(Story taken from the Millsaps website)
JACKSON, Miss. - Third-ranked Millsaps
racked up
565 yards of total offense and scored on its first five
possessions, and for the first time in 33 years, they are headed to
the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs with a 51-26 win
against LaGrange College Saturday afternoon at Harper Davis
Field.
The win for Millsaps also marked the first time since 2002 an SCAC
team has won in the postseason.
Senior QB Juan Joseph had another outstanding day in helping the
Majors tie a school-record with their 13th consecutive win,
connecting on 31-of-46 passes for a season-high 352 yards and three
TDs. With the performance, Joseph moved into second all-time on the
SCAC's career passing list with 8,962 yards and needs just 47 more
passing yards to become the conference's career leader.
Seven different receivers caught two or more passes, including
seniors Eric McCarty and Raymece Savage who went for 99 and 93
yards on a combined 17 catches. Junior Tye Menist had a career day
with two catches for 52 yards and an 18-yard touchdown reception
early in the third quarter.
LaGrange (9-2) gave Millsaps all it could handle with its
high-powered offense, gaining 488 yards of total offense behind 360
yards passing from QB Drew Carter and a game-high 96 yards rushing
from Gerald Reed. Making their first playoff appearance in school
history, the Panthers turned in quite an impressive day and season
behind head coach Todd Mooney, setting or tying a combined 164
school records.
Going over the 40-point mark for the eighth time this season,
Millsaps (11-0) took an early 10-0 lead midway through the first
quarter behind a 2-yard TD rush from freshman Shane Bowser and a
37-yard field goal from sophomore Taylor Russolino.
After going three-and-out on their first two possessions, the
Panthers found the equalizer on the ensuing drive behind an
excellent 41-yard kick return from Mario Wallace down to Millsaps'
43-yard line. From there, LaGrange drove the final 43 yards on five
plays over 1:39, using a 30-yard hookup from Carter to Devin
Billings to bring the score to within three at 10-7 in favor of the
Majors.
Twenty-one unanswered points for Millsaps over the next 13:40 off a
pair of Joseph TD tosses and a Kenny Metzger (pictured)
20-yard scamper gave the home team a 31-7 advantage before a
55-yard TD reception from LaGrange's Eric Miller brought the score
to 31-14 at intermission - the closest the Panthers would get. 
Millsaps opened up a 24-point lead with a quick touchdown drive on
its second possession of the third quarter, taking advantage of the
short field after holding LaGrange on 4th-and-1 from its own 40.
Joseph hit Donnie Epps for 22-yards and then Menist for 18-yards,
capping a 2-play, 22 second drive.
LaGrange scored off an 8-yard connection from Carter to Miller in
the fourth to bring it to 38-20, but 13 unanswered from Millsaps
off a pair of Russolino field goals and a 64-yard interception
return from Sam Herman sealed the deal for the Majors and made the
final 51-26.
Senior Cap White's 10 tackles for Millsaps led all players, while
Jacob Hanberry had eight and both Lee Klein and Denarold Anderson
had seven. The Majors also had five sacks on the day, with Kyle
Hughes, Will Hawkins, White, Anderson and Klein each getting a
piece of the quarterback.
With a 35-29 win over Christopher Newport, Washington &
Jefferson will travel to Harper Davis Field next weekend for a
Second Round matchup. The Majors and Presidents will kickoff at
Noon CST in Jackson.
Game Notes:
+A total of 306 viewers were watching the ATW
Sportscast
+Millsaps improved to 2-2 all-time in the NCAA Playoffs
+Millsaps tied a school record with its 13th-straight victory
+Russolino tied a single-game record with three FGs
+Joseph went over 300-yards passing for the third time in four
games
+LaGrange ended the year breaking 164 combined school records
+The two teams combined for 1,053 yards of total offense