JACKSON, Miss. — The Millsaps College football team reclaimed the sword after defeating Belhaven University, 36-20 in the 2026 Riverside Rumble on Thursday night at Harper Davis Field.
Sophomore Grant Bizjack put on an impressive performance against the Blazers tonight, where he completed 15 of 23 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown and rushed 13 times for 66 yards and another score.
Senior Tameron Patterson ran for 74 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and added two catches for 30 yards and a receiving touchdown to stop Belhaven's defensive strategy.
Classmate Mitch Taylor dominated the run game against his rivalry opponents with 14 rushes for 71 yards while also scoring a touchdown.
Junior Davis Dare caught four passes for 60 yards and returned two punts for 20 yards, playing a key role in leading the Majors past the Blazers.
As an offense, the Majors contested 25 first downs against the Blazers, while Belhaven recorded 17 on the night, led by a huge help from the offensive lineman.
Juniors Myles Johnson (one sack and a forced fumble) and Cole Williams (one sack and a forced fumble), while redshirt sophomore Brewer Bailey each tied for six total tackles.
Senior Nate Johnson (three quarterback hurries, pass breakup, one tackle for loss) and junior Justin Smith each boasted five tackles as a strong defensive duo.
On special teams' sophomore Jace Vasquez recorded five punts for 203 yards, with 53 being the longest longest and one touchback.
Junior Connor Babin accumulated 420 yards on seven kickoffs while posting four touchbacks. The Fulshear, Texas native, also dominated the Blazers to score three field goals.
Belhaven scored on its opening possession with a 50-yard drive capped by Ian Burleson's 1-yard touchdown run and Lyndell Boatman's extra point for a 7-0 score.
The first quarter would remain a defensive test of will as the Blazers forced two fumbles before the teams traded interceptions. Junior Kyle Veal Jr. added the Majors' takeaway.
Millsaps responded by scoring 17 points in the second quarter, beginning with a 41-yard Babin field goal. After Belhaven missed a 43-yard field goal, Millsaps went 67 yards in five plays, highlighted by freshman Kevin Rogers II's 45-yard run to the Belhaven five-yard line before sophomore Derrick Tasby's rushed up the middle.
The defense followed by forcing a punt before Millsaps then put together a 12-play, 68-yard drive capped by redshirt senior Mitch Taylor's 12-yard touchdown run with 19 seconds left.
The Majors continued their offensive attack by scoring the next two touchdowns, taking a 30-7 lead after 30 unanswered points.
Bizjack scored from five yards out with his speed to the left side of the end zone before the Majors put together a 10-play, 79-yard scoring drive. The Trophy Club, Texas native added a 23-yard touchdown pass to Patterson before Babin's PAT made it 30-7.
After the touchdown to Patterson, Millsaps held Belhaven to a three-and-out with help from a tackle for loss by graduate Zabian Boutan and junior Markell Kyer. Nate Johnson added a hurry on third down.
Belhaven later used a 61-yard pass to set up a 1-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left, but Millsaps ended the third quarter ahead 30-14.
The Blazers further cut into the deficit with only a 50-yard possession, making it 30-20 with 5:18 remaining. Another one-yard rushing following a missed 2-point try kept it a two-possession game.
A key defensive takeaway stalled a Blazer drive that saw Myles Johnson force a fumble that was recovered by junior Decorian Warren at the Belhaven 30-yard line with 2:09 on the game clock.
The Majors cashed in when Patterson finished that short field two plays later with a 25-yard touchdown run to make it 36-20. The PAT was missed, but on Belhaven's final possession Millsaps continued to stand tall defensively. Junior W.H. Carver broke up a second-down pass, Myles Johnson and Boutan hurried a third-down throw before freshman Jacques Airhart's 15-yard sack helped push the visitors into 4th-and-25.
As time ran out, the Majors celebrated with the sword in hand. The students ran to midfield to join and bask in the accomplishment.
The Majors will next travel to face Centenary College on Saturday, Sept. 12, beginning at 6 p.m. Live stats will be available and the game will streamed via FloCollege.
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.
