Brookhaven Academy wrapped up its regular season by spoiling the Amite School Center senior night as the Cougars racked up a 35-14 win Friday night in Liberty.

Although the Rebels controlled the time of possession throughout the game, the Cougars controlled the scoreboard, scoring 21 unanswered points before the Rebels finally found the end zone.

The Cougars would draw first blood as they found the end zone on an 87-yard kickoff return by senior Cade Brown to open up the game.

Brookhaven Academy wouldn’t find the end zone again until 1:17 left in the first quarter as senior Dawson Flowers connected with junior Nick Ogden for a 12-yard touchdown to take a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.

Going to the ground, the ASC Rebels started to move down the field but ran into some trouble as their offensive possession came to an end when they elected to go for it on a fourth and 10.

Starting on their own 24-yard line, the Cougars kept the ball on the ground and soon found the end zone once again as Ogden ran the ball in for a 33-yard touchdown to give the Cougars a 21-0 lead.

The Rebels would control the ball for the rest of the second quarter as they ate up the clock on their way to their first touchdown of the game.

ASC scored off a four-yard run by senior Con Hartzog. Missing the point after, the Cougars were up 21-6.

The Rebels would get their final touchdown with 28 seconds left in the half as junior Braswell Ervin intercepted Flowers and returned the ball for a 60-yard touchdown.

Amite went for the two-point conversion and was successful. Brookhaven Academy led 21-14 at halftime.

The Cougars would get the only touchdown in the third quarter as Flowers intercepted Hartzog for a 40-yard touchdown. Nailing the point after, Brookhaven Academy was up 28-14.

Facing a second and long to start the fourth quarter, Amite’s drive would come to an end as senior Keegan Smith intercepted Hartzog’s pass at the five-yard line.

Running the ball, the Cougars put together a 95-yard drive — capped off by a Flowers to sophomore Collin Waldrop for a 44-yard touchdown — for the only score of the fourth quarter.

Ogden rushed 14 times for 157 yards to lead the Cougar offense. Gunar Brister led the defense with 15 tackles.

“I think they ran 39 offensive plays to our 12 in the first half,” said Cougar coach Ron Rushing. “We made some adjustments at halftime that we could have made earlier, but that’s on me. We only gave up one offensive touchdown but hats off to Amite School Center. They played hard and made us earn it.”

The Cougars finish the regular season with a 7-2 record and are champs of MAIS District 4-AA.

The Cougars will host Marshall Academy next Friday night in an opening round playoff game on R.M. “Red” Stuard Field.

Story by Dave Linton