Belhaven defeats NC Wesleyan 35-21

Last updated: October 10, 2026

JACKSON, Miss. (VDN) —

Story from Belhaven Athletics:

Matthew Dial made his first career start Friday night and gave Belhaven a performance it had not seen from a first-time starting quarterback in 18 years.

The freshman from Ocala, FL. threw four touchdown passes, the most by a Blazer in his first start since Jerred Wallace threw five against Faulkner in 2008, as Belhaven beat N.C. Wesleyan 35-21 under the Friday night lights of Belhaven Bowl Stadium.

The Blazers’ only deficit lasted 35 seconds of game clock. N.C. Wesleyan took a 14-7 lead on a 48-yard interception return with 50 seconds left in the first half. Dial answered with a three-play, 76-yard drive, finding Nehemiah Philip for a 48-yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining. Belhaven scored the next 21 points to take control.

Dial completed 13 of 20 passes for 190 yards and added 77 yards on 11 carries. Philip caught three passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns, while Julien Tabor rushed for 82 yards and a score. Belhaven finished with 387 yards of offense, including 197 on the ground.

The Blazers also got two timely takeaways from their defense. They held N.C. Wesleyan to 50 rushing yards, recorded four sacks and kept the Bishops’ offense out of the end zone until the final minutes of the game. Belhaven improved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the USA South; N.C. Wesleyan fell to 2-3 and 0-2.

How It Happened
First Quarter:
N.C. Wesleyan missed a 41-yard field goal, and Belhaven drove 76 yards in seven plays to take the lead. Dial ran for 22 yards, then found John Davis for 31 yards on third-and-eight. He finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Fricke with two seconds left in the quarter.

Second Quarter:
Braden Selvage tied the game with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jimmie West III. Later, London Bullin sacked Selvage and forced a fumble that John Ross Craven recovered, but N.C. Wesleyan’s Devin Jones intercepted Dial on Belhaven’s ensuing possession and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown. With 41 seconds left, Dial went back to work: a 22-yard completion to Draten Norwood, a six-yard run and the 48-yard scoring pass to Philip sent the teams to halftime tied 14-14.

Third Quarter:
Brayden Bullock forced a Selvage fumble on the Bishops’ opening drive, and Xander Robertsrecovered it and returned it 14 yards to the N.C. Wesleyan 46. Tabor converted fourth-and-four with a six-yard run and later scored from 10 yards out to put Belhaven back in front, 21-14. N.C. Wesleyan reached the Belhaven 5 on its next possession but missed a field goal.

Fourth Quarter:
Starting at their own 20 after the miss, the Blazers put together an 80-yard touchdown drive with two pivotal runs: punter Kyle Norris gained five yards on fourth-and-two, and Dial broke free for 37 yards on third-and-seven. Dial capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Philip on third-and-12. Javon Slaton’s 14-yard punt return then set Belhaven up at the Bishops’ 37, and Dial found Wyatt Locastro for an 11-yard score to make it 35-14 with 6:16 remaining. West caught a 27-yard touchdown pass for N.C. Wesleyan with 2:16 left, but Belhaven ran out the clock.

Tariot Snowden led Belhaven with seven tackles and a sack. Roberts added five tackles, two pass breakups and the fumble recovery; Craven had five tackles and a recovery. N.C. Wesleyan’s Selvage passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns, with West catching five passes for 156 yards and both scores.

Belhaven converted all three of its fourth-down attempts and scored touchdowns on all four of its red-zone trips.

Up Next
Belhaven travels to Greensboro on Saturday, Oct. 17, for a noon kickoff.