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JACKSON -- With
last week’s 35-18 victory
at Sewanee, Millsaps has assured themselves a shot at the SCAC
championship against No. 18 Trinity University on Nov. 11 at Harper
Davis Field.
After starting the season 0-3, Millsaps has reeled off five
wins in a row, all
by two touchdowns
or more.
This
marks
the
first
time the Majors have won their first four SCAC games since joining
the conference in 1991.
Juan Joseph
and the Majors offense continue to roll. The three-time SCAC
Offensive Player of the Week completed 27-of-46 passes for
a career-high 333 yards last week in Sewanee, firing three touchdowns
and no interceptions. With the 27 completions, Joseph now owns
the school’s single-season
record for completions with 157.
The offense
rolled up 414 yards against the Tigers, marking the ninth
time in as many games that the Majors have gained
more than more than 300
yards of total offense.
The Millsaps offense continues to lead the SCAC in scoring offense,
passing offense and total offense.
As he has done
all season, Joseph leads the league in passing (272.7 ypg), touchdowns
(18)
and total offense (278.6 ypg), while his 60.6 percent
completion rate ranks second in the conference.
Chris Jackson
has provided Joseph with a dependable and electrifying number
one receiver. Last week Jackson tied his season-high for catches,
hauling in ten catches for 121 yards, including touchdown receptions
of
48
and 43 yards. The senior transfer currently leads the SCAC in receptions
(48), receiving yards (82.3 ypg), touchdown receptions (seven)
and all-purpose yards (152.9 ypg). Jackson has also been deadly
on special teams, averaging 21.9 yards per kick return, including
a 99-yard touchdown return against Louisiana College in Week 2.
Since the injury
to then-leading receiver Eric McCarty, a trio of sophomores have
stepped up in Burt Pereira (13 catches, 152
yards), Donnie Epps (16 catches, 156 yards), and Kennedy Griffin
(14 catches, 169 yards). Josh Hanna (18 catches, 261 yards) has
also turned in a solid senior year, returning to receiver after
playing cornerback last season.
Tyson Roy has
rebounded from an injury-riddled sophomore season, ranking third
in the SCAC in rushing yards with 658 (94 ypg average).
The junior from Baton Rouge, La., is also third on the team in
receiving (26 catches, 341 yards).
The defense,
however, has played the biggest factor in Millsaps’ resurgence.
After picking off two passes against DePauw, Marcus Harris responded
with a three interception performance against Sewanee and in turn
was named the SCAC Defensive Player
of the Week and named to the d3football.com National Team of the
Week for the second week in a row.
After forcing
five turnovers against Sewanee, the Millsaps defense has forced
19 turnovers in its last five games. In that span, the
Majors have given up an average of just 11.5 points and 12 points
per game against SCAC competition.
Shawn Gillenwater appears
well on his way to All-SCAC honors, ranking second in the league
in tackles (72) and third in tackles-for-loss
(11). The linebacker also has two interceptions and three sacks.
Casey Younger (51), Lee Klein (48), and Ray Kline (45) also rank
in the league’s Top 25 tacklers, while hard-hitting South
Panola alum Cedric Lawrence leads the league in fumbles recovered
(four).
After struggling
in the first three games of the season, the Millsaps defensive
backs now appear to be the strength of the defense. The
Majors lead the conference in total interceptions with 13 while
Harris has a league-leading five interceptions, all coming in
the last
two
games. Michael Sims
and Kirk Jackson have two interceptions on the year apiece, with
Harris, Jackson and Jacob Hanberry all having returned one for
a touchdown. .
Rhodes Scouting Report:
Scoring Offense: Millsaps (first, 35.2); Rhodes (fifth 16.5)
Passing Offense: Millsaps (first, 277.4), Rhodes (fifth, 134.4)
Rushing Offense: Millsaps (fourth, 137.8); Rhodes (seventh, 100.8)
Total Offense: Millsaps (first, 415.1); Rhodes (seventh, 235.1)
Scoring Defense: Millsaps (sixth, 23.2); Rhodes (second, 14.9)
Passing Defense: Millsaps (seventh, 251.9); Rhodes (second, 111.5)
Rushing Defense: Millsaps (fourth, 131.4); Rhodes (first, 77.0)
Total Defense: Millsaps (seventh, 383.2) ; Rhodes (first, 188.5)
After facing two high-powered offenses in DePauw and Sewanee,
the Majors will take on a Rhodes team that has featured one of
the strongest defenses in the SCAC, yet one of the weakest offenses.
After winning
their first two conference games, the Lynx (5-3, 2-2 SCAC) have
dropped
their last two, including last
week’s 41-7 loss at No. 18 Trinity.
The 41-point output for Trinity was the largest scored on the
Lynx this season and only the third time that the Lynx have given
up more than ten points. Though ranking second in passing defense,
the Lynx were somewhat exposed by Trinity, who threw for 252 yards
in the game.
The Lynx are
led by junior defensive back Jake McCart who has tallied 67
tackles on the year, while linebackers Mason Mosby and
Donny Dillard each have 53. The Rhodes defense leads the
league in sacks with 24 and is led by linebacker Desmond
Hendric (6.5). Ben Hobbs
ranks second in the league with four interceptions.
The Rhodes
offense has limped its way through the season, putting double-digits
on the scoreboard in just four games. Quarterback
Mark Oliver has put up solid stats this season. The senior leads
the league with a 62.1 completion percentage while ranking
fourth in passing yards (126.5 ypg), third in touchdown passes
(eight) and
throwing the fewest interceptions of any SCAC starter (two).
The Lynx offense has struggled to get anything going on the ground
all season, averaging a mere 2.7 yards per carry. Tyler Lake takes
most of the carries, averaging 62.4 yards per game and 3.2 per
carry.
Last Year vs. Rhodes:
Then-freshman
Joseph made the most of his first career start, leading the
Majors to
their second victory of the season and what
would be the Majors’ only SCAC victory of the season.
Trailing 29-27 with six minutes remaining, Joseph marched the
Majors 74 yards to set up a game-winning 31-yard field goal from
D.J. Mello. Facing third-and-11 at the Millsaps 44, Matt Foisy
made a spectacular one-handed catch at the Rhodes 25 worthy to
be on any highlight reel. Three plays later, Mello knocked his
attempt straight through the uprights to put the Majors ahead 30-29
with 1:44 left. The Millsaps defense held to preserve the win.
Joseph finished
21-of-30 for 282 yards and no interceptions, firing two
touchdown passes to Foisy from 24 and 19 yards
out.
Roy rushed
for 128 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown as Millsaps (2-6,
1-4 SCAC) out gained the Lynx (2-7, 0-5 SCAC) 407 to 286 in the
Majors’ home finale.
Juan Joseph Record Watch:
Joseph is
currently on pace to break numerous Millsaps single-season records:
Passing Yards: 2,147 Beau Pollard (Joseph; 1,909)
Pass Completions: 142 Beau Pollard (Joseph; 157)***BROKEN
Pass Attempts: 288 Beau Pollard (Joseph; 259)
Touchdown Passes: 19 Beau Pollard (Joseph; 18)
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