Prentiss Christian School had visions of an upset Saturday nightagainst the high-powered Brookhaven Academy Cougars. After gaininga 5-0 second quarter lead, those visions seemed more clear. ButBA’s Cougars did what they do best by regrouping and prevailingwith an 18-5 victory.

“It was a dog fight out there tonight,” said Brookhaven Academycoach Ray Ishee. “We did some things in the second half that helpedus put some points on the board.”

The points the Cougars needed were unanswered ones. The Cougarsused the end of the second quarter and all of the second half toexecute their attack.

The Cougars (3-0) first score came at the 4:08 mark of thesecond quarter as senior quarterback Ben Davis scored from one yardout. After a failed Adam Smith PAT kick, the Cougars held commandat 6-5. The Saints (1-2) got their only scores off a first quartersafety and a Carl Peterson 40-yard field goal.

The Cougars then used their bag of tricks just before halftime,as a broken field goal play resulted in a TD pass from holderCollins Case to Jeffrey Waycaster for 15-yards. After a failedtwo-point try, the Cougars entered halftime ahead 12-5.

After a scoreless third quarter defensive showcase, the Cougarsgot back on the scoring pace as Adam Smith rumbled 45 yards to theSaints four yard line with 8:17 remaining. Following two no gainersby the Cougars, BA used a keeper by Davis to break the Saints’backs. The Cougars led 18-5.

“Ben had a good game for us tonight,” continued Ishee. “He andSmith ran the ball well when we needed it. We needed that effortbecause Prentiss Christian has a good team.”

The Saints looked to be staging a comeback of sorts with 7:55remaining as junior quarterback Riggin Lott connected with wideoutsJosh Erwin and Shane Fortenberry for 15 and 12 yards.

Lott then used his running abilities to set the Saints up at theCougars 32 with 5:55 remaining.

Lott went to the ground as he took off for a five yard gain thatended with misfortune. Cougar junior Cole Smith stepped up and madethe big play as he jarred the ball loose from Lott and recovered itat the Cougars 27 yard line.

The Cougars ran the remaining 5:46 off the clock as Davis andSmith pounded the Saints with first down runs and hard gruelingyards.

“This was a good victory for us,” added Ishee. “We’ve got atough district game next week at Columbia. So we’ve got to comeback Monday and get ready for them.”

Leading Ishee’s Cougars on offense was Smith with 14 carries for110 yards. Davis finished the game with 12 carries for 76 yards andtwo touchdowns.

On defense the Cougars were led by Waycasterwith 12 tackles and a fumble recovery. Juniors Cal Hodges and TylerLofton each had 11 tackles.

For the Saints, Erwin led the attack with 22 carries for 81yards. Senior running back Adam Iovino had 16 carries for 63yards.

On defense, the Saints were led by Erwin with eight tackles andthree sacks. Senior Matthew Miller finished with seven tackles andone interception.

The Cougars resume play Friday night as district 4-AA rivalColumbia Academy.

STATISTICS

PC BA

First Downs 10 10

Rushes-Yards 46-157 38-227

Passing Yards 40 32

Total Yards 197 259

Passes 3-8-0 4-8-1

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1

Punts-Average 3-27 2-30

Penalties-Yards 9-50 6-47

Prentiss Christian 2 3 0 0 – 5

Brookhaven Academy 0 6 6 6 – 18

FIRST QUARTER

PC – safety (kick good).

SECOND QUARTER

PC – 40 yard field goal

BA – Davis 1-yard run (kick failed)

THIRD QUARTER

BA – Case to Waycaster 11 yards (kickfailed)

FOURTH QUARTER

BA – Davis 5 run (kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING:

BA, A. Smith 14-110, Davis 12-76, Waycaster 6-25, Nix6-16, PC, Josh Irwin 16-73, Adam Iovino 12-63, Shane Fortenberry9-14.

PASSING:

BA, 4-8-1, 32. PC, 3-8-0.

RECEIVING:

BA, Lagrone 1-4, Waycaster 1-8, Smith 1-6, Waycaster1-11.