In Jackson, Mississippi, there are no long road trips or hostile out-of-state environments required to stoke a fierce college football rivalry. All it takes is a short drive down Riverside Drive. The campuses of Belhaven University and Millsaps College sit less than two miles apart, making their annual meeting—the Riverside Rumble—one of the closest and most intimate rivalries in all of college football. Tonight, at the Belhaven Bowl the Blazers and the Majors will clash once again in a battle for the coveted rivalry sword, local bragging rights, and early-season momentum.
The Riverside Rumble began in 2003, when Belhaven’s young football program, founded in 1997, squared off against a Millsaps team with decades of history. The Majors, with football roots dating back to 1920, were the established power in Jackson, but that first meeting proved the Blazers weren’t intimidated. Belhaven stunned the city with a 34–19 victory, making a statement that this new program intended to compete for more than just respect. That upset set the tone for a rivalry built on proximity, pride, and unpredictability.
Since then, the two schools have embraced the tradition of opening their seasons against each other. The winner not only claims the sword but earns year-long bragging rights.
Over the rivalry’s 14 meetings leading into tonight, Belhaven has taken an 8–6 lead in the all-time series, but Millsaps has shown time and again that the balance of power can shift quickly. Here are some noteworthy games in the series.
- 2003: Belhaven’s inaugural win (34–19) signaled the start of a true rivalry.
- 2016: The Blazers pulled out a nail-biting 28–25 victory in one of the tightest games in the rivalry’s history.
- 2019: Millsaps punched back with a 28–14 win, led by quarterback Amryn Jeffery’s three-touchdown performance, showcasing the Majors’ offensive firepower.
- 2022: Belhaven delivered a statement win, 49–21, powered by Kolbe Blunt’s electrifying 74-yard touchdown run and a four-touchdown passing performance by QB Tim Johnson.
- 2023: The Blazers asserted themselves as Jackson’s dominant program with a 47–7 rout, the largest margin of victory in series history, capped off by a smothering defensive performance.
- 2024: In front of a packed home crowd at Harper Davis Field, Millsaps pulled off a stunning 23–21 upset, reclaiming the sword and proving that this rivalry is never predictable. A late-game Belhaven miscue sealed the Majors’ victory, igniting their best season in years.
That victory snapped Belhaven’s three-game win streak (2021–2023) and marked a turning point for Millsaps, who finished .500 for the first time since 2019.
Millsaps Majors: Building a New Era
The Majors come into tonight’s matchup with optimism under second-year head coach Brandon Lechtenberg, who earned Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Coach of the Year honors in 2024 after leading Millsaps to a 5–5 record. This year’s team features a quarterback competition between Ian Burleson, Grant Bizjack, and junior-college transfer Quez Goss, giving the Majors versatility at the position.
Wideouts Willie Elliott (536 yards in 2024) and Blake Wiley (17 yards per catch) provide reliable targets, while the running game is bolstered by Chase Jacobs, who scored seven touchdowns last season. On defense, Millsaps will lean heavily on all-conference linebacker Nehemiah Coalson and a physical front led by Myles and Nathan Johnson, along with versatile two-way threat W.H. Carver. The Majors are picked to finish fifth in the SAA preseason poll, a clear sign of respect for their growth under Lechtenberg.
Belhaven Blazers: Experienced and Battle-Tested
Belhaven enters 2025 with stability under head coach CJ Nightingale, who led the Blazers to their first-ever NCAA Division III playoff berth in 2023 and a USA South Conference title. Nightingale returns a roster loaded with veterans, including 28 seniors and several all-conference standouts.
Quarterback Blake Kirby, now a fourth-year starter, leads an offense anchored by one of Division III’s deepest backfields, featuring Devin Daniels, D’Ante Gallashaw, and Caleb Gallashaw. On defense, Belhaven is led by a core of returning First-Team All-USA South selections: linebacker Wyatt Beck, cornerback Dee Gray, and safety Josiah Raymond. Defensive linemen Jay’Den Jones and Tyler Miller provide strength up front, while Icarius Hodgin and Jaheim Burkett bolster an experienced secondary.
The Blazers enter the season with aspirations of another playoff run, but first, they’ll have to reclaim bragging rights against their crosstown rivals.
Tonight’s game at the Belhaven Bowl isn’t just a season opener; it’s a battle for momentum. For Millsaps, a second consecutive win in the series would validate their rise under Coach Lechtenberg and mark the first time they’ve won back-to-back Rumbles since the mid-2010s. For Belhaven, a victory would reestablish their recent dominance, prove they’re still Jackson’s premier program, and set the tone for another championship-caliber season.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and fans can expect a physical, high-energy contest where the outcome could come down to a single play, as so many Rumbles have before. Whether you wear purple and white or green and gold, one thing is certain: Jackson will be buzzing tonight.
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