, the Majors worked to get the ball back with 3:54 remaining. However, Centre obtained three first downs and were able to hold on by kneeling out the clock.

The valiant comeback effort came up just short, but the Majors will be right back at it next Saturday, Oct. 19 in Georgetown, Texas. Millsaps challenges Southwestern University at 11 a.m. with live video and live stats available at gomajors.com.


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Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.