Box Score
On a beautiful day in Jackson, Mississippi, the Millsaps Majors struck first, going ahead 7-0 early in the first quarter and they never looked back, downing the visiting Sewanee Tigers 30 to 0. Sewanee falls to 1-8 on the season and 0-6 in SCAC play. The Majors move to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
On the opening drive of the contest Millsaps didn't waste any time getting on the board first. The Majors' first drive started at their own 37-yard line and the hosts were quickly able to move the ball to the Sewanee 18-yard line. After setting up at the 18, Millsaps pulled out a reverse and found the end zone. Major wide receiver Jason O'Rear connected with the Majors' quarterback Garrett Pinciotti for an 18-yard touchdown pass, putting the hosts up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
After Pincioitti's touchdown, Sewanee took their turn. The Tigers started at their own 37-yard line after a 19-yard return by sophomore Jase Brooks. Sewanee was able to move the ball, including a long pass completion from freshman quarterback Lee Schurlknight to freshman Chad Morehead for a first down. But the Majors were able to hold the Tigers and Sewanee was forced to punt on their first possession of the day.
After senior Geoff Marolda's punt left the Majors at their own 11-yard line, a Millsaps penalty on the first snap of the drive pushed the hosts back to their own six-yard line. The Majors were able to put together a long, clock-eating drive, featuring a long reception by Shane Bowser and a 15-yard run for Chris Skinner, before being forced to attempt a 21-yard field goal. Taylor Russolino connected on the attempt, making it 10-0 Millsaps.
Following the field goal, the two squads traded punts before the Tigers took over at their own 20-yard line. Sewanee ran two plays before Schurlknight was picked off by Millsaps' Jordan Nolan inside Sewanee territory. The Majors had several opportunities to put the ball in the end zone and the Tigers appeared to have stopped them at fourth and goal, but a personal foul on Sewanee gave the Majors an automatic first down at the one-yard line. Bowser walked into the end zone to extend the Millsaps lead, and with the made extra point, the Majors jumped out to a 17-0 second quarter lead.
After the touchdown, Sewanee took over deep in their own territory once again. The Tigers put together just two plays before being intercepted again. Millsaps' Will Derrick picked off a Schurlknight shovel pass at the Sewanee 27-yard line and the Majors took over once again. Sewanee's defense stepped up and pushed Millsaps to a third and 22 attempt. The Majors were able to pick up 17 yards on the next play, but fell short of the first down. The hosts set up for a 24- yard field goal, but Sewanee junior Will Law got a hand on the kick and swatted it away, blocking the field goal and giving Sewanee possession at their own 20-yard line. The Tigers weren't able to capitalize on the blocked field goal and were forced to punt on the ensuing possession.
After the Tiger punt, Millsaps put together a short drive before Bowser broke free for another Major score. Bowser galloped in from the Sewanee 46-yard line to give Millsaps to 24-0 lead heading into halftime.
Coming out of halftime, sophomore Michael Poarch's 29-yard kickoff return set the Tigers up at their own 45-yard line. The Tigers were only able to gain two yards in three plays and were forced to punt after failing to convert on third down. Sewanee got a break though, when Marolda was hit on the kick and the Majors were nailed with a 15-yard roughing the kicker penalty. Sewanee got another four downs to move the ball but weren't able to capitalize, turning the ball over on downs after they weren't able to convert on fourth and six.
Sewanee got another break on the ensuing Millsaps drive. After quickly moving down the field, the Majors were set up at second and ten on the Sewanee 31-yard line. The Majors appeared to pick up a first down, but Sewanee freshman Curtis Tucker chased down Michael Galatas from behind and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Tigers' Andrew Walters at the Sewanee 19-yard line. Once again, though, Sewanee wasn't able to capitalize on the Millsaps miscue and Sewanee was forced to punt the ball away.
The streak of Millsaps miscues continued on the following drive, as Poarch picked off Pinciotti deep in Millsaps territory and looked to have a open path to the end zone but was forced out of bounds near the Millsaps 29-yard line. The Tigers gained a first down in three plays, and Sewanee set up with a first and ten at the 18-yard line. But to counter the streak of Millsaps miscues, Sewanee continued their streak of being unable to capitalize. Schurlknight tossed a long pass intended for Morehead up to the far corner of the end zone. Morehead appeared to have pulled it in, but Millsaps' James McAuley snatched the ball out of the air, giving the Majors possession once again.
Sewanee held the Majors to a field goal on the ensuing drive. After a Pinciotti fumble deep in Sewanee territory on third down that was recovered by the Majors, Russolino set up for a 29-yard field goal on fourth and eleven. Russolino connected and the hosts moved ahead 27-0 with nearly nine minutes left in the contest. After trading punts, Millsaps earned another fourth quarter score at the 2:28 mark when Russolino made a 35-yard field goal. Russolino's final field goal made it 30-0 in favor of the hosts and the score would stand through the remainder of the game.
The Tigers made a valiant effort on the final drive of the game after starting at their own 15-yard line. The Tigers moved the ball down the field and with the help of two unsportsmanlike penalties on the Majors, got all the way to the Millsaps 44-yard line. From there, Schurlknight connected with senior wide receiver John Ugorji for a 42-yard completion, but the Sewanee attempt from the two-yard line with just four seconds left was unsuccessful and the Majors prevailed.
Millsaps outgained the Tigers, 323-144, in total offense on the day. Sewanee tallied 82 rushing yards and gave up 95 on the day. The Tigers picked up 62 passing yards, while Millsaps gained 228. Schurlknight was six for 13 with three interceptions. Ugorji's 42 receiving yards led the Tigers, while Zeke Wilson gained 52 rushing yards to lead the Sewanee ground attack. Marolda punted five times for 186 yards.
Zac Atkins paced the Tiger defense against the Majors after collecting ten total tackles on the afternoon, including one for a loss. Alfonza Knight added eight tackles of his own. Tucker came up with six tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in the effort.
Sewanee now has a week off before hosting the Rhodes College Lynx on November 13th.
