Brookhaven topples Trinity on the road
By Brett Rutland
If you follow MAIS football and aren't a Brookhaven Academy fan, then you are one of many that believed that the Cougars had little chance in winning the District 5-AA championship. Thanks to reclassification, the Cougars found themselves in the same district with perennial power Trinity Episcopal. The two teams squared off Friday night for the district title in Natchez, and no one really expected the game to unfold as it did.
Brookhaven upset second ranked Trinity 40-36, thanks to four big plays from the players one would expect to lead the team. Seniors Bubba Keene and Will Lucas each recorded two touchdowns, with each player reaching pay dirt at a time the Cougars desperately needed it.
Keene had a 67 yard punt return and a 40 yard interception return in the fourth quarter, helping Brookhaven erase a 28-21 deficit and giving the visitors a 33-28 lead with 6:46 left to play.
Trinity had one last bid for heroics as Tip McKenzie took a Scott Turner pass and racing 75 yards for the score, giving the Saints a 36-33 lead with just 1:49 remaining, and apparently saving their district title aspirations.
Brookhaven's last drive seemed to be fading just as their lead had, until junior quarterback Gage Posey heaved what most probably thought was a desperation towards the end zone. But Posey had spotted a tremendously wide open Lucas for the 52 yard touchdown with 1:03 remaining.
The Cougars were able to force an incompletion from the Saints on fourth down in the waning seconds to secure the win and the district title.
"Our kids showed a lot of heart tonight." said Brookhaven head coach Tripp McCarty. "There were several times that they could've wilted and dropped their heads, but they kept fighting and playing hard. We got some big plays from some big players. It's a big win against a good football team."
Brookhaven appeared to set the tone right away to start the game. After holding Trinity to a three and out to open the game, the Cougar offense put together a 9 play, 55 yard drive that ended with Posey scoring on a five yard run. Keene added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Trinity responded with a 7 play, 95 yard drive that ended with Turner connecting with Jacob Sandrock from 30 yards out, giving the Saints an 8-7 lead after McKenzie added the two point conversion.
Each team added one more score in the first half. McKenzie scored on a three yard run with 8:43 left, and Posey connected with Lucas from 24 yards out with 6:43 remaining, giving the Saints a 14-13 lead at the break.
Turner connected with Caleb Cross to open the scoring in the third, on a 27 yard pass with 9:00 remaining in the quarter.
Brookhaven wins its sixth consecutive district championship, and in the process, halts Trinity's district win streak. The Saints dropped a district game for the first time since the 2005 season.
"We gave up some big plays to a better football team tonight." said Trinity head coach David King. "We knew that Brookhaven was a good team and we've told our kids all week they better be prepared for a battle, and that's exactly what we got. It seems like every time we play Brookhaven it's a big play that is the difference and tonight was no different."
Posey led the Brookhaven offense, completing 9 of his 24 pass attempts for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Landon Nettles picked up 71 yards on 17 carries in support. Lucas was the leading receiver with two catches for 76 yards, with both catches being touchdowns. Keene caught three passes for 37 yards.
Scott Turner completed 14 of his 33 pass attempts for 344 yards and four touchdowns. McKenzie was the leading receiver with four catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Tanner Cage picked up 57 yards on 6 carries.
On defense, Jeff Rushing and Bailey Hodge each recorded 15 tackles. Eli Gatlin added 8 stops in support. Bubba Keene, Ken Britt, and Hunter Franklin each registered 7 stops. Keene, Seth Rushing and Matthew Evans each recorded an interception. Garrett Pace recovered a fumble.
Brookhaven will host Oak Forest, the number 2 seed from District 6, in the first round of the MAIS AA state playoffs Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Photos Courtesy of Sherylyn Evans
