WAYNESBORO – Beset with injuries, theBrookhaven Academy Cougars were counting on younger players to stepup in Friday night’s game against the Wayne Academy Jaguars. Theygot a huge performance from sophomore running back Landon Nettlesand posted  a tough 38-28victory over the Jaguars.

    Nettles picked up a career-high 243 yards on 24 carries and 2touchdowns.

    Brookhaven improved to 4-1 on the season. MAIS Class AA newcomerWayne fell to 3-2.

    “We made a lot of mistakes.” said BA head coach Tripp McCarty. “Wehad several kids out with injuries and a lot of our younger kidshad to step up and make some plays.”

    Brookhaven reached the end zone for the first time with 1:59 leftin the opening quarter as junior quarterback Gage Posey scored on a4-yard run, capping a 7-play, 62-yard drive. Bubba Keene added theextra point for a 7-0 lead.

    Wayne responded on the first play of the second quarter, asMackenzie Carney reached paydirt on a 7-yard run. Toby Roach addedthe extra point, knotting things up at 7-7 with 11:52 left in thehalf.

    On the ensuing kickoff, Keene took the Roach kickoff and darted upthe middle of the field, going 91 yards for the score. The extrapoint attempt failed, giving Brookhaven a 13-7 lead with 11:33 leftin the half.

    The Jaguars responded at the 8:49 mark on a 4- yard run fromCarney. Roach again added the extra point, giving the hosts a 14-13lead.

    At the 7:27 mark, senior Jeff Rushing scored on a 5-yard run,capping a 5-play, 59-yard drive. The 2- point conversion attemptfailed and the Cougars led 19-14.

    The Cougars were able to add two more scores before the half. Poseyconnected with Keene and 3:55 left in the half on a 29-yard strike,ending a 5-play, 78 yard drive. Nettles added a 3-yard run with2:12 left in the half.

    Wayne was able to get a score on a 40-yard pass from BrettChancellor to Roach. The Cougars held a 32-20 lead atintermission.

    The two teams totaled 45 points in the second quarter alone, butthe defense of both teams went to work in the second half. Only twoTDs were scored.

    Nettles scored on a 2-yard run with 11:39 left in the third, givingthe Cougars a 38-20 lead.

    Chancellor connected with Kyle Waltman from 17 yards out with 4:25left in the third and Brookhaven led 38-28.   Carney added the 2-pointconversion.

    “We ran the ball well, but we’ve got to clean up those mistakesbecause things are about to get a lot tougher for us,” saidMcCarty. The Cougars are at Centreville Friday.

      Posey followed Nettles with 70yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. He also completed 8 of his 15pass attempts for 118 yards and a TD. Keene was the leadingreceiver with five catches for 76 yards and a TD.

     Keene accounted for 196all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.

    Chancellor led Wayne offensively, completing 14 of his 34 passattempts for 226 yards and two touchdowns. He was interceptedonce.

     Stanley was the leadingrusher with 9 carries for 103 yards.

    On defense, Jacob Philipp led Brookhaven with 16 tackles. JeffRushing, Bailey Hodge and Will Lucas each followed with 8 stops.Hodge recovered a fumble and Lucas added an interception.