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The Mississippi College football team made their longest road trip of the season, falling to Valdosta State, 34-7, on Saturday afternoon at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
The Choctaws (2-4, 0-3 GSC) put up an outstanding defensive effort in the first half, holding the Blazers (4-2, 1-2 GSC) scoreless over a 25 minute span.
VSU opened the game with EJ Hilliard finding Greg Dent for a 74-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead. Dent caught six passes for 187 yards and a score in the contest.
The Choctaws looked poised to tie the game up, but a fumble inside the Blazer red zone cost MC an opportunity. The defense would force a 42-yard field goal that was missed by VSU.
On the next possession, the Choctaws threw an interception, but MC’s defense stood tall again and forced a missed field goal, keeping the score at 7-0.
Near the end of the first half, MC looked like they would put points on the board again, but a fumble gave the Blazers the ball at their own 29-yard line with a minute left. They would drive 71 yards for a touchdown and take a 14-0 lead into the break.
In the second half, the Blazers opened with another long pass to put them at the one-yard line. The MC defense forced a 4th and goal, but VSU punched it in to take a 21-0 lead.
After the Blazers extended the lead to 28-0, the Choctaws would mount a drive that covered 74 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from senior Chris Ingram. The Southaven native went over 900 career rushing yards with 82 yards on eight carries with a score on Saturday.
The Blazers would score on the next possession, but a missed PAT put the final score at 34-7.
Junior Carl Rainey Jr. led the MC defense in tackles for the second straight game, racking up eight stops. Freshman Mike Hall had seven, while freshman R.J. Arnold at six.
Junior Alex Johnson earned his first start of the season and tallied five tackles, including one for loss. Junior Alexander Greer and freshmen Grant Ingram and Anthony Jackson also had tackles for loss in the game.
The Choctaws will return home to Clinton next weekend to play their “Homecoming” game against Florida Tech at 3:00 pm at Robinson-Hale Stadium.
