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JACKSON -- For the first time since joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1991, the Millsaps Majors have started 3-0 in conference play, downing DePauw University 31-7 at Harper Davis Field on Saturday thanks in part to another stellar defensive performance.
The win for
Millsaps also snaps an eight-game losing streak to DePauw that
dates back to the 1998 season.
For the fourth consecutive week, the Millsaps defense has stepped
up and made a statement, as they forced five DePauw interceptions
including a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown by Marcus
Harris -- his second of two picks on the afternoon.
Millsaps (4-3, 3-0 SCAC) has strung together four consecutive wins for the first time since the 1996 SCAC championship season and remain in a two-way tie for first place with 13-time conference champion and No. 21 Trinity University.
After the Millsaps defense forced a quick three-and-out to open the game, the offense did its part by using a short field to drive 44 yards in 10 plays capped off by a Juan Joseph quarterback keeper from two yards out.
DePauw (5-2, 2-2 SCAC) responded right back, using a 10 play, 79 yard drive to knot the game at 7-7 with 4:34 to play in the first quarter. Tiger quarterback Spud Dick was 7-of-8 on the drive, finding Stephen Horrighs in the back of the endzone for the touchdown.
The Majors next drive came to a brief halt, when Tigers defender Rob Farrow forced a Burt Pereira fumble that was recovered by Reed Scherrer at the DePauw 41 yard line.
DePauw looked as if they would capitalize, driving down to the Majors 21 yard line before Harris picked off the Abe Winkle delivery inside the red zone to keep the game tied.
It was all Millsaps from there, as they held the Tigers scoreless the remaining 49:34 of the game and tacked on 24 unanswered points, including a perfectly executed fake field goal from Cameron Barbas to Sam Herman minutes before the half time buzzer sounded.
For the DePauw offense, Dick and the SCAC leading-rusher Jeremiah Marks led the way. Dick completed 13-of-21 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, while Marks gained 85 yards on 15 carries and hauled in three catches for 11 yards.
Eric Lewis led the defensive pursuit, racking up 11 tackles (nine solo), while Greg Sylvester, Jevon Pruitt and Mike Sprengnether each followed with seven.
For the Majors, Joseph continues to have a strong sophomore campaign, connecting with eight different receivers and completing 28-of-43 passes for 234 yards.
Several weeks after tying a school-record with five touchdown passes in a single game, Joseph once again finds his name in the record books, as he passes Rickie Haygood for most pass completions in a single game with 28. Haygood set the original record in 1976 when he completed 27 passes in a 35-28 win at McMurry.
Tyson Roy, Chris Jackson and Pereira also had strong offensive performances on the day. Roy had 15 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 21 yards, while Jackson had 10 catches for 77 yards and Pereira had eight for 82 yards.
Shawn Gillenwater and Harris led the way for the defense, combining for four of the Majors five interceptions and 15 tackles, while Michael Sims, Kirk Jackson, Cedric Lawrence, Denarold Anderson, Canaan Farris and Casey Younger rounded out the top performances with five or more tackles.
Millsaps will once again test its road strength, traveling to Sewanee Oct. 28 and Rhodes Nov. 4 before returning home Nov. 11 for a highly anticipated meeting with Trinity University.
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