The Raymond Rangers got a strong does of Region 6-4A competitionFriday night. The Brookhaven Panthers provided the opposition inthe opening region test for both teams and King Field served as thebackdrop Friday night. The Panthers gave the Hinds Countians anintroduction to one of the toughest regions in the state with aresounding 42-20 victory over the Rangers.

This was the first-ever meeting between the schools infootball.

Brookhaven (3-1), concluding a 3-game homestand, travels toClaiborne County on Friday, to meet the Port Gibson Blue Wave.Raymond hosts McComb for homecoming. Both Region 6-4A tests kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

The win by Brookhaven left a lasting impression on Raymond.Ranger head coach Michael Fields paid several compliments to theregion and the Panthers.

“We knew coming in that this was the toughest region in thestate overall,” said Fields. “The last two state champions(Lawrence County and McComb) in 4A have come out of this region.Brookhaven has a very good team.”

Raymond (2-2, 0-1) came out of the starting gate throwing thefootball. The blue-and-gold clad Rangers threw 38 passes in thegame, completing only 15.

“We saw some things on film and we wanted to spread the defenseover the entire field to open up the passing game,” added Fields.”But we just commit entirely too many turnovers and penalties.”

The Rangers’ first drive ended with a fumble at the Brookhaven43. Panther linebacker Josh Townsend recovered and his teammateswere in business at their own 35. Seven plays and 65 yards later,senior runningback Cornelius Allen scored from 3 yards out. DanielGates connected on the first of 6 PAT kicks and Brookhaven held a7-0 lead.

Allen scored 3 touchdowns on the night and finished the gamewith 166 yards on 25 rushes. His second touchdown came with 10:35left in the second, on a 9-yard scoring burst. The final score cameat the 2:37 mark of the first half.

Brookhaven entertained a 21-0 advantage at the intermission.

“I am really proud of our guys tonight,” said Panther head coachAndrew Hickman following the game. “We are starting to cometogether as a team.”

The Panthers (3-1, 1-0) continued their mastery of the runninggame in the second half. Senior quarterback Billy Williams calledhis own number twice. The first came with 10:41 left in the third,on a 34-yard scamper around left end. That score extendedBrookhaven’s lead to 28-0.

Raymond answered the Panthers’ score with one of their own. Inthis series, the Rangers moved 85 yards in 3 plays on the ground.Frank White ended the drive with a 37-yard run and a touchdownburst of 42 yards. The PAT kick failed and Fields’ ballclub trailed28-6.

After several possession exchanges, Williams would tack onanother score. This time, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound scrambler did thehonors from 19 yards away on a busted play. The Panthers advantageincreased to 35-6.

Williams finished with 10 carries for 144 yards.

After the ensuing kickoff, Ranger John Williams scored on a2-yard blast with 5:49 left in the game. The conversion run failedand Raymond trailed 35-12.

“We were not afraid to play,” added Fields. “We came to play.”Fields was referring to the tough competition in the region.

Both teams began to empty their benches.

Brookhaven managed an insurance score with with 2:17 left on theclock. Junior wideout Kendell Nickelson raced around left end foran 8-yard score.

Raymond closed out the scoring with 1:15 left in the game. Whitewent in the end zone from 12 yards out. Danyon Hughes converted the2-point conversion try and the final margin of victory was etchedin red-and-blue.

White paced the Ranger offensive with 143 yards on 10 carries.Wide receiver Erik Flowers added 157 yards on 10 receptions.

Despite giving up almost 400 yards (192 passing) of offense toRaymond, Hickman complimented his defense.

“Our defense did a good job,” said Hickman. “Our defensive backs(Nickelson, Zach Jones, Marcus Foxworth and Emmanuel Perkins) aresome of our better athletes. They did a good job.”

Defensively, Jones picked off a Ranger pass. Townsend,Julius Lloyd and Daniel Walker recovered fumblesrespectively.

“This game tonight will help us with our next ballgame,”added Hickman. “They (Port Gibson) are like Raymond in that theylike to throw the ball too.”

STATISTICS

B

R

First Downs

23

12

Rushes-Yards

49-425

23-205

Passing Yards

94

192

Total Yards

519

397

Passes

3-7-0

15-38-1

Fumbles-Lost

3-2

2-2

Punts-Yards

1-28.0

4-21.5

Penalties-Yards

9-70

9-55

Time of Possession

11-29:03

11-18:57

RAYMOND

0

0

6

14 – 20

BROOKHAVEN

7

14

7

14 – 42

FIRST QUARTER

Brookhaven, Allen 3 run (Gates kick), 7:25.

SECOND QUARTER

Brookhaven, Allen 9 run (Gates kick),10:35.

Brookhaven, Allen 2 run (Gates kick), 2:37.

THIRD QUARTER

Brookhaven, Williams 34 run (Gates kick),10:41.

Raymond, White 42 run (kick failed), 9:04.

FOURTH QUARTER

Brookhaven, Williams 19 run (Gates kick),9:42.

Raymond, Williams 2 run (run failed), 5:49.

Brookhaven, Nickelson 8 run (Gates kick),2:17.

Raymond, White 12 run (Hughes run), 1:15.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Raymond, White 14-143, Williams 2-21, Flowers1-15, Neal 5-14, Team 1-12. Brookhaven, Allen 25-166, Williams10-144, Dixon 4-50, McArthur 6-45, Nickelson 2-12, Parker 1-8,Jones 1-0.

PASSING: Raymond, Neal 12-35-1, 120, Williams 3-3-0, 72.Brookhaven, Williams 3-7-0, 94.

RECEIVING: Raymond, Flowers 10-157, Williams 4-34, White1-1. Brookhaven, Downs 1-51, Parker 1-44, Ogden1-(-1).