BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College football team (1-1, 1-0 USA South) outscored Belhaven University (0-3, 0-1 USAS) 35-13 in the second half, using an all-around team effort to knock off the defending USA South Conference champions 42-26 on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
Trailing at the intermission 13-7, the Tornados scored 21 unanswered points to open up a 15-point lead, 28-13, and withstood a Belhaven comeback attempt by icing the contest with a pair of fourth-quarter scores to clinch the USA South opener. The win marked BC's first win over Belhaven in three overall attempts.
Junior defensive lineman Robert Dorsey anchored a spirited effort, particularly in the second half, by the BC defense. Dorsey racked up eight tackles with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks to lead BC's pass rush efforts. Ernest Smith II added seven tackles, while James Woods led the secondary with a pair of pass breakups, four tackles, and a TFL. Kentrayle Holloway forced a fumble on a Belhaven kickoff that was recovered by BC kicker Nicholas Acus, Carter Raulerson picked off his first career pass, and Antonio King blocked a Belhaven punt recovered by Ian Castellanos to round out BC's defensive and special teams efforts.
On the offensive side of the ball, Ethan Beamish notched his fourth career four-touchdown performance, as the junior signal caller went 14-of-22 for 159 yards through the air, while also gaining 12 rushing yards. BC's stable of running backs were showcased as senior transfer Jadien Deaton logged his first 100-yard rushing performance in a Tornado uniform. Deaton rushed for 112 yards on 14 attempts for eight yards-per-carry, while Chancellor Lee-Parker added 67 yards and two touchdowns to bring his season total to five through two games.
Graduate receiver Zackary Orr led the receiving corps with five catches, 74 yards, and a touchdown. Joseph Cuellar, a sophomore tight end from Virginia Beach, Virginia, scored the first two touchdowns of his collegiate career with scores from 19 yards and two yards out, and Reggie Taylor II accounted for Brevard's other score through the air.
For the visitors, Blake Kirby accounted for three passing touchdowns with 263 yards through the air. BC's defense smothered Belhaven on the ground, as the Blazers only gained 28 net rushing yards.
BC's dominant 191-28 advantage on the ground set the tone throughout the day, while Belhaven held a 263-159 margin through the air, as the Tornados held the total offense lead 350-291. Brevard was a perfect 6-for-6 on its red zone scoring opportunities, and put pressure on Kirby especially late in the contest with its 5-to-1 QB sack edge.
The first three drives of the contest ended in punts, with the Blazers punting once and Samuel Vargas booting the ball away twice for the Tornados. A nine-play, 47-yard drive by Belhaven ended with a 31-yard field goal that gave the visitors the early 3-0 lead. Following a missed BC field goal, the Blazers capitalized, as Kirby found Jacobey James-Grace for a 38-yard touchdown.
Brevard was able to answer back on the ensuing possession when Beamish found Taylor II to cap a nine-play, 60-yard scoring drive that cut the deficit to three, 10-7. Belhaven drilled its second field goal of the game on its ensuing drive, and a late second quarter BC interception sent the contest to the break with the Blazers up six, 13-7.
The Tornado D forced a three-and-out on Belhaven's first drive of the third quarter, and King's clutch blocked punt set the Tornados up in prime real estate. Lee-Parker punched in a one-yard touchdown that gave Brevard its first lead of the game, 14-13.
Brevard's defense forced another three-and-out, and a Deaton 44-yard run set up Lee-Parker's second TD of the game, as BC extended its lead to eight points, 21-13. Holloway forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Tornado offense great field position once more. Beamish and company capitalized, as the junior quarterback found Cuellar for his first collegiate touchdown and Brevard held a 15-point cushion, 28-13.
Each side traded punts on their next two possessions before Belhaven put together an 11-play, 69-yard drive that resulted in a TD, however the Blazers missed a crucial extra point as the deficit remained a two-possesssion crutch, 28-19.
The Blazer defense forced a BC three-and-out and Belhaven scored on its next drive to cut the deficit to two, 28-26, with 7:32 left in the ballgame.
Brevard orchestrated a crucial eight-play, 76-yard drive that was finished off by Orr's 15-yard touchdown catch, as the Tornados put the contest all but out of reach 35-26.
BC's defense iced the victory as the Tornados sacked Kirby on three consecutive plays to force a turnover on downs, and Beamish put an exclamation mark on the win, connecting with Cuellar for the second time on Saturday in the end zone as BC claimed the 42-26 win.
Brevard hits the road for the first time this season next Saturday as the Tornados roll to Maryville, Tennessee to take on Maryville College at 1 p.m.
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Strong Second Half Lifts Brevard Past Defending USA South Champion Belhaven, 42-26
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20240921_6wxq.xml
2024
Belhaven
26
Brevard
42
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belhaven (0-3) | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 26 |
| Brevard (1-1) | 0 | 7 | 21 | 14 | 42 |
Sep 21, 2024
-BC-