After a 2-week layoff due to Hurricane Katrina, the Ole BrookPanthers resume play Friday night at Clinton. Kickoff is 7 p.m. onRoy Burkett Field.

Clinton (1-1) beat Brandon 38-13 last Friday night in a battleof Class 5A teams.

“Clinton stumbled a little bit against Tupelo in the firstgame,” said Ole Brook head coach Tucker Peavey. “They reallybounced back against Brandon and took advantage of fourturnovers.”

Peavey said Clinton plays sound defense. “They don’t give up thebig plays. They have good players on defense. They are very wellcoached.”

Due to storm damage in the community and school being closed,Peavey’s Panthers missed an entire week of practice. They practicedthree days last week.

“We looked at it kind of like an open date week,” said Peavey.”We went back to some fundamental stuff and used the time to getsome extra work in.”

In their season opener, the Panthers played well on defense in a6-0 loss at Franklin County. However, the inexperienced offense hadseveral breakdowns. Sophomore quarterback Charles Rancifer wasintercepted twice.

After the game, Peavey praised his defense but said he waslooking for much improvement in the offense. In practice, Peaveysaid the Panthers have “worked on carrying out assignments andfinishing the plays.”

First-year head coach Scott Brown is in his 10th year atClinton. He was defensive coordinator under former head coach PeteHurt who went to the Air Force Academy to coach the offensiveline.

Brown is a Hattiesburg native, graduating from Forrest CountyAHS at Brooklyn.

Asked about his team’s first victory, Brown said, “Brandon had abunch of turnovers and that kind of helped us.”

Clinton counts on sophomore quarterback Wesley Munger (5-8, 150)to lead the offense. .

At running back, Amonte Harper (5-10, 190, jr.) and Ryan Hester(5-10, 170, sr.) lead the charge Harper started last year. Hegained 127 yards on 22 carries against Brandon. Hester moved inlast spring from Winona.

The Arrows are sparked by wide receiver Conelius Cavett (6-3,180, sr.), a Division I prospect. Cavett caught 29-yard TD pass inthe victory.

Brown said he and his staff have reviewed film of theBHS-Franklin County contest. “We got the film on their first game.Defensively, as a whole, they are pretty darn good. They are realsalty. They have great speed and good size.

“Their tailback, No. 18 (Charles Wilson) is a great player,”added Brown. “Brookhaven moved the ball on Franklin County but theydidn’t punch it in.”

Brown said his team’s priority is to slow Ole Brook’s rushingattack. “We are concerned about them moving the ball. The gameshould be a down to the wire deal.”

Ole Brook Leaders

In the loss to Franklin County, Ole Brook’s defense was led byT.J. Qualls, Bart Sias and Marlon Dixon who made 4 tackles apiece.Virgil Sanders and Jerome Avery both had 3 tackles. R.J. Jenkinsintercepted a pass and Anthony Caffie blocked an extra point.

Offensively, Wilson led the Panthers with 20 carries for 112yards. Patrick Ayers rushed 2 times for 14 yards.

Rancifer completed 6 of 18 passes for 36 yards.

Panther Paws: Last year quarterback Jimmy Johnsdirected the Panthers to a 21-18 win at Clinton. He completed 16 of20 passes for 249 yards and 1 touchdown. He also rushed thefootball 24 times for 147 yards and a TD. Wide receiver Bud Chatmancaught 9 passes for 159 yards.