It’s a new season for high school football teams as the stateplayoffs get under way Friday night. Brookhaven (8-2, 6-0), theRegion 6-4A champion, hosts Pearl River Central (7-3, 3-3), the No.4 team out of Region 7-4A. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on King Field.

Brookhaven head coach Tucker Peavey hopes to have his team nearfull strength Friday night. Many of the players have been sidelinedby sinus/chest congestion this week.

“We have an epidemic around here,” said Peavey. “We’ve had asmany a 18 out this week. We’ll get them ready for Friday.”

Peavey’s Panthers, ranked No. 10 in the latest Associated PressPrep Poll, claimed the Region 6-4A championship last Friday nightat Monticello with a hard-fought 14-7 win over Lawrence County. Itearned them the right to host a first-round playoff game.

Peavey said Brookhaven’s starting lineup includes Jimmy Johns atquarterback, Dominique Smith and Ronnie McNulty at running back,Bud Chatman, John Wayne Havard, Taurean Jones and Josh Patrick atwide receiver and Darius Perkins at tight end.

Brookhaven’s offensive line is anchored by Grant McDonnieal atcenter, Kenneth Fairman at right guard, James Barker at righttackle, Adam Ogden at left guard and Tyler Gatlin at left tackle.Ogden serves as long snapper.

Brandt Hinton will handle punts and kickoffs. Will Thibodeauxwill kick extra points and field goals.

On defense, Phillip Tobias and Patrick Earl are at end, JessieBowman and Zach Ray are at tackle. Linebackers are Jason Dixon,Aljur Herring, Marlon Dixon and Tyrone Jones.

At cornerback are Anthony Caffie and T.J. Qualls. Free safety isJarvis Wilson.

Peavey said the Blue Devils (7-3, 3-3) are a solid squad. “PearlRiver Central is a good football team. They lost to three goodteams.”

Offensively, Peavey said PRC uses four wide receivers. “Theyspread the field on offense and pass the ball around to a lot ofpeople.”

Working at quarterback for PRC is Adam Robin, a 175-poundjunior. Robin has passed for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns.Wide receiver Kenny Robinson (170, sr.) has 400 receiving yards forthe year and 9 TD catches to his credit. He is Robin’s primarytarget.

Seth Guidroz, a 175-pound junior, stars at running back. Guidrozhas rushed the football 173 times for 1,240 yards and 18touchdowns. Marvis Burkett (180, so.) has rushed for nearly 500yards.

On defense, Peavey said, PRC’s ” No. 67 (Ben McGilton) reallystands out.” McGilton (215, sr.) plays defensive end.

PRC At Carriere

Pearl River Central is located 5 miles north of Picayune inPearl River County. Michael Bradley is in his second year at thehelm. Bradley came to PRC from Mooreville.

“We are excited to be in the playoffs,” said Bradley. This isthe first time for PRC to reach the playoffs since 1995 when theylost to McComb in the opening round. The Devils were 2-8 last yearand this is their first winning season since 1995.

“We have a young team, only eight seniors,” said Bradley.”They’ve done a good job this year. We have a lot of young kids whohave stepped up.”

Looking at the Panthers on film, Bradley said, “Brookhaven lookslike Ole Miss. They have size, speed and a good quarterback. Theyare a top level football team. They have a good scheme and they’rewell coached.”

Panther Leaders

Johns, at quarterback, has passed for 1,112 yards and 18touchdowns this season. He has completed 74 of 132 passes andthrown 5 interceptions. He also has 711 rushing yards and 4 TDs tohis credit.

McNulty had rushed 90 times for 784 yards and 8 touchdowns.Smith has gained 647 yards on 108 carries and scored 7 TDs.

Jones is Brookhaven’s leading receiver with 23 catches for 360yards and and 4 TDs. Havard has 9 receptions for 304 yards and 5TDs. Chatman has 16 catches for 199 yards and 3 TDs.

On defense, Bowman tops the charts with 81 tackles and 5 sacks.Tobias has accounted for 64 tackles and 12 sacks. Wilson leads theteam with 4 interceptions.

In the win over Lawrence County last week, Herring paced thePanthers with 10 tackles. Tyrone Jones made 9 tackles, Bowman 8 andTobias 7.

Panther Paws: Last year Brookhaven advanced tothe state playoffs and beat East Central 22-7 on the road in theopening round. The Panthers returned home to upset South Pike 2-0on King Field. They advanced to the third round of the South Stateplayoffs where they lost 31-7 to D’Iberville, the eventual statechampion.