FRANKLINTON, La. — Looking to tune up prior to their first District 5-AA contest next week and get back in the win column, the Brookhaven Academy Cougars defeated Bowling Green Buccaneers 32-20 Friday night. BA coach Tripp McCarty said his team had to stop the Bucs’ rushing attack and they achieved that goal.

     Taking the opening kickoff at their own 33-yard line, the Cougars went to work quickly.  Quarterback Gage Posey hit on pass attempts of 20 yards to Seth Rushing and 27 yards to Ross Foreman to push deep into Buccaneer territory.  Posey found Rushing from seven yards out for the first score of the game.  Kevin Nettles added the PAT to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead at the 9:47 mark of the first quarter.

     Bowling Green’s first possession would be short-lived.  A Preston Rawls interception in pass coverage from his linebacker position set the Cougars up at the Buccaneer 18..  Posey capitalizing on the Buccaneer miscue, finding Will Hickman with a laser between 3 defenders for a 12-yard touchdown pass and catch.  Nettles added the PAT, pushing the score to 14-0 with 8:17 still to play in the first period.

     Pressed to answer the BA scores, Bowling Green got their offense going.  With a mix of pass and run the Bucs were able to penetrate deep into Cougar territory and find the end zone on a 5-yard Jake Williams run.  Grant Ball added the PAT and pulled the Buccaneers closer at 14-7.

     Disaster would strike again for the Buccaneers as BA forced the football loose on a tailback sweep and Jacob Conley recovered for the Cougars at the BG 29.  Unable to secure a first down the Cougars turned the ball over after a mishandled snap on a 32-yard field goal attempt.

       Feeling some momentum swinging their way, Bowling Green came out aggressive with a 20-yard pass from QB Connor McCain to Grant Ball. However, BA cornerback Matthew Evans alertly stripped the pigskin from Ball and raced 36 yards downfield before being forced out of bounds at the Bowling Green 4-yard line.

       Junior tailback Landon Nettles did the work from there with a 4-yard TD run.  The PAT was blocked, leaving the Cougars on top 20-7, with 2:24 remaining in the half.

     After swapping possessions to start the second half, the Cougars took advantage of another Buccaneer turnover when Tanner Parvin recovered a BG fumble at their own 36.  Posey rifled a 23-yard pass to Caleb Brown, setting up another Posey touchdown strike to Matthew Evans from 12 yards out.

       The 2-point conversion pass attempt failed and the Cougars led 26-7 with 4:06 showing in the third.

     The Bucs refused to quit and behind the passing of McCain were able to find the end zone on a 19-yard pass to Patrick Roublow.  The conversion was stuffed at the line of scrimmage and with 5:41 left in the contest BA led 26-13.

     BG was able to hold the Cougars and get the ball back. McCain again guided the Bucs down the field and found tight end Trent Ball on a 6-yard TD pass play.  Grant Ball added the PAT and pull the Bucs trailed 26-20 with 2:20 to play.

     The ensuing on-sides kickoff was easily handled by the BA front line at the Bowling Green 49.  Staying aggressive, Posey broke free on a quarterback keeper off the right side for a 43-yard dash to the Buccaneer 6. Posey called his own number again on a subsequent 4-yard touchdown run, icing the contest.

     Coach McCarty commented after the game, “I’m real proud of our team and their effort this past week and tonight. We wanted to control the game with our defense and we did that; forcing four turnovers that we were able to take advantage of.”

      McCarty continued, “We have to now get ready for a big homecoming week and our first district contest with Columbia next Friday night.”  “Rest assured our boys will be ready for this one.”

     Offensively, Posey led the Cougars with 212 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air.   Posey added to his total with 57 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground giving him his 20th touchdown of the season.

       Seth Rushing headed the receiving corps for BA with 5 catches and a touchdown.  Both Will Hickman and Matthew Evans had 2 catches and a score  for the Cougars.  Caleb Brown caught 2 passes for 51 yards. A total of eight different BA receivers had pass receptions on the night.

     Nettles rushed 18 times for 41 yards.

     BG’s Patrick Roublow netted 84 yards on the ground, 77 of those coming in the first half of play.  Connor McCain completed 21 pass attempts on the night with TD passes to Roublow and Trent Ball.

     Defensively the Cougars were led by Colby Culbertson with 10 tackles. Garrett Pace had 6 1/2 stops. Rawls added 6 tackles and an interception.  Matthew Evans, Tanner Parvin and Jacob Conley each had fumble recoveries.

       Homecoming presentation starts at 6 p.m. with kickoff to follow at 7 pm on R.M. “Red” Stuard Field.