Submitted to Southern Sports & Travel
With back to back
district contest wins, the Brookhaven Academy Cougars had to take one more step
to defend their District 5 AA title verses a talented Trinity Episcopal squad
from Natchez. Coach Tripp McCarty said
prior to Friday night’s contest, “We know what challenges Trinity will bring to
the table. “ “We have to play fundamentally sound football and stick to the
basics of blocking and tackling to be successful.” The Cougars got fundamentals and more as
they subdued the Saints 34 – 14.
The Cougars got the
ball first and BA quarterback Gage Posey went to work with a 27 yard run on the
first play from scrimmage. Posey then
hit wide-out Seth Rushing on a 35 yard strike pushing the ball down to the
Trinity 6 yard line. Posey would take it
in from one yard out for the game’s first score. Kevin Nettles added the PAT and gave the
Cougars a 7 – 0 lead just 2:55 seconds into the opening quarter.
Trinity took possession
and quickly moved into Cougar territory.
As quick as BA put points on the board, the Saints struck back with a 41
yard touchdown run by their super talented running back Tanner Cage. Carter Smith would add the PAT and knot the
game at 7 – 7 with 7:57 to play in the first quarter.
The teams would trade
possessions and punts as the clock rolled into the second quarter of play. After holding the Saints on a fourth down
conversion attempt, the Cougars took over at their own 43 yard line. A 17 yard run by Posey set the Cougars up in
Trinity territory but solid defense by the Saints saw BA facing a fourth down
and five yards to go at the TE 35 yard line.
McCarty called on a pair of his seniors as Posey dropped in the pocket
and with great protection from his offensive line and hit Matthew Evans on a
post pattern allowing Evans to do the rest taking it untouched into the south end
zone for the score. Nettles added the
PAT and gave the Cougars a 14 – 7 lead with 2:48 left in the second
quarter.
With little time to
work with in the first half, Trinity started their next drive at their own 10
yard line. Quarterback Garrett Vinson
found slot back Peyton Young on an out pattern out of the backfield who turned
a short gainer into a 71 yard catch and run.
Cage did the work from there on a 7 yard TD run. Smith added the point after tying the game 14
– 14 sending the teams to the locker rooms at halftime.
Coach McCarty
challenged his squad to come out with more intensity in the second half and the
Cougars responded. After forcing a Saint
fumble and a 20 yard recovery and return from Matthew Evans, BA took possession
on the Trinity 41 yard line. Posey hit Landon
Nettles on a 33 yard pass play setting the Cougars up at the Saint 5 yard
line. Nettles did the rest with a TD run
from 1 yard out. Kevin Nettles again
added the PAT giving the Cougars a 21 – 14 lead with 7:47 to play in the third.
BA would hold the
Saints on their next possessions and take over at the 50 yard line after a
Trinity punt. Two plays later, Landon
Nettles would break into the open around left end and eventually bull his way
over two Trinity defenders at the goal line for a 44 yard touchdown run. Kevin Nettles added the PAT and set the score
at 28 – 14 with :54 left to play in quarter number three.
Trinity was forced to
go to the air to try to get back into the game and the Cougars would have none
of that. Matthew Evans picked off a
Vinson pass and returned it 28 yards for the final score of the night and a
convincing 34 – 14 Brookhaven Academy victory giving the Cougars their seventh consecutive district title.
A very pleased McCarty
said after the game, “I am really proud of our team, our coaches, our students
and our fans.” “We stuck together this
year and reached our first goal of winning our district.” McCarty continued, “Now it’s time to focus in
the playoffs and take all the things we are doing real good right now on both
sides of the ball and keep the momentum going.”
Offensively the Cougars
were led by Landon Nettles who rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Gage Posey had 189 passing yards and 1 touchdown
as well as 94 yards and one score on the ground. Seth Rushing led the Cougar receiving corps
with 5 catches for 67 yards, Caleb Brown had 4 catches for 40 yards and Matthew
Evans has 2 catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively the Cougars
were led by Junior Garrett Pace who had 12.5 tackles and a pass deflection,
Preston Rawls added 9 stops for BA and Colby Culbertson chipped in 7 tackles on
the night. Matthew Evans had an
interception and a fumble recovery and Caleb Brown also intercepted a pass for
the Cougars. Tanner Parvin had a great
night punting for the Cougars, pinning the Saints deep in their territory on
multiple occasions, averaging 51 yards per kick with longs of 64 and 50 yards.
Brookhaven Academy will
host the Columbia Academy Cougars in the first round of the Class AA South
Division playoffs next Friday night on R. M. “Red” Stuard Field.
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