JACKSON, Miss. — Hendrix earned its first win of the 2026 season on Saturday with a 36-27 over Millsaps at Harper-Davis Field. The Warriors took the lead with 3:57 remaining on
Clay Brandenburg field goal in the fourth quarter after the game was tied 27-27, with the defense able to hold on Millsaps' final drive to see out the win. The offense finished with 387 passing yards and four touchdown passes, while the defense recovered two fumbles, intercepted one pass and helped produce 12 points off turnovers.
Jake Blice completed 25 of 35 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns.
Westin Bruce followed up a 200-yard day last week with five receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown. Dentravious Woods recorded eight tackles and also had a 22-yard scoop-and-score on the game's final play to seal the win.
Christian Roberts finished with a team-high 18 tackles, two forced fumbles, and 1.5 tackles for loss.
The Warriors' first-quarter scoring came on a 73-yard touchdown pass from Blice to Bruce, accounting for most of their 84 passing yards in the quarter. Millsaps produced 92 rushing yards on 17 carries, including a 43-yard touchdown run, and the teams finished the quarter tied 7-7.
The Warriors completed 9 of 10 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns in the second quarter, including Blice's 59-yard completion to Bruce and scoring throws to
Zo Payne and
Jayger Rainwater. The Warriors also went 4-for-5 on third down and closed the quarter with a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, while Millsaps answered with 43 rushing yards, 43 passing yards and a 40-yard fumble-return touchdown as the Warriors took a 21-20 edge into the break.
The Warriors leaned on the passing game in the third quarter, with Blice going 8-for-10 for 138 yards and a 58-yard touchdown to
Brooks McGee. Defensively, Roberts forced a fumble that
Chandler Laurent recovered, and
Beckett Moore added an interception as Millsaps was held scoreless despite 40 rushing yards and 44 passing yards in the quarter. The Warriors outscored Millsaps 6-0 in the quarter and led 27-20 entering the fourth.
Millsaps rushed for 101 yards in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors held Millsaps to 0-for-2 on fourth down and kept it scoreless on its lone red-zone trip, including a goal-line stop. The Warriors totaled 36 passing yards and 29 rushing yards in the quarter, with Blice's 31-yard completion to Payne helping set up
Clay Brandenburg's 25-yard field goal for a 30-27 lead with 3:57 left. Woods returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown on the final play, closing a 9-7 quarter for the Warriors and a 36-27 final.
The Warriors turned away Millsaps' opening possession on
Kaylan Crawford's fourth-down breakup, then scored one play later when Blice hit Bruce for a 73-yard touchdown and Brandenburg's PAT made it 7-0. Millsaps tied it 7-7 on its next drive with a 43-yard touchdown run and PAT. The Warriors later moved from their own 10 to midfield before a fourth-down stop, and the quarter ended tied 7-7 with the Warriors at their own 32.
The Warriors answered a Millsaps defensive touchdown with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, and Blice found Rainwater for a 3-yard score before Brandenburg's PAT put the Warriors ahead 21-20 with 43 seconds left in the second quarter. Earlier, Blice hit Bruce for 59 yards to set up a 7-yard touchdown pass to Payne, and the Warriors defense stopped Millsaps on fourth-and-2 at the Warriors' 29.
Jacob Moody sacked Quez Goss on the final play, closing the quarter with the Warriors up 21-20.
The Warriors turned Robert's forced fumble and Laurent's recovery into a 58-yard touchdown pass from Blice to McGee, giving the Warriors a 27-20 lead with 4:59 left in the third quarter.
Beckett Moore intercepted Millsaps on the next possession, though the Warriors' ensuing drive ended on downs. Millsaps reached the Warriors' 39 before the quarter expired, with the Warriors still ahead 27-20.
The Warriors broke a 27-27 tie with Brandenburg's 25-yard field goal with 3:57 left, finishing a 66-yard drive highlighted by Blice's 31-yard completion to Payne. Earlier, Roberts stopped Quez Goss at the Warriors' 1 on fourth down, and the Warriors later turned Millsaps away again when Laurent broke up a fourth-down pass at the Warriors' 33 with 1:05 remaining. Woods recovered a fumble on Millsaps' final lateral play and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown as the Warriors closed out a 36-27 win.
The win takes Hendrix to 1-1 on the year. The Warriors will remain on the road next week as they head to Sherman, Texas for a non-conference contest with SCAC foe Austin College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM at Apple Stadium.
