12-0 BA Cougars boot Silliman

Published 6:00 am Monday, November 9, 2009

Many Brookhaven Academy fans probably expected Friday night’sopening round of the MAIS Class AA State football playoffs againstSilliman Institute to go as the Cougars season opening game-arelatively easy 34-20 win over the Wildcats that wasn’t as close asthe score indicated. But after 11 games, the Wildcats were wiserand more mature, battling the Cougars for three quarters beforeBrookhaven exploded in the fourth quarter to claim a 34-14 win.

BA improved to 12-0 on the season and hosts Centreville AcademyFriday in the second round. Silliman ended its season at 6-5.

Centreville Academy advanced after eliminating Glenbrook, La46-38.

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“I think we had playoff jitters,” said Brookhaven Academy headcoach Herbert Davis. “We made some mistakes to start the game andput ourselves in bad shape but we did a good job of comingback.”

Silliman head coach Joe Moock’s game plan was simple: grind theball out on the ground and keep the high-powered Brookhaven Academyoffense off the field. Early on, that plan worked flawlessly.

Brookhaven took the opening kickoff of the game and quicklydrove the length of the field, reaching the Silliman 18 yard line.But quarterback Chandler Roger’s pass found the hands of Silliman’sNick Ohlinger, who returned the ball to the Silliman 38 yard line.The Wildcats used up 9 minutes off the clock before Trent Hornsbyscored on a 3-yard run with one second remaining in the openingquarter. Brookhaven defensive back Bubba Keene blocked the extrapoint attempt, giving the Wildcats a 6-0 lead.

Brookhaven saw its next two drives come to an end thanks againto the turnover bug, but Silliman failed to convert either of itspossessions into points. Brookhaven was finally able to convert aSilliman fumble with 1:31 left in the first half as Rogersconnected with Tripp Jolly from 17 yards out. Tyler Trout added theextra point, giving the Cougars a 7-6 lead at the intermission.

Silliman appeared to be on the move to open the third quarter asthe Wildcats reached the Brookhaven 10-yard line, but Hornsby’spass was picked off by Alan Michael Allred at the Brookhaven 4 yardline, ending the Wildcat scoring threat. Brookhaven would score twoplays later as Rogers hooked up with Bubba Keene on a 69- yardpass. Trout added the extra point for a 14-6 Cougar lead.

Brookhaven scored again on its ensuing drive as Keene was ableto score on a 6- yard run, capping a 6-play, 56-yard drive with9:55 left in the game. Trout again added the PAT, giving the hostsa 21-6 lead.

Silliman’s comeback attempt was sealed on their next drive, asKeene read Hornsby perfectly, picking off the Wildcat quarterbackand racing 46 yards for the touchdown. The extra point attemptfailed, giving the Cougars a 27-6 lead with 8:34 remaining.

The Wildcats could get nothing going on their next drive,punting back to Brookhaven. The Cougars responded with a two-playdrive that saw Jennings Mills finish things off with a 28-yard runwith 5:16 left. Trout added the extra point for a 34-6 Cougarlead.

Silliman’s only other score came with 1:44 remaining as LandonTaylor scored on 6-yard run. Cody Donze added the two-pointconversion, but it was too little too late as Brookhaven celebratedthe opening round win.

“We’ve got to play better next week.” added Davis. “We have tohave less mistakes. We have to be more physical and we have toexecute better on offense if we want to win. Centreville has a verygood team and we’re going to have to play a great game to beatthem.”

Rogers led the Brookhaven offense, completing 11 of his 17 passattempts for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once.On the ground he picked up 95 yards on 13 carries.

Tripp Jolly was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 92 yardsand a touchdown. Keene had two catches for 85 yards and atouchdown.

Donze led Silliman with 74 yards on 13 carries. Landon Taylorfollowed with 21 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Jamison Powell recorded 16 tackles to leadBrookhaven. Bailey Hodge and Mark Rushing each had 11 tackles insupport. Will Gatlin and Donovan Lorraine added 8 stops apiece.Gatlin recovered a fumble.