USA South Athletic Conference coaches picked Brevard football to finish fourth in the league this season, but the Tornados did garner one first-place vote.
Maybe somebody knew something.
Brevard opened the conference season Saturday afternoon by felling the defending USA South champions, Belhaven, by a 42-26 score.
After trailing 13-7 at halftime, the Tornados exploded for 21 unanswered points in the third quarter, seizing control of the game. Running back Chancellor Lee-Parker scored twice on the ground, while quarterback Ethan Beamish threw for four touchdowns, including two to tight end Joseph Cuellar.
The Brevard defense stifled Belhaven’s ground game, limiting the Blazers to just 28 rushing yards on 25 attempts, barely one yard per carry. Defensive lineman Robert Dorsey led the way with three sacks, while special teams provided a spark with a blocked punt and a key fumble recovery.
Belhaven struggled to sustain momentum after scoring 13 points in the first half. Brevard capitalized on crucial turnovers and kept the Blazers’ offense in check, sealing the victory with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Belhaven beat Brevard 46-19 last fall enroute to a 9-1 regular-season finish and the USA South Athletic trophy.
Brevard (1-1, 1-0 USA South) will travel to Maryville College next Saturday for their first road game of the season. Kickoff is 1 p.m. Maryville was picked third in the league’s preseason balloting and is off to a 2-1 start. The Scots beat Sewanee 23-9 and Southern Virginia 54-6, while losing at Centre 17-14.
Top Brevard Players:
- Chancellor Lee-Parker – 67 rushing yards, 2 TDs
- Ethan Beamish – 159 passing yards, 4 TDs
- Joseph Cuellar – 2 receiving TDs
- Robert Dorsey – 8 tackles, 3 sacks
- Jadien Deaton – 112 rushing yards
- Zackary Orr – 5 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
- Antonio King – Blocked punt
Scoring Plays:
1st Quarter
- 2:16: Belhaven – Constantine Hontzas, 31-yard field goal (Belhaven leads 3-0)
2nd Quarter
- 13:59: Belhaven – Jacobey James-Grace, 38-yard touchdown pass from Blake Kirby (Hontzas kick, Belhaven leads 10-0)
- 8:30: Brevard – Reggie Taylor II, 5-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Beamish (Hugo Taylor kick, Belhaven leads 10-7)
- 4:11: Belhaven – Hontzas, 41-yard field goal (Belhaven leads 13-7)
3rd Quarter
- 11:16: Brevard – Chancellor Lee-Parker, 1-yard touchdown run (Taylor kick, Brevard leads 14-13)
- 6:56: Brevard – Lee-Parker, 6-yard touchdown run (Taylor kick, Brevard leads 21-13)
- 4:49: Brevard – Joseph Cuellar, 19-yard touchdown pass from Beamish (Taylor kick, Brevard leads 28-13)
4th Quarter
- 11:00: Belhaven – James-Grace, 22-yard touchdown pass from Kirby (Belhaven trails 28-19, missed extra point)
- 7:32: Belhaven – Tyler Craft, 9-yard touchdown pass from Kirby (Hontzas kick, Brevard leads 28-26)
- 3:20: Brevard – Zackary Orr, 15-yard touchdown pass from Beamish (Taylor kick, Brevard leads 35-26)
- 1:37: Brevard – Cuellar, 2-yard touchdown pass from Beamish (Taylor kick, Brevard leads 42-26)
