JACKSON — Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors are likely headed Casey Younger’s way after he dominated whoever Rhodes College tried to block him with.

Younger made life miserable for Lynx quarterback Mark Oliver, sacking him three times while pressuring him into four interceptions as Millsaps crushed Rhodes 42-0 Saturday afternoon at Harper Davis Field.

Younger, one of three former Vicksburg High Gators who start on Millsaps’ defense, felt his weekly preparation helped get him ready for Rhodes. He finished with five solo tackles, four assists and four tackles for loss, which included his three sacks.

“We had a pretty good scheme for them,” Younger said. “I studied a lot of film this week because Coach (Mike) Dubose made it clear we needed to have this game. With our defensive line stepping up, it made things easy for our secondary. When we bring that pressure, it sets up those guys to make plays.”

Millsaps (3-1, 2-0 SCAC) forced three turnovers in the first quarter alone, including a game-breaking 42-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Marcus Harris, a fellow VHS alum. The Majors converted all three of the early turnovers into points to build a 21-0 lead.

“I knew anytime they ran trips, one of the routes they would run to my side would be a curl pattern,” Harris said. “I just jumped it.”

Harris had a lane down the sideline but at the 10, he saw some traffic and made a cut across the grain to score easily.

“I did that for style points,” Harris quipped of his late cut.

The interception was his first of the season and the touchdown was the third of his collegiate career. He had five interceptions as a sophomore last season, including one he returned for a touchdown.

Millsaps safety and the third member of the Gators club, Ray Kline, also had an interception late in the first half to give Rhodes five turnovers for the half. Kline also forced a fumble off a blitz that was recovered by David Dale. The play led to a 3-yard TD run by quarterback Burt Pereira that made it 14-0.

“Our scheme is set up for us to make plays,” said Kline, a senior and a three-year starter for the Majors. “Anybody can make plays in this scheme. This was definitely big for our defense because this was our first shutout since my freshman year when we beat Mississippi College.”

The way the Majors are rolling right now — they’ve won three straight since an opening 27-26 loss to Mississippi College in the opener — more easy wins could be in the coffer.

“This is by far the best team I’ve played on,” Kline said. “Coach Dubose is a defensive genius.”

Millsaps was playing without its regular starting quarterback in Juan Joseph, but the offense missed little as Pereira led three second half scoring drives to double up the Majors’ halftime lead to 42-0. Pereira completed 18 of 24 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown.

Former St. Aloysius player John Robert Burnett got in on an offensive series in the fourth quarter. Burnett has filled a role as the team’s tight end in short-yardage situations. Another former Flashes player, Jordan Granville, got in a series at defensive end and was credited with a tackle. Marcus Stokes, another VHS grad, had three stops with the second unit.