All good things must come to an end or so the saying goes. ForBrookhaven Academy, that good thing was a 22-game winning streakthat dated back to last season’s perfect 15-0 mark.

That streak came to an end Friday night at the hands of the NatchezTrinity Episcopal Saints who defeated the Cougars 34-28 in a battleof MAIS top-ranked teams at R.M. “Red” Stuard Field.

With the win, Trinity, the No. 1 team and defending Class Achampion, improved to 8-0 on the year. Brookhaven, the No. 1 teamand defending Class AA state champion, fell to 7-1.

“We played hard, but we made too many mistakes and didn’t executewhen we needed to,” said BA head coach Herbert Davis. “I thought weplayed hard and gave a good effort, but we got to a point that wetraded field goals for their touchdowns. We have to be able tofinish drives and put the ball in the end zone. We had thosechances a few times in this game tonight and didn’t do it and itcost us.

“You can’t take anything away from Trinity because they’re a goodteam, but it was our mistakes that beat us tonight.” added Davis.”We had a couple of dropped passes and a few missed blocks andmissed tackles. If we make those plays, we probably win thegame.”

Trinity wasted little time in getting things going offensively. Onthe first play from scrimmage, Saints quarterback Giovanni Denthooked up with wide receiver Tip McKenzie for a 68-yard touchdown.Zach Marshall added the extra point for a 7-0 Trinity lead with11:46 left in the opening quarter.

After the ensuing Brookhaven drive ended in a punt, the Saintsresponded with a 7-play, 85-yard drive that ended with Kent Kingscoring on a 2-yard run. Marshall added the extra point for a 14-0Trinity lead with 4:52 remaining in the first.

Brookhaven finally got its offense going and put its first score onthe board with 56 seconds left in the first half as the Cougarscapitalized on a Bailey Hodge interception. Chandler Rogersconnected with Jennings Mills from 20 yards out for the touchdown.Mills ran in the 2-point conversion to cut the Trinity lead to 14-8at the half.

Brookhaven took the opening possession of the second half and didexactly what it needed, mounting an 11-play, 80-yard drive thatended with Rogers scoring on a 3 yard run. Tyler Trout added theextra point for a 15-14 Brookhaven lead with 8:14 left in thethird.

After the Brookhaven defense forced a Trinity punt, Brookhavenadded a 24-yard field goal from Trout with 6:06 remaining in theperiod, pushing the BA lead to 18-14.

Trinity responded on its ensuing drive with a 50-yard pass fromDent to McKenzie at the 4:43 mark of the third. Marshall added theextra point for a 21-18 Trinity lead.

Brookhaven responded with a touchdown drive of its own that spanned65 yards in just five plays before Rogers hooked up with BubbaKeene on a 9-yard pass. Trout added the extra point for a 25-21Brookhaven lead with 2:35 remaining in the third.

Trinity answered at the 10:01 mark of the game as Dent connectedwith King on a 14-yard screen pass for the score on fourth down.Marshall added the extra point for a 28-25 Trinity lead.

Brookhaven put together a 10-play, 55-yard drive on its nextpossession, but the drive stalled and the Cougars had to settle fora 33-yard field goal from Trout that tied the game at 28 with 6:19remaining.

On the following kickoff, Brookhaven’s kick sailed out of bounds.Instead of taking ball possession at the 35-yard line, Trinity headcoach David King made the Cougars re-kick. As it turned out, Kingmade the right decision. On the second kickoff attempt, McKenzietook the ball at the 25-yard line and raced 75 yards for the score.The extra point attempt failed as Trinity led 34-28.

Brookhaven’s attempt to win the game late ended as the Saintsforced a Cougar punt deep in their own territory, allowing theSaints to run out the clock.

Rogers led the Brookhaven offense, completing 25 of his 39 passattempts for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Jennings Mills led theground game with 79 yards on 11 carries. Keene led all receiverswith 10 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown. Mills added 79 yardson 8 catches with a touchdown.

Dent led Trinity offensively, completing 13 of his 23 pass attemptsfor 284 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

King led the rushing attack, picking up 74 yards on 14 carries witha touchdown. McKenzie caught three passes for 127 yards and twotouchdowns.

On defense, Bailey Hodge registered 16 tackles and an interceptionto lead Brookhaven. Jeff Rushing followed with 9 stops. Keene, C.J.Duckworth, and Hunter Franklin each made 7 tackles.

Brookhaven travels to face East Rankin Academy Friday in anon-district match up. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. inPelahatchie.