Brookhaven stops Bowling Green

Submitted to Southern Sports & Travel

Looking to tune up prior to their first District 5 Class AA contest next week and get back in the win column, the Brookhaven Academy Cougars traveled to Franklinton, LA to do battle with the Bowling Green Buccaneers.  Prior to the game, BA Coach Tripp McCarty said the strategy going in was real was simple, “We have to stop their run game to be successful. “  McCarty continued, “If we do that and force them to make mistakes, we can be successful.”  Rising to the challenge the Cougars did control the Buccaneer run game and cruised to a 32 – 20 victory.

Taking the opening kickoff at their own 33 yard line the Cougars went to work quickly.  Quarterback Gage Posey hit on pass attempts of 20 yards to Seth Rushing and 27 yards to Ross Foreman to push deep into Buccaneer territory.  Posey would then find Rushing from seven yards out for the first score of the game.  Kevin Nettles added the PAT to give the Cougars a 7 – 0 lead at the 9:47 mark of the first quarter.

Bowling Green’s first possession would be short lived.  A Preston Rawls interception in pass coverage from his linebacker position set the Cougars up at the Buccaneer 18 yard line.  Posey wasted no time capitalizing on the Buccaneer miscue finding Will Hickman with a laser between 3 defenders for a 12 yard touchdown pass and catch.  Nettles added the PAT pushing the score to 14 – 0 with 8:17 still to play in the first period.

Pressed to answer the BA scores, Bowling Green got their offense going starting their next possession at their own 35 yard line.  With a mix of pass and run the Bucs were able to penetrate deep into Cougar territory and find the end zone on a 5 yard Jake Williams run.  Grant Ball added the PAT and pulled the Buccaneers closer at 14 – 7 still in the first quarter.

After stalling out BA would be forced to punt and Bowling Green would take possession at their own 37 yard line.  Disaster would strike again for the Buccaneers as BA forced the football loose on a tailback sweep and Jacob Conley recovered for the Cougars at the BG 29 yard line.  Unable to secure a first down the Cougars turned the ball over after a mishandled snap on a 32 yard field goal attempt.  Feeling some momentum swinging their way, Bowling Green came out aggressive with a 20 yard pass from QB Connor McCain to Grant Ball followed by another 13 yard McCain to Ball connection, however, BA cornerback Matthew Evans alertly stripped the pigskin from Ball and raced 36 yards downfield before being forced out of bounds at the Bowling Green 4 yard line.  Junior tailback Landon Nettles would do the work from there with a 4 yard TD run.  The PAT was blocked leaving the Cougars on top at 20 -7 with 2:24 remaining in the quarter and the same score the teams would take to the locker room at halftime.

After swapping possessions to start the second half of play the Cougars would take advantage of another Buccaneer turnover when Tanner Parvin recovered a BG fumble at their own 36 yard line.  Posey wasted no time advancing with a 23 yard pass to Caleb Brown setting up another Posey touchdown strike to Matthew Evans from 12 yards out.  The 2 point conversion pass attempt failed and the Cougars settled for a 26 – 7 lead with 4:06 showing in the third.

The Bucs refusing to quit and behind the passing of McCain were able to find the end zone on a 19 yard pass to Patrick Roublow.  The conversion was stuffed at the line of scrimmage and with 5:41 to play in the contest BA led 26 – 13.  BG was able to hold the Cougars and get the ball back hoping to pull closer and really make things interesting and they did just that.  McCain again guided the Bucs down the field and found tight end Trent Ball on a 6 yard pass play for the touchdown.  Grant Ball would add the PAT and pull the Buccaneers within six points with 2:20 to play.

The ensuing on-sides kick was easily handled by the BA front line at the Bowling Green 49 yard line.  Staying aggressive, Posey would break free on a quarterback keeper off right side for a 43 yard run down to the Buccaneer 6 yard line and call his own number again on a subsequent 4 yard touchdown run icing the contest and securing the 32 – 20 victory for the Cougars.

Coach McCarty commented after the game, “I’m real proud of our team and their effort this past week and tonight.”  “We wanted to control the game with our defense and we did that forcing four turnovers that we were able to take advantage of.”  McCarty continued, “We have to now get ready for a big homecoming week and our first district contest with Columbia next Friday night.”  “Rest assured our boys will be ready for this one.”

Offensively Gage Posey led the Cougars with 212 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air.   Posey added to his total with 57 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground giving him his 20^th touchdown of the season.  Seth Rushing headed the receiving corps for BA with 5 catches and a touchdown.  Both Will Hickman and Matthew Evans had 2 catches and a score each for the Cougars.  A total of eight different BA receivers had pass receptions on the night.

For the Buccaneers Patrick Roublow netted 84 yards on the ground, 77 of those coming in the first half of play.  Connor McCain completed 21 pass attempts on the night with TD passes to Roublow and Trent Ball.Defensively the Cougars were led by Colby Culbertson with 10 tackles, Garrett Pace with 6 ½ stops and Preston Rawls added 6 tackles and an interception.  Matthew Evans, Tanner Parvin and Jacob Conley each had fumble recoveries for the Cougars.

Brookhaven Academy celebrates Homecoming 2012 next Friday night and the Cougars start their District 5 Class AA play versus Columbia Academy.  Homecoming presentation starts at 6 pm with kickoff to follow at 7 pm on R. M. “Red” Stuard Field.