Brookhaven Academy’s Cougars ran their record to 4-0 on theseason with a 43-12 Friday night trouncing of the Wilkinson CountyChristian Academy Rams. They led 43-0 at halftime.

The Cougars’ first possession was indicative of what kind ofgame it would be. The visiting Rams attempted to catch the Cougars’return team napping by beginning the game with an onside kick.However, the Cougars were wide awake, and covered the ball on their45-yard line.

The potent Cougar offense ran three plays and used only 57seconds to score their first of six touchdowns. A second down andone, 40-yard Price Sessums to Cory Dickerson pass to the Rams’ 6yard line, highlighted the drive. On first and 10 from the 6,Sessums scampered in on a muffed play. The 2-point conversion passfrom Sessums to Seth Cliburn was complete for the 8-0 earlylead.

The first possession for the Rams looked promising as they droveto the Cougar 37 only to turn the ball over on downs, due to a big4th and 2 defensive play.

From there, the BA offense went to work. Quickly moving down thefield, the Cougars again looked to Dickerson for a 29-yard catchand run to the WCCA 16-yard line. On the sixth play of the drive,Sessums rolled right, found no open receiver, and darted 16 yardsfor the score. Dickerson’s PAT was good and the Cougars’ lead was15-0 with 6:29 showing on the clock in the opening quarter.

The Cougars’ third offensive possession started in the air andended on the ground as they improved their previously anemicpassing offense. The Cougars began their successful drive with a 0yard pass to tight end Kolby Byrd. Two plays later on 2nd and 10,Sessums connected to Byrd once again for a 6-yard gain. On the nextplay Sessums’s confidence was evident when he threw another highpercentage 10-yard swing pass to Dickerson for a first down on theWCCA 36.

BA then went back to the running game behind the blocking ofCenter, Sawyer Smith; Guards, Russ Thames and Brandon Smith;Tackles, Patrick Wallace and Caleb Covington. They led the Cougarsfor the next 7 rushing plays with Dickerson ending the drive byplunging it in from the 2-yard line. His PAT was good and BA led22-0 as the first quarter came to a close.

The Rams’ third possession included 10 plays and two first downsbefore the Cougars’ bend but don’t break defense forced the Rams togive up the ball after a 4th and 6 at the BA 36.

Dickerson continued with his breakout performance on theCougars’ fourth possession with an 11-yard run followed by a53-yard scamper to the WCCA 4-yard line. A WCCA tripping penalty atthe end of the run placed the ball on the Rams’ 2 yard line wherefullback Kolby Byrd forced it in at the 8:12 mark in the secondquarter. The Dickerson PAT was good and BA led 29-0).

Brookhaven Academy’s defensive depth wore the Ram’s offense downand once again forced them to punt. For the fifth time, in as manypossessions, the Cougar offense wasted little time in scoring.

BA’s final touchdown drive consumed five plays and was aided byDickerson’s 54-yard burst to the WCCA 32. Byrd finished the driveon the next play by snagging a Sessums’s pass at the WCCA 20 andran past the defense for the score. Dickerson’s PAT was perfect andBA remained on top 35-0 with 2:24 before the half.

WCCA’s next possession was foiled by BA’s defense which held forthree straight plays, forcing the Rams to punt with less than twominutes before the first half ended.

Sessums had only been allowed to return one punt in the previousthree games. Sessums demonstrated why opposing teams had chosenthis strategy. He picked up the football as it rolled to the Cougar35 and raced 65 yards to paydirt, ending BA’s scoring for the nightwith only 45 seconds remaining in the half. Nathanael Sbravati’sPAT was good and BA went to the locker room leading 43-0.

Coach Bo Milton’s first team offense and defense enjoyed theremainder of the game from the sideline as his substitutes playedthe second half.

WCCA scored on a 5- yard touchdown run by Sean Venezia at the8:59 mark in the third quarter. He also scored on a 7-yardtouchdown run with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter. Both oftheir PAT’s were unsuccessful.

WCCA’s Coach Paul Hayles said, “Coach Milton has an extremelywell-coached ball club. With Sessums, 3 (Dickerson) and 33 (Byrd),they’re going to be a potent team for anyone to face.”

Coach Milton commented that his team played as well as expectedand were well balanced both in the running and passing game. Hesaid once again that his defense played hard and got the jobdone.

On defense, BA was led by Byrd with 8 tackles and Aaron Douglaswith 5 tackles, including one for a 3-yard loss. Douglas also had a10-yard sack and an 8-yard sack. Caleb Williams and Steven Wattsalso recorded five tackles each.

The 4-0 Cougars resume conference play Friday night as they takeon archrival Copiah Academy at Gallman in a key District 6-AAcontest.