JACKSON, Miss. – The Brevard College football team (2-2, 0-1 USA South) fell in overtime, 23-20, to Belhaven University (2-2, 1-0 USAS) in an instant classic on Saturday afternoon at Belhaven Bowl Stadium. 

Trailing 17-3 late in the third period, the Blazers scored 17 unanswered to take a three-point lead, 20-17. BC's Hayden Vandegriff drilled a 41-yard field goal that helped send the contest into overtime, coupled with a last-second blocked kick by Brevard. However, the Blazers capitalized on an interception in the first overtime period and made an 11-yard field goal to take the USA South opener. 

Senior quarterback Ethan Beamish finished 21-for-34 with 245 yards, a touchdown, and an INT. Jadien Deaton paced the rushing attack with 89 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Adam Douglas caught eight passes for 95 yards, while Reggie Taylor II caught a 51-yard touchdown reception. Baylee Ramey made nine tackles, including seven solo stops, with two and a half tackles for loss and half a QB sack. Freshman defensive back DJ Stevenson added eight tackles, a forced fumble, and fumble recovery, while Quintrell Bowman also forced a fumble that Brandon Broughton recovered. Robert Dorsey brought down Belhaven's quarterback once, while Broughton, Curtis Bowden Jr., Obadiah Grimes also recorded tackles for loss. 

Belhaven put together a lengthy 15-play, 66-yard drive capped by a 28-yard field goal to take the early lead late in the first quarter. Brevard's offense answered right back, however, as Beamish connected with Taylor II for a 51-yard touchdown as the Tornados took a 7-3 lead to close out quarter number one. 

Stevenson forced and recovered a fumble on a 36-yard quarterback scramble to halt a potential Belhaven scoring drive. From its own five-yard line, BC orchestrated an 18-play, 76-yard drive that elapsed 10:20 of gametime, capped by a Vandegriff 36-yard field goal to extend BC's lead to seven points at 10-3.

At the halftime intermission, Beamish was a perfect 9-for-9 passing with 124 yards through the air and his 51-yard connection with Taylor II. Deaton was pacing BC's rushing attack with 11 carries for 67 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Stevenson had a team-best six tackles alongside Bowman's four, while Preseason All-American edge rusher Dorsey notched a QB sack in the first half of play. Overall, the Tornados were outgaining Belhaven by a slim margin, 192-169 in total offense, with a 124-70 advantage through the air. BC's offense capitalized on BU's two first-half miscues, turning its two fumbles directly into 10 points. 

Brevard put together yet another lengthy scoring drive, this time resulting in a touchdown as a 14-play, 75-yard possession was capped off by Deaton's three-yard TD scamper as the Tornados extended their lead out to 14 points. Belhaven was able to answer back quickly, however, as the Blazers' Brock Morris connected with Wyatt Locastro for a 21-yard touchdown strike to trim the deficit back down to one possession. 

The Blazers started the fourth quarter with a 21-yard field goal to pull within four points. Following a Brevard punt, BC's Deshawn Allen picked off Morris, but the Tornados went three and out on the ensuing drive. 

Belhaven took its first lead since the first quarter when Morris found Locastro for the second time - a 53-yard touchdown strike. 

Each side traded punts late, as the Tornados gained possession back with 2:43 left to go down by three. 

Brevard's offense was able to get to the Belhaven 17 yard line with 53 seconds left to go, but the Blazer defense held firm, forcing the game-tying field goal attempt by Vandegriff. 

Belhaven was able to get within field goal range with under 20 seconds remaining thanks to a 44-yard reception by TJ Hatch. Dre Burton came through for BC on special teams, however, blocking the 34-yard game winning attempt to send the game into overtime. 

On third down and five, Dee Gray picked Beamish off to halt BC's OT possession. Belhaven got the ball to the Brevard one yard line, and Lyndell Boatman walked the game off with his 11-yard game-winning field goal. 

Brevard returns for Homecoming 2025 as the Tornados host Southern Virginia at Ives-Lemel Family Field next Saturday, October 11 at 3 p.m. 

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-BC-