The Brookhaven Academy Cougars made the long drive home from Batesville on Friday night as winners after holding off North Delta School 21-13.

For coach Ron Rushing, it wasn’t the win he wanted, but it was a win he’ll take.

“It was ugly, but an ugly win is better than a pretty loss,” said Rushing. “We didn’t play well in the second half, we didn’t have any consistency offensively, and I didn’t do a good enough job calling plays.”

The Cougars led 14-7 at halftime and got some breathing room midway through the third quarter when quarterback Dawson Flowers connected with Cade Brown for an 80-yard passing score.

From that point on, the game was won by the Cougar defense.

“I think this was as good as our defense has played since I’ve been here,” said Rushing. “They bent a couple times, but they bowed up when it mattered and got some big stops. They had a huge stop right before the half that ended up being the difference in the game. North Delta scores right there and it would have been a totally different second half.”

The Green Wave of North Delta have a 17-man senior class and are built around a speedy, physical defense that impressed Rushing on film and even more in-person.

“We got out-schemed in the second half and that’s on me,” said Rushing. “I’m proud of the fight the guys showed in spite of that. They beat a good team tonight by battling until the end.”

Story by Cliff Furr