GEORGETOWN, Texas — Turnovers, ill-timed penalties, and missed opportunities put a damper on senior day for Southwestern football in a 21-7 loss to the Belhaven Blazers.
Belhaven quarterback Mayow Asagunla was brutally efficient in directing the offense, making the most of his 12 pass attempts for the day by completing 11 of them. He set the tone on the game's first possession, leading a five-play, 68-yard drive punctuated by a 48-yard Michael Simpson touchdown reception from Asagunla for a quick 7-0 lead after the extra point.
Landry Gilpin completed his first three passes for Southwestern, picking up a first down on a seven-yard run to get the offense to the Belhaven 34-yard line. The offense stalled from there with four consecutive incomplete passes to turn the ball over on downs.
The Southwestern defense held Belhaven to a three-and-out on the next series, getting two big tackles from Ben Brockman to force a punt downed at the Southwestern 12-yard line. Belhaven defensive back Corey Toliver ended the Pirates' possession quickly, picking off Gilpin's first pass of the drive at the Southwestern 30.
Belhaven needed only two plays to get the ball in the endzone, getting a 24-yard completion from Asagunla to Jeremy Batten, then a three-yard touchdown run by Kolbe Blunt for the 14-0 lead after the extra point.
After both teams exchanged quick, scoreless possessions, the Southwestern offense put itself in scoring position with a sustained drive keyed by a 21-yard Gilpin run and a 37-yard pass to Eric Ovalle. The Pirates appeared to cut their deficit in half with a four-yard Gilpin run untouched to the left side, but a hold nullified the play.
Southwestern followed with a run for a one-yard loss, a sack, and a four-yard run to set-up a 29-yard field goal attempt blocked by Phazion Locke and returned 78 yards by T.J. Hershey for a Belhaven touchdown and 21-0 lead with 12:04 remaining in the half.
The Pirates showed signs of life on the next possession, scoring on the drive's third play on a deep pass from Gilpin to Ovalle for a 48-yard touchdown. Herbst connected on the extra point to bring the score to 21-7.
Southwestern received a spark from Zach Vilo's 34-yard return on the second half's opening kickoff, driving the ball to the Belhaven three-yard line to set up third-and-one. Still, the Pirates came away empty after a run for a three-yard loss and an incomplete pass to Adrian Garza in the endzone.
Belhaven consumed the clock the rest of the way, putting together back-to-back drives that consumed over nine minutes while keeping Southwestern out of the endzone, intercepting Gilpin on Southwestern's penultimate series, then having the game end on a Southwestern dropped pass in the endzone.
Gilpin finished 18-for-39 for 264 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He also led the Pirates in rushing with 15 carries for 57 yards. Belhaven won the time of possession battle by more than nine minutes, getting 93 rushing yards on 19 carries from Brad Foley.
Ovalle was a bright spot for Southwestern, recording two receptions for 85 yards with one touchdown. Patrick Nicolas had 11 tackles for Southwestern, and Brockman finished with 10.
With the program's first loss to Belhaven, Southwestern finishes the regular season with an 0-4 record. The Pirates will hit the road next weekend for a postseason game against Sul Ross State.