Dawson Flowers and Cade Brown have a connection that only comes from countless routes run in practice and throwing sessions.

The senior duo hooked up on three touchdown throws Friday night as the Brookhaven Academy Cougars outclassed the Clinton Christian Warriors 38-8 on R.M. “Red” Stuard Field.

BA led 28-0 at halftime over their district opponents from Hinds County.

The Cougars unleashed an efficient 72-yard drive on their opening possession of the game that was capped by a 13-yard designed quarterback run by Flowers.

The drive was kept alive on a long third down catch by Brown that went for a gain of 33-yards. Brown twisted to adjust in the air and landed on his back with the ball balanced on his stomach. His quick cover of the ball with his hands to snatch it away from the defensive back allowed him to retain possession on what could have easily been an interception or incompletion.

In the second quarter the Cougar offense would begin to cook.

Senior Justin Burt scored on a 6-yard touchdown run to put Brookhaven up two scores.

Two minutes later Flowers hooked up with Brown on a 25-yard touchdown pass.

The pair had not had much success thus far in the season.

Flowers says a lot of their problems were in his head.

“The mistakes I have been making have been mental,” said Flowers. “I was doubting myself on every throw and this week Cade and I sat down and we got it figured out.”

The next Cougar touchdown came with four minutes remaining until halftime.

Brown saw that the cornerback covering him had gone out with an injury. When that happens, Flowers knows to go to him automatically.

“I didn’t have to say anything to him,” said Brown. “When he looks out there and sees a sub on me, I know he’s going to get me the ball.”

Brown ran a go-route and Flowers hit him in stride for a 52-yard touchdown pass that had the Cougar faithful in a cheering frenzy.

The Crusaders would score on the first play of the second half when Keiwon Rodgers took a reverse for a 55-yard touchdown run.

That would be the only time the Crusaders would see the end zone as an active and aggressive BA defense forced four Clinton Christian turnovers.

With just under three minutes left in the game and his team trying to eat up clock, Flowers looked like he was about to walk in for another rushing score. When two Clinton defenders closed quickly to get him in their grasp, he deftly flicked a short pass to Brown for the final score of the night.

Freshman kicker Corey Case had three kickoffs go for touchbacks and also nailed a 45-yard field goal for the Cougars.

“We played great in the first half,” said Cougar coach Ron Rushing. “We played leverage really well defensively, we had great pursuit to the ball and had one of our better defensive performances.”

Story by Cliff Furr