BHS clips Mendenhall

Published 5:00 am Monday, September 29, 2008

Cat-quick running back Clayton Winston answered the call to dutyFriday night. The 5-foot-4, 150-pound senior rushed for 3touchdowns, leading the host Brookhaven Panthers to a 23-12 triumphover the Mendenhall Tigers on King Field.

Winston, replacing suspended junior Semmie Smith, scored on runsof 5, 6 and 3 yards. His final touchdown, at the 2:19 mark of thefourth quarter, came after 5 straight carries and provided thePanthers with some breathing room against the determinedTigers.

“It feels good to get those touchdowns,” said Winston. “Ouroffensive line improved tonight. They made some good holes forme.”

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The Panthers raised their record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in theRegion 6-4A race. They’ll host Lawrence County (4-1, 2-0) next fora region showdown.

Ole Brook head coach Tucker Peavey said the suspension of Smithfor a violation of team policy was indefinite. The team’s leadingrusher amassed nearly 1,500 rushing yards last season.

“Clayton comes to work every day and I’m proud to see him dogood,” said Peavey. “This is the best game we’ve played because ourkids kept their intensity up. We made some strides tonight.”

Ole Brook was nursing a narrow 7-6 halftime lead. On their firstpossession of the second half, the Panthers took a 10-6 advantageon Chris Lowman’s 29-yard field goal. It was set up by a 32-yardcompletion from quarterback Bud Britt to wide receiver TrentPowell.

The Panthers increased their margin to 16-6 with 10:55 left inthe game. A 79-yard scoring drive was climaxed by Winston scootingup the middle on a 6-yard jaunt. Wide receiver Duwone Harris hadmade a magnificent leaping catch on a Britt pass that was good for40 yards to Mendenhall’s 6-yard line.

“Hats off to Tucker Peavey and his team,” said Mendenhall coachChris Peterson. “I know they didn’t have Semmie Smith.

“Bud Britt managed the game very well,” Peterson pointed out.”He made some very good decisions.”

Britt completed 11 of 18 passes for 163 yards. Harris caught 6passes for 85 yards and Powell had 5 catches for 78 yards.

Peterson’s Tigers (1-4, 0-2) counted on senior quarterbackMontrell Edwards and junior running back Jermond Craft. Edwardscompleted a 16-yard TD pass over the middle to Craft for a 6-0lead.

Craft (5-10, 175) rushed for 73 yards and caught 5 passes for 44yards. He rumbled 30 yards for his team’s second TD on a 4th-downplay. The 2-point conversion pass by Justin Taylor off a fake kickfell incomplete and the Tigers trailed 16-12 with 8:24 left toplay.

“We tried to play disciplined,” said BHS defensive linemanCordai Henderson. “Their quarterback (Edwards) was quick and hadsome tricks. In the second half, we came out and played hard.”

BHS linebacker Renaldo Epps intercepted Edwards on the finalplay of the game and halted a late TD drive.