JACKSON, Miss. - Brevard College football (5-5, 5-2 USA South) wrapped up its 2023 campaign on Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi, taking on Belhaven University (9-1, 7-1 USAS) in the season finale. The Blazers used a big first half coupled by a strong fourth quarter to pull away from the Tornados, 46-19, as Belhaven wrapped up the USA South Conference Championship.
BC's 2023 season concludes as the Tornados finish with a winning record in conference action for the fifth-consecutive season. In the last five seasons, BC has a 28-17 overall record and a 23-9 mark in USA South play.
Sophomore quarterback Ethan Beamish eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark for a program record 10th time in 10 games, as the Simpsonville, South Carolina signal caller totaled 239 yards and a touchdown to bring his season total to program record marks of 2,697 yards and 23 touchdown passes.
Chancellor Lee-Parker concluded a standout season with 100 total yards against Belhaven (53 receiving, 47 rushing) with a receiving TD, as the Auburn, Georgia product eclipsed the 1,000 total yardage mark on the season (907 rushing, 136 receiving) with nine rushing touchdowns and a pair of receiving TDs. Backfield mate and fellow senior Devonte Murray added 32 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Adam Douglas led the Tornado receiving corp with a team-high six catches for 68 yards.
The BC defense was highlighted by Quintrell Bowman, who logged a team-high 10 tackles to bring his season total to 52, which ranks second on the team. Graduate linebacker Toby Naylor capped off his illustrious Tornado career with four tackles and an interception, bringing his career total to 254 tackles in 45 career games played for Brevard, logging four career interceptions.
Dylan James added eight tackles and a forced fumble for Brevard, while Wyatt Lankford concluded his five-season career at BC with a tackle-for-loss as part of a four-tackle performance, while also securing a blocked extra point. Graduate defensive back Joc Pledger, who holds the prestige of being the first DIII-era All-American in any sport at Brevard, wrapped up his storied BC playing career with yet another interception for the Monroe, Georgia native. Pledger recorded 14 interceptions in 40 games played for the Tornados, which is a program record for career INTs.
Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Rowell came up with a big play for the Tornados on special teams, recovering a muffed kickoff for a touchdown. Jordan Ramey recovered a fumble for the Tornados that James forced.
Belhaven's Tim Johnson threw a pair of touchdown passes, while Kolbe Blunt rushed for 149 yards and two touchdown scores. Wyatt Beck led all Blazers with nine tackles and TJ Hersey recorded seven stops and two tackles-for-loss.
Belhaven jumped out to a 15-0 lead following a field goal and a pair of touchdown scores, but two failed two-point conversions. Murray punched in a one-yard touchdown run, and momentum shifted towards Brevard when Rowell recovered a muffed Belhaven kickoff return for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to two points.
The Blazers were able to extend their advantage back out to 16 points, 29-13, with consecutive touchdowns before the halftime intermission.
Belhaven opened the third quarter with a 25-yard field goal, but BC cut down the deficit to 13 points following Lee-Parker's big 53-yard touchdown reception on third-and-long. However, the hosts eventually put the game away with two Blunt rushing touchdowns in the fourth period as the Blazers wrapped up the USA South title and earned the league's automatic bid into the 2023 NCAA DIII Football Tournament with the 46-19 triumph.
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, and 'Brevard College Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from Brevard College.
-BC-
