BA
Falls to Centreville in Opener
Submitted to Southern Sports & Travel
Going into the 2013 season opener Coach Tripp
McCarty knew his Brookhaven Academy Cougars had some big shoes to fill from
last year’s championship season. Earlier
in the week McCarty commented, “We’ve put in the work over the summer, these
kids have been dedicated and now we have to go and perform under the lights on
Friday night.” Sounds like a simple
plan, but for your opening opponent is perennial powerhouse Centreville Academy
on their home turf led by their junior standout quarterback Casey Haygood who
passed for three touchdowns and ran for another on the night giving the Tigers
a 35-14 victory.
The BA Cougars took first possession but their drive
stalled out and they were forced to punt the ball away to Centreville who
started their first drive of the evening on their on 21 yard line. Haygood went to work mixing runs with short
passes mounting a 79 yard charge in just under 4 minutes concluded with a 10
yard touchdown strike to Daniel Hollingsworth.
Brock Andrus added the PAT to give the tigers a 7 – 0 lead at the 4:27
mark of the first quarter.
Again, on the Cougars next possession after picking
up one first down, they were forced to punt the ball back to the Tigers who
took over at their own 25 yard line.
Facing a 3rd and 1 at their 34 yard line, tailback Mark Currie ripped
off a 44 yard run putting the Tigers in business again as the first quarter ran
out with CA leading 7 – 0. The Tigers
pushed deep into Cougar territory and facing a fourth down and goal to go at
the one yard line, Tyler Caston inched over the goal line for the touchdown
run. Andrus added the PAT and the Tigers
led 14 – 0 early in the second quarter.
The teams traded possessions and the Tigers found
themselves on the Cougar side of the 50 yard line and on the move again with
just under 4 minutes to play in the half when BA senior defensive back Ethan
Harris picked off a Haygood pass to stop the Tiger drive deep in Cougar
territory. The Cougars could find no
momentum off the turnover and had to punt the ball back to the Tigers with 2:22
to play in the half. Haygood went back
to work and eventually hooked up with Colby Shaw on a 22 yard touchdown pass,
Andrus add the kick to give the Tiger a 21 – 0 lead going into the locker rooms
at half.
Hoping to turn the tide, the Cougar defense had to
stop the Tigers on their opening possession of the second half. Haygood would have none of that marching his
offense down the field on a 72 yard drive and calling his own number on a 1 yard
TD run to put the Tigers up 28 – 0.
Haygood would add another 25 yard touchdown pass to Shaw and a 35 – 0
lead to end the scoring on the night for Centreville.
The Cougars looked to find some positives to build
on for the night and put together a 69 yard drive of their own and finally
found pay dirt on a Connor Dorman 8 yard scamper. Landon Nettles added the PAT bring the score
at to 35 – 7. BA would hold the Tigers
on downs forcing a punt then mounted another drive of 66 yards capped off by a
Heath Hickman to tight end Carter Culbertson pass play for a 12 yard
touchdown. Nettles added the PAT and cap
the scoring for both teams on the night.
Offensively for the Cougars Connor Dorman led the
ground attack with 65 yards on 8 carries and Landon Nettles added 52 yards on
15 attempts. Hickman was 6 for 9 passing
for 43 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively for the Cougars, they were led by senior
cornerback Bailey Warren who had 9 tackles to his credit. Ethan Harris added 7 tackles and an
interception. Connor Dorman also tallied
4 1/2 stops on the night for BA.
Haygood finished the night for Centreville 17 for 22
and 230 yards passing with 3 touchdowns and one TD run on the ground. Mark Currie added 60 yards rushing on 5
attempts and Tyler Caston had 24 yards and a touchdown run.
After the game Coach McCarty commented, “We have to
run the ball better on offense and do everything better on defense.” He continued, “Give credit to Centreville,
but we have to play better in all aspects of the game.”
The Cougars will face the Parklane Pioneers next
Friday night on the campus of Brookhaven Academy and R.M. “Red” Stuard Field.
