GEORGETOWN, TEXAS – The defense for the Millsaps football team excelled in helping propel the Majors past Southwestern University, 17-14 at Birkelbach Stadium on Saturday.

Junior Nehemiah Coalson grabbed a fumble and scored, while freshman Davis Dare hauled in a touchdown reception. Additionally, freshman Connor Babin connected on a 46-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to help Millsaps (4-2, 2-1 SAA) seal the victory.

Babin's field goal is the fourth longest in program history. Only Todd Reeves (53 yards; 1997), Taylor Russolino (47 yards; 2009) and Andrew Byrd (47 yards; 2017) have converted further. Babin also excelled with kickoffs, totaling four for 242 yards (60.5-yard average).

Senior Ethan Klapatch sent nine punts 379 yards, including two inside the 20-yard line and his longest was 63 yards.

Defensively Jamison Rankins set a career-high 13 tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, one breakup). Coalson (fumble recovery) and sophomore Tre Jones each recorded eight tackles, while senior Darren Labit added nine tackles, forced a fumble and recovered another fumble. Sophomore Nathan Johnson (fumble recovery) six stops as freshman Micah McKay and junior Braylon Wills garnered five tackles.

On the offensive side of the ball, freshman Ian Burleson completed 12-of-22 passes for 126 yards with one passing touchdown and an interception. Classmates Chase Jacobs totaled 36 yards on the grounds, while Anthony James Jr. collected six catches for 59 yards and recovered a blocked punt. Sophomore Willie Elliott added four catches for 54 yards.

Dare hauled in three catches for 24 yards and a score. He added 25 punt-return yards and 14 from a kickoff. Freshman W.H. Carver added 46 yards off two kick returns.

The Millsaps defense set the tone early by forcing the first of five Southwestern fumbles on the Pirates' opening drive. Southwestern (3-3, 1-3 SAA) recovered but was forced to punt after starting the game with possession.

The Pirates would score after a 13-play, 80-yard drive and took a 7-0 lead with 5:22 remaining in the opening quarter.

Southwestern looked poised to add to their advantage after both defenses looked strong the remainder of the first half. The Pirates fumbled the ball at the Millsaps 20-yard line and it was recovered by Labit with 4:25 remaining in the second quarter.

Special teams then played a huge factor as the Pirates found themselves attempting a 46-yard field goal try of their own just before intermission. The kick was blocked by sophomore Jeremiah Hall with eight seconds left.

Burleson would enter at quarterback in the start of the third quarter, but each defense continued the strong defensive showcase early in the second half.

The Millsaps defense would provide a spark and set up the Majors with great field position. Freshman Isaiah Sinclair was credited with a blocked punt, which was recovered by James Jr. down at the Southwestern 23-yard line midway through the quarter.

Burleson found Dare on a 23-yard passing connection to cut the deficit to 7-6. The point-after try was missed, but the Majors broke the shutout.

Millsaps continued the momentum by closing the third quarter strong. After pinning Southwestern deep and starting a possession at the visitor 48-yard line, Burleson found Elliott on a 34-yard catch. However, the drive ended at the 10-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter after the Majors failed to convert on fourth down.

Only three plays later saw the fabric of the game change when the Pirates fumbled the ball at the 19-yard line before Coalson scooped it up and scored for the Majors. Jacobs would rush the ball on a two-point attempt to give Millsaps a 14-7 lead with 13:36 remaining.

After a Millsaps defensive stop, Southwestern used their defense to attempt to sway the outcome back in their favor. A Burleson pass would be returned 50 yards to tie the game at 14-14 with 10:14 on the game clock.

The next Millsaps offensive possession would prove unfruitful before Southwestern got the ball back and reached midfield. Rankins recovered yet another fumble and gave Millsaps the ball with 5:49 to play at this point.

A turnover on downs resulted at the Southwestern 31-yard line before another fumble was recovered by the Major defense. Sophomore Luke Bridges recovered the ball at the home 39-yard marker. The ensuing drive resulted in another turnover on downs at the Pirate 36-yard line with 1:20 to play.

The Millsaps defense held solid and forced a quick 3-and-out, however. Burleson and the offense received the ball with 32 seconds remaining at the Millsaps 36-yard line with two timeouts left.

After an incomplete pass opened the drive, Burleson found James Jr. for 20 yards and again for 15 yards, marching the Majors down to the Southwestern 29-yard line. Millsaps used both of their timeouts in the sequence before Burleson attempted a deep pass to sophomore Willie Elliott.

The pass was incomplete and set up a game-clinching, field-goal try from 46 yards out. Babin booted the ball through the uprights and gave the Majors a 17-14 margin with two seconds remaining.

After a touchback, the Pirates attempted a lateral play, but were stopped by the Millsaps defense one final time. Millsaps battled and secured the 17-14 conference road win.

The Majors return to action next Saturday, Oct. 26 and will host Hendrix College for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. with live video and live stats available at gomajors.com.


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

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.