Region 3-5A football is a battle every night and winning the turnover battle goes a long way towards whether a team wins or loses each Friday night.

Creating turnovers was a huge part of Brookhaven High School getting a 24-12 win over Laurel in a big region matchup Friday on King Field.

Brookhaven High senior defensive back Jaden Watson led the turnover charge for coach Tucker Peavey’s team and in doing so has earned The Daily Leader Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Watson made four tackles, broke up one pass, caused a fumble and picked off two passes for the Panthers.

Ole Brook is beginning to create an identity on defense. The Panthers have size up front led by massive senior nose guard Caleb Harris.

The backside of the BHS defense came into the season with more questions than answers on who’d play where. And while the team doesn’t have 6-foot safeties and corners like some of the teams they face, they’ve got a group that is willing to fly to the ball and try to get a hat on the ball.

The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Watson is one of the players helping set that tone for defensive coordinator Corey McLaurin.

The Panthers recovered four fumbles in the win over Laurel.

Two weeks ago, BHS took on the defending 5A state champions from West Jones for their region opener. Last week it was defending region champs Laurel and this week it’s another big test against Wayne County.

The supporters of Ole Brook will hit the road and head to the Mississippi/Alabama state line to see if their Panthers can get the first win in program history at Wayne County Friday.

Kickoff in Waynesboro between Brookhaven High (2-4) and Wayne County (4-1) is set for 7 p.m.