Someone forgot to tell Bowling Green coach Brett Beard and the Buccaneers how the game should have gone on paper. Brookhaven completely dominated the Bucs in the first half and roared to a 38-7 halftime lead, but when Brookhaven coach Herbert Davis substituted his younger players in the second half, Bowling Green’s senior starters roared back and cut the Brookhaven lead to 45-33 before the final horn sounded.
(Above) Brookhaven tailback Landon Nettles (#33) rushed for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns
Brookhaven improves to 10-1 on the season and finishes a perfect 4-0 in district play. Bowling Green fell to 3-7 overall and 1-3 in district play.
“I thought we played the best we’ve played all year in the first half.” said Davis. “We executed well, put points on the board and our defense was tough. We just need to do a better job of securing the football when we have it. We had a couple of fumbles tonight and those could cost us down the road.”
Brookhaven took just under two minutes to put points on the scoreboard as they took the opening kickoff and marched 54 yards in 5 plays before Landon Nettles scored on a 13 yard run at the 10:03 mark of the first quarter. Tyler Trout added the extra point for a 7-0 Brookhaven lead.
The Cougars added their second score of the night with 5:14 left in the first as Chandler Rogers connected with Bubba Keene from 38 yards out, completing a three play, 76 yard drive. Trout added the extra point for a 14-0 Brookhaven lead.
Nettles found the end zone again for Brookhaven, this time from three yards out, with 47 seconds left in the first quarter. Trout added the extra point for a 21-0 Brookhaven lead at the end of the first quarter.
Brookhaven got its fourth score of the night as Rogers again connected with Keene on a 41 yard strike with 8:18 to go in the first half, giving the visitors a 28-0 lead. Rogers then connected with Will Lucas from 8 yards out at the 4:23 mark of the first half. Trout added the extra point for a 35-0 lead.
Bowling Green got its first score of the night with 30 seconds left in the half as Chris Lott connected with Seth Fauntleroy from 8 yards out. Jason Milton added the extra point, cutting the Brookhaven lead to 35-7.
The Cougars were able to drive 46 yard in three plays on the ensuing drive to allow Trout to add a 28 yard field goal as time expired in the half, giving them a 38-7 halftime lead.
Brookhaven’s only score of the second half came at the 9:36 mark of the third quarter as C.J. Duckworth scored on a two yard run. Trout added the extra point for a 45-7 Cougar lead.
Bowling Green took advantage of Brookhaven’s substitutes in the second half, registering 26 second half points. Fauntleroy scored on a 58 yard run with 3:52 left in the third to cut the Cougar lead to 45-14 after Milton added the extra point.
Hunter Thomas scored on an 11 yard run with 9:32 left in the game and again with 6:16 remaining to cut the Brookhaven lead to 45-27.
Bowling Green’s final score of the night came with 3 seconds remaining in the game as Lott scored on an 80 yard run, ending the scoring at 45-33.
Rogers led the Brookhaven offense, completing 9 of his 13 pass attempts for 213 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Nettles led the Brookhaven ground attack, rushing for 199 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. Bubba Keene led all receivers with 6 receptions for 188 yards and two scores. Sidney Chaffin added 6 receptions for 100 yards. Gage Posey completed 6 of his 16 pass attempts for 103 yards with an interception in relief of Rogers.
Lott led Bowling Green with 131 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown. Hunter Thomas added 70 yards on 18 carries with two scores.
One defense, Duckworth led Brookhaven with 13 tackles. Alan Michael Allred followed with 12 and Bailey Hodge and Jeff Rushing each added 10 in support.
Brookhaven hosts Adams County Christian School Friday night in the first round of the AA state playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Sherylyn Evans
