Backyard Brawl 2012 Promotes Early Bird Ticket Discounts

The deadline is July 31 for Backyard Brawl fans to purchase $5 tickets to see Mississippi College battle Millsaps in the latest edition of their football series.

Scheduled for August 30 at Harper Davis Field on the Millsaps campus, the game marks the 41^st annual meeting between the two metro Jackson colleges. After July 31, ticket prices jump to $10 and will be sold for $15 at the gate in Jackson. The kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

MC graduates like Doug Davis of Hernando get pumped whenever the two NCAA Division III rivals suit up for football. The “Grudge Match” opens the 2012 season for both Mississippi institutions.

“The MC vs. Millsaps game is a great athletic contest between two outstanding academic universities,” says Davis, a banker and former state senator. “It provides an opportunity for both colleges to show school spirit, support their football teams and provides alumni with something to brag about the Sunday after the game.”

This is the 13^th Backyard Brawl since the series resumed in 2000. The MC Choctaws are riding a three-game winning streak over the Majors.

Davis hopes his alma mater makes it four in a row.

Many of the games are hard fought classics until the final few moments.

Reid Vance, an MC communication professor and sports announcer, rates the 2007 Backyard Brawl as one of the best he’s seen. Playing in the rain, MC trailed 26-6 at home heading to the 4^th quarter before quarterback Adam Shaffer tossed two touchdowns to get the Choctaws within six. Safety Maurice Cowan picked off a pass, made a nice return and Gerald Brown ran in for the touchdown to give the Choctaws a thrilling 27-26 victory.

“That fourth quarter was some of the best football the Choctaws have played in recent years, and set the stage for an 8-2 record that season,” Vance said.

Mississippi College seeks to bounce back after a disappointing 3-7 season in 2011. In 2009, the Choctaws led by Coach Norman Joseph were champions of the American Southwest Conference.

The Choctaws play their 2012 season home opener at Robinson-Hale Stadium in Clinton with a September 8 game against NAIA school Webber International of Florida at 6 p.m.

On September 15, the Choctaws go on the road against NCAA Division II’s West Alabama in Livingston, Ala. with a 6 p.m. kickoff. MC’s home schedule also includes games with ASC teams like Sul Ross State on October 6, East Texas Baptist on October 27 and Louisiana College on November 3.

To purchase tickets, contact Missa Turman of the MC Athletics Department at 601.925.3341 or turman@mc.edu.