MCCOMB — Brookhaven Academy traveled to Parklane Academy Fridaynight to participate in the annual Parklane jamboree. The yearlyevent gives both fans and coaches a small sample of what to expectduring the upcoming season.

Brookhaven fans watched apprehensively as their team whipped thehost Pioneers 20-14, surprising not only Brookhaven fans, but thePioneers as well, and first year Parklane head coach Bo Milton.

Milton left Brookhaven after last season after two years to fillthe head spot at his alma mater. Longtime Pioneer coach CharlieNewlon chose retirement at the end of the year.

First year Brookhaven coach Herbert Davis Jr., knew there weresome big holes to fill in the Brookhaven lineup, namely thequarterbacking position Daniel Lofton played last year. Lofton wasnamed as an all-star his senior season. His absence this seasonleft little experience at the position.

Davis is in his second stint as head coach of the Cougars. Heled Brookhaven to the AA State title in 1993, his only previousyear to coach the team.

The quarterback role fell to Ty Smith. In his first series atquarterback, he marched the Cougars 65 yards with seemingly littleresistance, giving Brookhaven an early 6-0 lead.

Brookhaven’s defense shut down the Pioneer offense but on thenext offensive series for Brookhaven, Smith was forced to leave thegame with an undisclosed knee injury.

Sophomore Chandler Rogers took over the offense and looked asthough he’d been playing the position for years. Brookhaven addedtwo more scores in the two-quarter scrimmage, thanks in part toRogers, who found Tripp Jolly for a 48-yard bomb that set up theCougars second score. Rogers again found Jolly on a 52 yardtouchdown pass, giving the Cougars a 20-6 lead with just underthree minutes left in the second period.

Parklane added a long touchdown pass in the final minute toclose to within 6 points of the Cougars but the game was neverreally that close.

“We did exactly what we wanted to do down here tonight.” saidDavis. “We whipped them on the line of scrimmage and just ran overthem.

“We completed our passes at the right time and our defenseplayed well,” Davis continued. “The only things that hurt us werebig plays. If we can stop those we should surprise a lot ofpeople.”

The Cougars won’t have to wait long to see how the match up withthe rest of the AA ranks. They host the No. 1 team and defendingState Champion Centreville Academy Tigers in the season openerFriday night. Who will be calling the shots for the offense thatnight is still not clear.

“We’re just going to have to see what happens with Ty,” saidDavis. “The injury wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been butwe want to make sure he’s healthy. Right now I’d say it’s probablya 50/50 shot that he’ll start next week.”

Milton was complimentary of the Cougars after the scrimmage.”They took it to us. They just lined up and ran over us and pushedour line around all night. A lot of people have beenunderestimating them all summer but if they can stay healthy theywill surprise a lot of teams.”

Kickoff for the opener between Brookhaven and Centreville is setfor 7 p.m. Friday night in Brookhaven. Parklane hosts Oak Forest(La.) the same night.