The football rivalry between the Brookhaven Academy Cougars andthe Copiah Academy Colonels takes on a new light Friday night inthe season-opener for both teams. Game time is 7 p.m. atGallman.

In other academy action, the Parklane Pioneers have an open datethis week. They kick off their season on Aug. 27 hosting BowlingGreen.

New Copiah head football coach Mitch Mitchell played juniorcollege football under BA head coach Ray Ishee from 1982-1984 as astudent at Co-Lin. Mitchell replaced former football coach JohnCallahan who resigned after one season.

Mitchell has served as girls basketball coach and assistantheadmaster at Copiah for several years.

“Mitchell was tight end at Co-Lin,” said Ishee. “He was a goodfootball player. He’s a good coach and good guy. He is a solidindividual. He’s a competitor.”

Mitchell is ready to send his Colonels against Ishee and theCougars.

“We are looking forward to playing against Coach Ishee,” saidMitchell. “He was one of my coaches at Co-Lin.”

Expected to start for the BA offense are Price Sessums (5-9,150) at quarterback; Dusty Bratton (5-11, 190) at fullback; ColeHodges (6-0, 190) at tailback; Stewart Sessums (5-10, 155) andCameron Achord (5-10, 165) at wide out; Paul Davis (6-2, 190) attight end; Chad Caldwell (6-3, 225) at strong tackle; Wesley Taylor(6-0, 215) at strong guard; Chris Falvey (5-11, 210) at center; andChip Wells (5-11, 175) and Cory Bailey (6-4, 205) at quickguard.

The Cougar defense will be led by Bratton and Falvey at insidelinebacker; Wells and Bradley Alfred (6-0, 200) are up front; BoHeathman (5-10, 235) is at tackle; Taylor at defensive end followedby Davis, Hodges, Achord; Stewart Sessums and Steven Covington(5-10, 175) in the secondary.

BA scrimmaged last Friday in the Natchez Trinity EpiscopalFootball Jamboree. The Cougars fell to Adams County ChristianSchool 20-7 in the first half and came to take the second half by a6-0 score.

Cougar quarterback Price Sessums rushed for a 3-yard touchdownin the 20-7 loss to ACCS. Setting up the score was a 24-yardpass-play from Sessums to his older brother Stewart. Hodges kickedthe extra point.

In the Cougar’s 6-0 win, Hodges hit Achord on a 41-yard pass forthe six points.

In last Saturday’s Copiah Jamboree, the Colonels defeated EastRankin 20-8 and tied Hillcrest 7-7.

“We played okay ,” said Mitchell. “It starts for real thisweek.”

Starting on offense for Copiah are David Hester (5-11, 185) atquarterback, David Hobkirk (5-8, 180) at fullback; Danny Pyles(6-0, 180) at tailback; David Brunt (6-1, 180) and Jed Stevens(5-10, 165) at wide out; Will Ervin (6-1, 180) at tight end; AndyJackson (6-2, 230) and Kent Miller (6-0, 185) at tackle; WalterWest (6-1, 215) and Chase Davis (5-8, 215) at guard and Ben Berch(5-9, 185) at center.

Defensively the Colonels will start Davis and Ervin at end; Westand Jackson at tackle; Scott Akin (5-9, 180), Jake Guess (6-2, 195)and Pyles at linebacker; Clint Denson (5-10, 165) and Stevens atcornerback; Price Henley (5-8, 170) and Brunt at safety.

“It is tough being the first one,” explained Mitchell. “We sawthem (Cougars) in the jamboree. We are trying to do our base thingsand try to get through this week.”

Ishee and his staff got a look at the Colonels during lastSaturday’s jamboree at Gallman.

“They (Copiah) look good,” stated Ishee. “They have a lot ofspeed and a lot of seniors. We are excited. It should be a heckuvaof a football game.”

Last year the Colonels edged BA 14-13 at Brookhaven and finished2-9. The Cougars were 5-6 last season.