MENDENHALL – Going into BrookhavenAcademy’s second round MAIS Class AA playoff game against SimpsonAcademy, BA head coach Tripp McCarty just wanted his Cougars toplay well. However, Simpson topped Brookhaven 44-19 Friday night toimprove to 12-0 on the season and beat BA for the second time thisseason.

     Brookhaven ends its seasonwith a 10-3 record. Simpson advances to meet Trinity Episcopal for the AA South StateChampionship game Friday night. Trinity eliminated Centreville29-19.

    “Simpson really forced the issue on us tonight,” saidMcCarty.  “Their defensereally gave us trouble trying to move the football and we nevercould get our ground game going.

    “I’m extremely proud of our players and what they’ve accomplished.”added McCarty.  “Theyoverachieved all season and had a great year.  This group of seniors will really bemissed. They’re a special group.”

    Simpson boasts the leading rusher in all of AA football in seniorCade Eiland, and the back showed it in the game.  Eiland rushed for 175 yards on 20carries with three touchdowns, all in the first half, to leadSimpson as the Cougars from Mendenhall jumped on Brookhavenearly. 

    Simpson looked as though it would blow the game as the hosts racedto a 27-0 lead before Brookhaven finally reached paydirt with justone second remaining in the first half.  Gage Posey’s 1-yard run cut theSimpson lead to 27-6.

    Posey was able to connect with Seth Rushing from 19 yards out atthe 7:24 mark of the fourth quarter, and senior Jacob Philipp addeda 7-yard run with 1:19 left to register the final points of theseason for Brookhaven.

    Simpson used a brutal rushing attack to torch the Brookhavendefense for 387 yards on the ground.  It was by no means the bestperformance of the season for Brookhaven, something the Cougarshoped to avoid against top-ranked Simpson.  Penalties also played a big part inthe game for both teams. There were 24 penalties for 207 yards.

    Brookhaven’s seniors end their career with an impressive 37-5record.  During thatstretch, those players collected three district championships and astate title ring.

    Posey led the Brookhaven offense, completing 17 of his 31 passattempts for 206 yards and a touchdown.  He was intercepted once.  Posey also added one touchdownrushing. 

    On defense, Bailey Hodge and Bubba Keene led the Brookhaven defensewith 17 tackles apiece. Colby Culbertson and Hunter Franklin each had 11 stops.

    For the season, Posey completed 129 of his 242 pass attempts for2,012 yards and 24 touchdowns.   He was intercepted 11 times.

    Landon Nettles led the Brookhaven ground game this season, pickingup 1,126 yards on 187 carries with 12 touchdowns. 

    Keene totaled 1,853 all-purpose yards with 16 touchdowns, as wellas adding 112 tackles on defense.

    Hodge was the leading tackler, totaling 190 stops for theCougars.  Eli Gatlinfollowed with 118 tackles and Jacob Philipp registered 117stops.