For Southern Sports & Travel, By Brett Rutland
Some things just aren’t meant to be. Unfortunately for Brookhaven Academy, the old saying was the case in the MAIS AA South State championship game. Brookhaven hosted River Oaks, La in a rematch of last year’s south title game but this time around the Mustangs won revenge. River Oaks got a 22 yard field goal as the final second ticked off the clock in the ball game for a 17-14 heart-breaking victory over the host Cougars. The Mustangs move on to face Leake Academy in the AA State championship game. Brookhaven, the defending state champion, ends its season with a 12-2 mark. 
(Above) Brookhaven quarterback Chandler Rogers (#12) gets taken down by two River Oaks defenders
“We lost a tough game tonight.” said Brookhaven head coach Herbert Davis. “Our defense played their tails off. We stopped them offensively time after time but it was one big play that hurt us. Both of our losses this year were because of special teams. We gave up a kickoff against Trinity that was the difference and a punt return tonight. If we don’t give that up we win the game. It’s a tough loss to swallow.”
“I’m proud of this team and these seniors.” added Davis. “They accomplished a lot in their careers here with a state championship and a lot of victories. Even though it’s a tough loss to deal with they have a lot to be proud of. I wish we could’ve won state again but it just didn’t happen.”
Brookhaven struck first in a defensive struggle that saw both team’s offensive units struggle to find any rhythm. Brookhaven was finally able to put together a 9 play, 85 yard drive late in the first quarter that ended with Chandler Rogers connecting with Bubba Keene from 13 yards out. Tyler Trout added the extra point for a 7-0 Cougar lead with 53 seconds left in the first.
River Oaks put together its first scoring drive, marching 89 yards in 13 plays before Ryan McGregor connected with Walker Thurmon from 11 yards out. Brogan Brasseaux added the extra point, knotting things up at the half.
The defensive struggle continued in the second half as neither team could register a score until Teshadi Talton took a Brookhaven punt and raced 65 yards for the score with 4:38 remaining in the game. Brasseaux added the extra point for a 14-7 River Oaks lead.
Rogers and company took possession at their own 43 yard line on the ensuing drive and Rogers engineered a 5 play, 57 yard drive that ended with Rogers connecting with Jennings Mills from 13 yards out. Trout added the extra point, tying the game at 14 with 2:40 showing on the clock.
But the Mustangs would have the last say, going 61 yards in 9 plays before Brasseaux kicked a 22 yard field goal as time expired.
Rogers led the Brookhaven offense, picking up 153 yards on 22 carries. Through the air, he completed 12 of his 24 pass attempts for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted three times.
Landon Nettles added 53 yards on 9 carries in support. Bubba Keene caught 5 passes for 44 yards with one touchdown. Mills added 35 yards on 4 receptions with a touchdown.
Talton led the Mustangs offense with 90 yards on 15 carries. McGregor completed 5 of his 13 pass attempts for 67 yards with a touchdown.
On defense, Bailey Hodge led Brookhaven with 13 tackles. Mark Rushing and Jeff Rushing each added 12 stops a piece. C.J. Duckworth and Alan Michael Allred each had 11 tackles.
Chandler Rogers ends his career at Brookhaven Academy setting records in just about every possible category. Rogers passed for an even 8,800 yards in three seasons after totaling 3,002 yards in his senior campaign. On the ground, Rogers added 2,125 yards over three seasons, giving him 10,925 total offense yards, eclipsing former standout BA quarterback Price Sessums who totaled 9,189 total yards in his career.
Roger also accounted for an MAIS career record 131 touchdowns in those three seasons. He is second only to Dylan Favre of St. Stanislaus for the overall state record.
(Above) Brookhaven quarterback Chandler Rogers (#12) gets taken down by two River Oaks defenders“We lost a tough game tonight.” said Brookhaven head coach Herbert Davis. “Our defense played their tails off. We stopped them offensively time after time but it was one big play that hurt us. Both of our losses this year were because of special teams. We gave up a kickoff against Trinity that was the difference and a punt return tonight. If we don’t give that up we win the game. It’s a tough loss to swallow.”
“I’m proud of this team and these seniors.” added Davis. “They accomplished a lot in their careers here with a state championship and a lot of victories. Even though it’s a tough loss to deal with they have a lot to be proud of. I wish we could’ve won state again but it just didn’t happen.”
Brookhaven struck first in a defensive struggle that saw both team’s offensive units struggle to find any rhythm. Brookhaven was finally able to put together a 9 play, 85 yard drive late in the first quarter that ended with Chandler Rogers connecting with Bubba Keene from 13 yards out. Tyler Trout added the extra point for a 7-0 Cougar lead with 53 seconds left in the first.
River Oaks put together its first scoring drive, marching 89 yards in 13 plays before Ryan McGregor connected with Walker Thurmon from 11 yards out. Brogan Brasseaux added the extra point, knotting things up at the half.
The defensive struggle continued in the second half as neither team could register a score until Teshadi Talton took a Brookhaven punt and raced 65 yards for the score with 4:38 remaining in the game. Brasseaux added the extra point for a 14-7 River Oaks lead.
Rogers and company took possession at their own 43 yard line on the ensuing drive and Rogers engineered a 5 play, 57 yard drive that ended with Rogers connecting with Jennings Mills from 13 yards out. Trout added the extra point, tying the game at 14 with 2:40 showing on the clock.
But the Mustangs would have the last say, going 61 yards in 9 plays before Brasseaux kicked a 22 yard field goal as time expired.
Rogers led the Brookhaven offense, picking up 153 yards on 22 carries. Through the air, he completed 12 of his 24 pass attempts for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted three times.
Landon Nettles added 53 yards on 9 carries in support. Bubba Keene caught 5 passes for 44 yards with one touchdown. Mills added 35 yards on 4 receptions with a touchdown.
Talton led the Mustangs offense with 90 yards on 15 carries. McGregor completed 5 of his 13 pass attempts for 67 yards with a touchdown.
On defense, Bailey Hodge led Brookhaven with 13 tackles. Mark Rushing and Jeff Rushing each added 12 stops a piece. C.J. Duckworth and Alan Michael Allred each had 11 tackles.
Chandler Rogers ends his career at Brookhaven Academy setting records in just about every possible category. Rogers passed for an even 8,800 yards in three seasons after totaling 3,002 yards in his senior campaign. On the ground, Rogers added 2,125 yards over three seasons, giving him 10,925 total offense yards, eclipsing former standout BA quarterback Price Sessums who totaled 9,189 total yards in his career.
Roger also accounted for an MAIS career record 131 touchdowns in those three seasons. He is second only to Dylan Favre of St. Stanislaus for the overall state record.
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*Photo Courtesy of Sherylyn Evans
