by Megan Murray
sports editor
The rainy weather Saturday seemed to forecast the outcome for the Millsaps football team. With homecoming festivities in full swing, the Majors tried to continue the celebration. However, after a nearly two-hour weather delay, the Majors lost to the number-one team in the conference, Berry College, by a final score of 24-14.
Senior running back Taz Watson said, “We were actually feeling really good coming into the game. We felt like we had the best game plan to be successful on offense, defense and special teams. Homecoming and [Berry] being undefeated added some extra motivation. On top of all that, we knew that we needed a win.”
On Berry’s second possession of the game, the Vikings scored a touchdown as the lightning literally struck. The referees conversed and decided to delay the game. After almost two hours, the teams warmed up for a second time and the game resumed with Berry kicking the extra point.
Watson says, “I felt like [the weather delay] didn’t have that much of an effect on us since we came back out and ended up having the lead at halftime. If anything, I think it just made us more excited and ready to get out there and play.”
The second quarter belonged solely to the Majors as they scored two uncontested touchdowns. With 50 seconds left in the second quarter, Chance Clowers threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Beau Wells and the extra point from Patrick McRaney evened the score at 7 all. The Majors got the ball back with 33 seconds left after a fumble recovery by Alex Foust. It took the Majors only three plays and 15 yards before Clowers threw another touchdown pass, this time to Rashad Sims. McRaney’s extra point increased the score to 14-7 in favor of the Majors at halftime.
The Majors failed to score again after their dominating second quarter. Berry scored 10 points in the third quarter and increased its lead in the fourth quarter courtesy of an intercepted pass from Clowers.
After the homecoming loss, the Majors fall to 1-7 overall and 0-6 in conference play. The Majors will look for its first conference win next Saturday as they take on Sewanee at home. Watson says, “We will approach Sewanee week like we do every other week. I feel like our preparation for each game is great, we just have to focus on executing more often. With it being our last home game, it’s senior night and we not only want to come out with a win for conference, but also want to win this game for the seniors. It’s a big day for them and what better way to celebrate it than with our first conference victory to get us back in the win column.”