Brookhaven Academy hosted the defending Class AA State ChampionCentreville Academy Tigers Friday night in a sweat-soaked seasonopener for both teams. Centreville, coached by Bill Hurst, carriedthe state’s number one ranking in Academy AA football and had everyreason to expect a relatively easy win over the Cougars on R.M.”Red” Stuard Field.

What was supposed to be a rout turned into a defensive strugglethat wasn’t decided until Brookhaven fell short on a fourth downand three attempt with two minutes left in the game. That gave thevisiting Tigers a hard fought 14-7 victory. Centerville improved to1-0 on the season while the host Cougars fell to 0-1.

Centreville got its first score of the night at the 6:07 mark ofthe second quarter on a one-yard run by Kyle Brown. Brown added theextra point for a 7-0 Centreville lead. Neither team could get muchof anything going offensively the remainder of the half and theTigers carried the lead into the locker room.

Cougar wide receiver Trip Jolly sustained a shoulder injuryduring first half action and didn’t return to the game.

Brookhaven got its only score of the night with 7:53 left in thethird quarter on a 32-yard pass from sophomore quarterback ChandlerRogers to Kyle Burt. Nathaniel Sbravati added the extra point,knotting things up at 7.

Centreville added the final score of the night on a 50-yard runby Adam Perry with 2:20 left in the third. The kick by Kyle Browngave the Tigers a 14-7 lead.

Brookhaven’s defense did its job, repeatedly shutting down theTiger offense in the final frame but the Cougar offense justcouldn’t muster a score, allowing the Tigers to escape with anarrow win.

“I’m extremely proud of my guys for the way they played,” saidBA coach Herbert Davis Jr. “We didn’t have any turnovers and theyput themselves in a position late in the game to either tie or beatthe best team in the state.

“We just couldn’t get a break when we needed to but they playedwell and put themselves in a position to win.

“We still have some things to work on as a team but it’s stillearly and there is a lot of football left to be played.”

Kolby Byrd led the Brookhaven rushing attack, picking up 63yards on 20 carries. Kyle Burt added 48 yards on 8 carries.Chandler Rogers completed three of his seven pass attempts for 67yards and a touchdown.

Centreville quarterback Kyle Brown completed 8 of his 17 passattempts for 111 yards. Zack Sinclair picked up 78 yards on 15carries. Adam Perry ran for 50 yards on 3 carries with atouchdown.

On defense, Byrd led Brookhaven with 10 tackles. Kyle Burtfollowed with 7 stops. Nathaniel Sbravati had 5 tackles and afumble recovery and a sack. Austin Barnett also had 5 tackles and asack. Alan Michael Allred recovered a fumble.

Brookhaven travels to Oak Forest, La Friday for a non-districtmatch up. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.