TERRY — Big plays by Antwon and Rashun Dixon helped the TerryBulldogs end seven years of frustration Thursday night. Both Dixonscaught long touchdown passes and Antwon intercepted a pass in theend zone, helping the Bulldogs turn back Brookhaven’s Panthers32-29 in a pivotal Region 6-4A showdown which produced nearly 900yards total offense.

Terry raised its perfect record to 7-0 and climbed to 3-0 in theregion race. Ole Brook fell to 4-3 and 2-2.

The Bulldogs weren’t assured of a victory until they recoveredBrook’s onside kickoff with 2:10 left to play and chalked up 2first downs, powered by a veteran offensive line.

“It was a big game,” said BHS head coach Tucker Peavey. “Westill had a chance to try and win it at the end.

“Give Terry credit,” said Peavey. “They have a good team. We aredisappointed but we have a long way to go.”

Peavey’s Panthers can still qualify for the state playoffs byfinishing third or fourth in the region race. However, theirchances at finishing first or second and hosting an opening roundstate playoff game appears nil.

Terry senior quarterback Charlie Shearer savored the moment. “Itfeels awesome to be 7-0. We thought we could throw on them(Panthers) but we could run it, too.”

Bariton Wilkerson (5-10, 180), a senior running back, slashedthrough big holes opened by Terry’s large offensive line. He gained128 yards on 25 carries and scored 1 touchdown.

“Our offensive line is a senior group,” said Bill French,Terry’s third-year head coach. “We had everybody stepping uptonight.

“Brookhaven was a handful,” French pointed out. “They have aquarterback (Charles Rancifer) and a running back (Charles Wilson)who can break it open at any time.”

French credited the interception by Dixon as being a key to thevictory. He intercepted Rancifer in the end zone, making a divingtheft with 2:12 left in the first half, killing a Panther scoringthreat.

“Antwon made the biggest interception in the end zone,” saidFrench. “They could have run away with it, if they had scored.”

Trailing 14-12 at halftime on a pair of Wilson touchdown runs,the Bulldogs scored on their first possession of the second half.Shearer connected on a pair of passes to Rashun Dixon, setting upan 8-yard TD plunge by Wilkerson. Ryan Weaver’s PAT kick gave Terryits first lead of the game at 19-14.

The Panthers responded with a 59-yard scoring drive. On afourth-down play at Terry’s 30-yard line, Rancifer shook off atackler, rolled to his right and hit R.J. Jenkins who also broke atackle and scored.

Rancifer, who accounted for over 300 yards total offense, hitSimmie Yarborough on a play-action, 2-point conversion pass and thePanthers led 22-19.

On the next series, Shearer and Antwon Dixon hooked up on a43-yard TD pass on a slant pattern. Weaver’s PAT pushed Terry ahead26-22.

The Bulldogs boosted their lead to 32-22 with 8:30 left in thegame. After stopping Brook on fourth down at the Terry 27, theylaunched an 8-play, 73-yard scoring drive, climaxed by Wilkersonbreaking tackles and going in from 26 yards out.

Von Griffin spoiled a Panther TD threat with an interception inthe end zone on the next series.

Brook regrouped and marched 80 yards following a 64-yard punt byTerry’s Garrett Reese. The Panthers needed just 70 seconds to gothe distance. Yarborough made a leaping catch of a Rancifer passand was halted at Terry’s 1-yard line.

Wilson leapt across the goal line on the next snap. Thibodeauxkicked the PAT with 2:10 left to play.

On defense, Virgil Sanders led the Pantherswith 12 tackles, including 4 solo stops. Jenkins had 8 tackles.Aaron Ayers and Bryson Anderson each had 7 stops.

Brook hosts Port Gibson for homecoming next Friday night on KingField. Terry plays Lawrence County.