CENTREVILLE – Going into the 2013 season opener, Coach Tripp McCarty knew his Brookhaven Academy Cougars had some big shoes to fill from last year’s championship season.

Earlier in the week McCarty commented, “We’ve put in the work over the summer, these kids have been dedicated, and now we have to go and perform under the lights on Friday night.”

Sounds like a simple plan, but for your opening opponent is perennial powerhouse Centreville Academy on their home turf led by their junior standout quarterback Casey Haygood who passed for three touchdowns and ran for another on the night, giving the Tigers a 35-14 victory.

The BA Cougars took first possession, but their drive stalled out and they were forced to punt the ball away to Centreville, who started their first drive of the evening on their on 21-yard line.

Haygood went to work mixing runs with short passes mounting a 79-yard charge in just under four minutes, concluded with a 10-yard touchdown strike to Daniel Hollingsworth.

Brock Andrus added the PAT to give the tigers a 7-0 lead at the 4:27 mark of the first quarter.

Again, on the Cougars next possession after picking up one first down, they were forced to punt the ball back to the Tigers, who took over at their own 25 yard line.

Facing a third and one at their 34-yard line, tailback Mark Currie ripped off a 44-yard run, putting the Tigers in business again as the first quarter ran out with CA leading 7-0.

The Tigers pushed deep into Cougar territory and facing a fourth down and goal to go at the one-yard line, Tyler Caston inched over the goal line for the touchdown run. Andrus added the PAT, and the Tigers led 14-0 early in the second quarter.

The teams traded possessions, and the Tigers found themselves on the Cougar side of the 50-yard line and on the move again with just under four minutes to play in the half when BA senior defensive back Ethan Harris picked off a Haygood pass to stop the Tiger drive deep in Cougar territory.

The Cougars could find no momentum off the turnover and had to punt the ball back to the Tigers with 2:22 to play in the half. Haygood went back to work and eventually hooked up with Colby Shaw on a 22-yard touchdown pass. Andrus added the kick to give the Tiger a 21-0 lead going into the locker rooms at half.

Hoping to turn the tide, the Cougar defense had to stop the Tigers on their opening possession of the second half. Haygood would have none of that, marching his offense down the field on a 72 yard drive and calling his own number on a one-yard TD run to put the Tigers up 28-0.

Haygood would add another 25-yard touchdown pass to Shaw and a 35-0 lead to end the scoring on the night for Centreville.

The Cougars looked to find some positives to build on for the night and put together a 69-yard drive of their own and finally found pay dirt on a Connor Dorman 8 yard scamper. Landon Nettles added the PAT to bring the score at to 35-7.

BA would hold the Tigers on downs, forcing a punt then mounted another drive of 66 yards capped off by a Heath Hickman to tight end Carter Culbertson pass play for a 12 yard touchdown. Nettles added the PAT and cap the scoring for both teams on the night.

Offensively for the Cougars Connor Dorman led the ground attack with 65 yards on eight carries and Landon Nettles added 52 yards on 15 attempts. Hickman was 6 for 9, passing for 43 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively for the Cougars, they were led by senior cornerback Bailey Warren who had nine tackles to his credit. Ethan Harris added seven tackles and an interception. Connor Dorman also tallied 4 1/2 stops on the night for BA.

Haygood finished the night for Centreville 17 for 22 and 230 yards passing with 3 touchdowns and one TD run on the ground. Mark Currie added 60 yards rushing on five attempts and Tyler Caston had 24 yards and a touchdown run.

After the game Coach McCarty commented, “We have to run the ball better on offense and do everything better on defense.” He continued, “Give credit to Centreville, but we have to play better in all aspects of the game.”

The Cougars will face the Parklane Pioneers next Friday night on the campus of Brookhaven Academy and R.M. “Red” Stuard Field.