YUM Baits Postgame Show: Millsaps

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Hendrix compiled 482 yards of total offense, with 330 coming on the ground, as the Warriors rolled to a 34-7 win over Millsaps (Miss.) on Saturday in Southern Athletic Association (SAA) action at War Memorial Stadium. The Orange and Black improved to 1-1 all-time in the venue, won their third-straight game over the Majors, all by double digits having scored at least 33 points in each game, and ended a five-game skid in league contests.

Tajae White compiled 201 all-purpose yards for Hendrix (2-7, 1-5 SAA), including a school-record 77 yard punt return for a touchdown with 9:41 left in the second quarter to put his team up 19-7. It was the only the Warriors' third punt return for a score in program history and first since Jared Bazley against Sewanee (Tenn.) in 2018. White's house call was the first Hendrix punt return for a touchdown not resulting from a blocked punt since Dayton Winn against the Tigers in 2016.

White set Hendrix single-game records for punt return yards (106) and highest average gain per punt return (26.5).

White totaled career-highs in receiving yards (60) and rushing yards (35) and tied career-highs in catches (4) and rushes (3).

Rayfield Conley rushed 12 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns, all season-highs, for the Warriors. His 12.2 yards per carry were fifth most in a game in program history (minimum 10 carries). Conley's 147 rushing yards were the most by a Hendrix running back since Nov. 16, 2019, when Kip VanHoose went for 191 against Sewanee.

Conley's 61 yard touchdown scamper with 11:26 remaining in the second quarter to put his team in front 12-7 was the eighth-longest rush in program history and longest by a Warriors player since VanHoose raced 74 yards versus Birmingham-Southern (Ala.) on Sept. 28, 2019.

Conley compiled a season-high 156 all-purpose yards.

Chase Taylor averaged 9.7 yards per rush on seven carries in the victory. Anthony Johnson posted career-highs in carries (16), rushing yards (56) and rushing touchdowns (2). Christian Gadison had a 14-yard run. Deondre Henry averaged 4.8 yards per carry on four rushes. Ryan Hollingsworth averaged 5.0 yards per carry on a pair of scampers.

Hendrix's 330 rushing yards were third most in a game in school history. The Warriors' 51 carries were the second-highest total in a game this season (57 versus Sewanee on Sept. 25) and eighth most in program history. Hendrix's four rushing touchdowns tied for fifth most in school history.

The Warriors averaged 6.5 yards per carry and 6.2 yards per play, totaled 26 first downs and held the ball for 36:32, their most time of possession since 39:11 against Rhodes (Tenn.) in 2019. Hendrix's 13.5 minute time of possession advantage Saturday was also a season-high.

Gadison caught three balls for 45 yards.

Johnson had 71 all-purpose yards.

Nathan Hahn totaled seven tackles and a fumble recovery in the triumph. Carson Carter had six tackles and a sack. Parker Turley registered five tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Turley's two sacks tied for third most in a game in program history. Drake Bacchus and Graham DeForest each had 0.5 sacks. Carter, Bacchus and Brody Plemons each also had a quarterback pressure. Matthew Scirto and Tate Hooper each had a tackle for loss. Scirto, Tanner Barrett, Hunter Lawrence, Nick Johnson and Carter Weakley recorded one pass breakup apiece. 

Scirto's pass defensed was the 25th of his career, which set a new school record, breaking the previous mark of 24 set by Chad McGonigal (2016-20).

Hendrix allowed only 1.9 yards per carry and 58 total rushing yards Saturday.

Millsaps (2-7, 2-4 SAA) was limited to just seven points, 148 passing yards and 206 yards of total offense, its second-lowest output this season in each category, while being forced to punt 11 times, which tied a season-high. The Majors' punt yards (454), also a season-high, more than doubled their total offense. Millsaps converted just 23.5 percent (4-of-17) on third down.

Melvindrick Johnson and Brody Davis combined to complete just 9-of-33 passes for the Majors. M. Johnson was 4-of-10 for 79 yards. Davis went 5-of-23 for 69 yards and was sacked three times.

Montreal Felix rushed 15 times for 60 yards in the loss.

Xavion Butler caught five passes for 90 yards in defeat.

Cade Broussard, Josh Smith and Adrian Turner each had nine tackles for Millsaps. Broussard also had a sack, forced fumble and quarterback hurry. Nicholas Eaton registered 1.5 tackles for loss, while Zackary Brownlee had 0.5. Christopher Butler forced a fumble. Brownlee and Chase Heard each had a fumble recovery. Ryan Taix and Christian Hawkins each made a pick. Taix and Jacoby Howard each broke up a pass. Aaron Gooden blocked an extra point. Osiris Jackson had a quarterback hurry.

A. Johnson capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive to open the game with a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 6-0 with 9:55 left in the first quarter, marking Hendrix's first opening drive of the season to end with points. The series was highlighted by a 33-yard completion from Hunter Holden to White, setting up first and goal at the Millsaps 3.

Hendrix forced a three and out on the next possession, and White returned a punt 19 yards to the Millsaps 49. The Warriors drove 32 yards on the first three plays of the series before a sack-fumble in the red zone resulted in a turnover, giving the Majors the ball at their own 39.

Millsaps went 61 yards in eight plays, and Davis scored from 10 yards out to put his team ahead 7-6 with 4:19 left in the first quarter.

Conley's 61-yard rush to paydirt finished a seven-play, 87-yard drive, Hendrix's longest of the season and longest since a 90-yard drive against Sewanee in 2019.

Following another Warrors' stop, White put his name in the Hendrix record book with the longest play of his career. 

Hendrix forced a three and out on Millsaps' next possession and took over at the Majors' 48 following a 27-yard punt. Conley opened the drive with a 31-yard carry down to the Millsaps 17. Two plays later, Conley took a handoff 11 yards to the Millsaps 7. The Warriors drove to the Millsaps 2 but were unable to score.

Hendrix started its next offensive series at its own 5 and drove to the Millsaps 33 before an interception halted the scoring threat. 

On their first offensive possession of the second half, the Warriors marched to the Majors 30, but another interception ended the drive.

After Hendrix's defense forced another three and out, the Warriors were forced to punt, but a Connor Ladner muffed punt was recovered by Hahn at the Millsaps 20. Four plays later, Conley crossed the goal line from five yards out. Following an offsides call against Kuasim Mayers on Hendrix's first two-point attempt, A. Johnson converted the second try with a one-yard carry to make the score 27-7.

Another Millsaps three and out led to Hendrix's final touchdown drive, capped by A. Johnson's second touchdown run, this time from two yards away with one second left in the third quarter. The touchdown run was set up by Parker Wells' 15-yard completion to A. Johnson to the Millsaps 17 and an eight-yard run by Henry to the Millsaps 2.

In the fourth quarter, Millsaps twice drove inside the Hendrix 30. The first such series ended when Turley recovered a bad snap at the Hendrix 48 and returned it five yards. The final play of the second occurred when N. Johnson broke up a pass intended for Temias Mason on the last play of the game.

The two drives sandwiched a Hendrix series which included a Hollingsworth 10-yard carry followed by a Taylor 24-yard rush. The Warriors drove to the Millsaps 8, but a fumble was recovered by the Majors at their own 12.

Millsaps fumbled five times, with three coming in the final 15 minutes, and lost two. Hendrix fumbled three times and lost two.

The two teams combined for six turnovers.

Hendrix concludes its season with a league contest Nov. 13 at Sewanee. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT. It marks the first time the Warriors have ever played the same opponent more than once in a season. The Orange and Black defeated the Tigers, 49-27, in a non-conference game Sept. 25 at Young-Wise Memorial Stadium.