JACKSON, MS — JACKSON, MS - The Mississippi College football team opened the 2010 season with a 27-23 victory over cross-town rival Millsaps on Saturday night in the annual "Backyard Brawl". Senior tight end Cody Goss caught a two-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tommy Reyer to take the lead for good.

Senior running back Steven Knight set the tone early with a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to give MC a 7-0 lead. Knight would rush for 132 yards on 16 carries and would also score a 51-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Majors would get on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a 32-yard field goal by Taylor Russolino. Millsaps would take the lead in the second quarter when Shane Bowser scored on a 21-yard pass from quarterback Garrett Pinciotti.

The Choctaws would regain the lead just before halftime when Reyer connected with senior wide receiver Wesley Boudreaux from 47 yards out to give MC a 14-10 advantage heading into the intermission. Reyer finished the night 24-35 for 284 yards and two touchdowns.

The defenses would stand tall in the third quarter as neither team could crack the scoreboard and MC led heading into the fourth quarter. The Choctaw rush defense held Millsaps to only 93 yards rushing on the night and only 329 yards for the game in total.

The Majors would take the lead again early in the period when Bowser scored on a one-yard run. The Choctaws answered back with Knight's 51-yard run to cap off a four-play 64 yard drive that took just 56 seconds.

Millsaps took the lead with 9:23 remaining in the game when Bowser scored on an eight-yard pass from Pinciotti. Overall, Bowser combined for 175 total yards and three touchdowns.

The Choctaws would score for the final time with 6:33 left when Reyer hit Goss on a two-yard game-winning touchdown pass. Goss caught two passes for 13 yards on the night.

The MC defense would hold the Majors over the final minutes of the game to clinch the fourth win in five tries and the second in a row for team from Clinton.

Sophomore Kenderick Johnson led the Choctaws with six catches for 88 yards, while Boudreaux caught four passes for 41 yards and a score.

Seniors Willie Brown and Nolan Willisson led the Choctaws with six tackles each. Junior defensive end Jarryn Bingham recorded 3.0 TFL to pace MC, while Willisson and junior Jeremy Bertrand each had 2.0. The Choctaw defense also recorded three sacks on the night.

MC will play their first home game of 2010 when they host Belhaven University on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at Robinson-Hale Stadium.