JACKSON — One way to battle the high cost of game travel is to stay closer to home.

The Millsaps College Majors will do that this season when one of their five road games will be a simple walk across the street. On Sept. 13, the Majors will “travel” to Newell Field to play the Belhaven Blazers.

Belhaven is a NAIA school and its football players are on athletic scholarships. Millsaps is a NCAA Division III school and does not have athletic aid grants. Still, third-year coach Mike Dubose wanted the game.

“Everybody is struggling financially and with two non-conference games, it made sense to stay in town,” Dubose said. “With Belhaven and Mississippi College, those will be two of the most talented teams we’ll see all season.”

The Majors open their season on Sept. 6 when they host archrival Mississippi College in the fifth annual backyard brawl.

The two “local” games should get the Majors ready for Southern Intercollegiate Conference action. The Majors just missed repeating as league champs last year, losing to Trinity College on what was the play of the year in college football — 15 laterals that resulted in a 60-yard score on the final play.

“I think we showed how well we handled that adversity by coming back and playing two of our best games since I’ve been here in those last two weeks,” Dubose said. “The big thing is our league is getting better with the addition of Birmingham Southern and Colorado College. We should be able to earn an at-large bid from our conference.”

Two former Vicksburg Gators, who made huge contributions to the Majors program have graduated. Casey Younger was named a Division III All-America at defensive tackle in 2007 and was the defensive player of the year in the SIAC.

Also gone is safety Ray Kline, who was second on the team in tackles.

“It’s going to be difficult to replace those two. Casey was a great All-American for us and Ray played hard every week,” Dubose said.

While two Vicksburg area products leave, two more are set to contribute big in 2008. Former St. Aloysius lineman Jordan Granville had a great spring, and acting on a tip, asked to be moved to center.

“Jordan Granville is going to start for us at center. He saw where we needed help after our other starter decided to forgo his senior year. Jordan can play either side of the ball, but we needed a center and he showed how unselfish he is.”

Granville will be joined on offense by sophomore John Robert Burnett, a St. Aloysius graduate from Port Gibson. Burnett started a handful of games last year at tight end and caught a touchdown pass.

“Normally with a four-wide set, we don’t use a tight end much, but J.R. is good at it and we’re trying to work it in. He’s such a good player, we can always move him back to defense,” Dubose said.

Two former VHS Gators are back for their senior campaign in defensive back Marcus Harris and tackle Marcus Stokes.

Harris has led the Majors in interceptions the last two years and is a two-time all-conference pick.

“Marcus Harris has been the most consistent player we’ve had. He’s made All-League the last two years and is an outstanding corner,” Dubose said. “We’re also looking for big things from Marcus Stokes. He needs to stay healthy and if he does, he’s ready to make a move.”