College football officially got underway in our state on Thursday, Aug. 31, when some community colleges and four-year schools got into action. In the Jackson area, Belhaven University, Millsaps College and Mississippi College along with Hinds and Holmes Community Colleges kicked off the 2017 season that night.
Several college football teams kicked off the season on August 31.
Hinds Community College opened the season on the road against No. 6 Northwest Community College. Both teams ended up having one of the strangest opening games of the night.
The game between the teams started with no field lights because of a power outage. Play stopped after the sunset in the second quarter and resumed after the power came back until the end of the third quarter, when the power went out again.
After the power didn’t come back in an hour, the game was suspended with a 0-0 score. Both teams are waiting for an decision from the Mississippi Associations of Community and Junior Colleges on the outcome of the game.
Hinds hits the road again next week against Itawamba Community College on Thursday, Sept. 7, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Holmes Community College hosted East Central Community College in both team’s openers. The No. 11 Bulldogs were in complete control of this game, leading 21-0 at halftime and easily earning a 49-14 win.
In the game, Holmes passed for just 37 yards but amassed 457 yards on the ground. Two players for the Bulldogs ended with 100 yards rushing and a third finished with more than 50 yards on the ground.
Holmes is back in action in the first road game of the year against Southwest Mississippi Community College with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Mississippi College made the long road trip to Clark Atlanta for the season opener. The Choctaws and Panthers decided 60 minutes wasn’t enough to settle this game.
In a game that saw both teams exchange the lead, MC battled back in the second half after Clark Atlanta took an eight-point lead at half. The Choctaws tied the game in the third quarter and took the lead with a little more than two minutes left in the fourth.
Clark Atlanta tied the game on the final play of regulation, which forced overtime. In the first overtime, MC missed a field goal on its possession, and Clark Atlanta won the game 32-29 with a one completed field goal on its overtime possession.
Mississippi College stays on the road against No. 18 Southwest Baptist on Sept. 9 with a 6 p.m. kickoff.
The game between Belhaven University and Millsaps College was another seesaw affair. It ended up in a shootout between the cross-town rivals at Belhaven Bowl Stadium.
Belhaven opened up with an early lead only to watch Millsaps battle back to take a one-point lead at the half. The Blazers regained the lead in the third quarter, and the Majors once again played catchup.
Millsaps had a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter and drove to the Belhaven 21-yard line. On the final play of the game, the Blazers defense forced a fumble, sealing the 42-37 win over the Majors.
Millsaps will try to get its first win of the season next week as the team stays on the road against Texas Wesleyan on Saturday, Sept. 9, with a 2 p.m. kickoff. Belhaven takes next week off before hitting the road to face Texas Lutheran University on Saturday, Sept. 16, with a 6 p.m. kickoff.
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