BREVARD, N.C. – Brevard (4-0, 1-0 USAS) started conference play on a high note, using big plays on the ground and swarming defense to defeat Belhaven (1-3, 0-1 USAS), 51-8 at Ives-Lemel Family Field on Saturday afternoon.
An early penalty backed up the start of Brevard's opening drive, but the Tornados used eight plays and 3 minutes and 54 seconds to go 94 yards, capped off by Marvin Reed Jr.'s first touchdown run of the day, a 38-yard scamper to give Brevard a 7-0 lead.
Belhaven's opening drive got all the way to the Brevard 28-yard line thanks to a handful of chunk runs from Julien Tabor and a couple of Tornado penalties, but the defense held strong, stopping the Blazers on 4th-and-1, taking over on its own 30.
Both defenses held strong for the remainder of the first quarter, including a DJ Stevenson interception when Belhaven was inside the BC redzone, securing his fourth pick in as many games.
The two sides traded stops early into the second quarter, as Belhaven was able to create a turnover of its own as linebacker Brayden Bullock picked off Christian Conley nearly three minutes into the second frame.
However, Brevard's defense held again thanks to a handful of Belhaven penalties on the ensuing drive. The Tornados took over with 6:05 to go in the second quarter, and the Tornados used just five plays to go 70 yards, as Marvin Reed Jr. took off for his second touchdown of the game, a 33-yard run to get BC back on the board and extend the lead to 14-0.
Belhaven quickly went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, as James Laycock got home to the Blazers' quarterback on third down to force a punt from Belhaven's one-yard line. The Tornados took over on Belhaven's 49 with 2:13 to play.
Brevard had a few chunk plays before a quick swing pass from Christian Conley to Messiah Ramseur for 30 yards set up the Tornados with 1st-and-goal from the Belhaven five-yard line. Marvin Reed Jr. capped off a first half hat trick, plunging into the endzone with a five-yard touchdown run, extending the BC lead to 21-0 with 37 seconds to play before half.
The two teams combined for 11 first half penalties, playing a role in a handful of stalled out drives. However, Brevard's two quick touchdowns before halftime created a sizable halftime advantage. The Tornado defense also had a huge hand in BC's first half success, holding Belhaven to just 56 yards of total offense.
Brevard's defense did its job out of the halftime break, forcing a quick three-and-out out of the break. Brevard started its opening drive on the plus side of the 50 due to a short punt, and used ten plays to go 43 yards on a couple chunk pass plays from Christian Conley, including a six-yard pitch and catch on 3rd-and-goal, finding Herbert Pringle IV for the touchdown to extend the lead to 28-0.
Belhaven's next drive moved deep into Brevard territory to the 29, but the defense did what it had done all day, sacking BU's Matthew Dial on back-to-back plays, as Demetrice Martin and the duo of Seth Murray and Deshon Hadden got home to turn the Blazers over on downs.
The Tornados' next drive started at their own 36, but it took just two plays to get back in the endzone, as Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel took off for a 58-yard touchdown run, the Tornados' third touchdown scamper of 30 yards or more, growing the lead to 35-0.
The Blazers took over with 3:43 left in the third quarter, and their drive went into the start of the fourth. A couple of Tornado penalties and a 15-yard run from Julien Tabor moved Belhaven deep into Tornado territory at the 27. The Blazers earned a pass interference call on 3rd-and-16 and took advantage, scoring their first touchdown of the day on an 18-yard connection from Matthew Dial to Wyatt Locastro. Belhaven would convert the two-point conversion to make it 35-8.
A holding penalty on the ensuing kickoff forced Brevard to start the drive on its own 17, but King Faison swung the momentum back the way of the Tornados, taking it 83 yards to the house on the first play of the drive, scoring BC's fifth rushing touchdown of the day and reinstating a 34-point lead at 42-8.
A penalty on the following kickoff put the Blazers on their own two-yard line to start the following drive, and BC continued to create havoc defensively, as Antonio Simpson took down Julien Tabor in the endzone to force a safety, making it 44-8.
Brevard would go three-and-out, but a high, spiraling punt from Glen Kelly sent Belhaven's Cruz Wilson back to his own one-yard line, where he muffed the punt and DeShawn Allen hopped on the football in the endzone, creating a sizable 51-8 edge with just over 11 minutes remaining.
The two sides traded scoreless drives the rest of the way, as the Tornados earned an emphatic home win to open conference play, defeating Belhaven, 51-8.
The Tornados outgained the Blazers 513-155, including a whopping 336-2 edge on the ground. Three BC running backs went for over 100 yards on the ground, with Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel leading the way with seven carries for 118 yards and a touchdown. Marvin Reed Jr. had 11 carries for 103 yards and three first half touchdowns. King Faison toted it nine times for 101 yards, with an 83-yard touchdown run. Christian Conley went 17-for-24 through the air for 177 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
Brevard's defense was flying around all afternoon, collecting 13 tackles for loss and eight sacks while forcing two turnovers. Antonio Simpson led with three tackles for loss, while 11 other Tornados made plays in the Blazer backfield. DJ Stevenson hauled in his fourth interception in as many games, while DeShawn Allen hopped on the muffed punt in the endzone.
Offensively for Belhaven, Matthew Dial earned the bulk of the reps, completing ten of 19 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. Ian Burleson completed three of five passes for 19 yards and an interception. Julien Tabor carried the ball 17 times for 51 yards. Defensively, Belhaven was led by Terrell Sutton and JR Craven with seven tackles apiece.
Both teams were plagued by penalties, combining for 21 flags for 186 yards. However, the Tornados were able to overcome to claim a big USA South win.
The Tornados look to build on a 4-0 start next week, heading to Southern Virginia on October 10th for a 1 pm kick with the Knights in Buena Vista, Virginia.
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, and follow 'Brevard College Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from Brevard College events. For all live streams of Brevard College Athletics contests, visit FloCollege.com.
-BC-
