Enterprise tops West Lincoln, Brookhaven Academy picks up first win
Published 10:00 am Saturday, September 23, 2023
Here’s a look at how area schools faired in high school football action on Friday night.
Enterprise 43, West Lincoln 14
The Enterprise Yellow Jackets head into region play next week at Lumberton with a 3-2 record and riding a wave of good vibes after beating their county rivals from West Lincoln by a 43-14 score.
As the public address system on Harry Cole Field blared a little Jimmy Buffett, the Yellow Jackets and their fans danced towards the field house and parking lot on Friday.
EAC led 30-7 at halftime.
A 71-yard touchdown run by Enterprise junior quarterback Landon McNickles put his team up 43-7 with 3:18 left in the third quarter and that started a running clock that made the final quarter fly by.
It was McNickles third rushing touchdown of the game as he also scored on a 65-yard rush to put the Yellow Jackets on the board in the first quarter. McNickles also had a 10-yard scoring run.
Junior Payton Kyzar scored two rushing touchdowns for EAC and the Jackets also got a rushing score from junior Nick Harris.
The Enterprise offensive line of junior Jaden Cothern, junior Preston Mooneyham, junior Micah Carter, junior Jamie Fulgham, junior Parker Harris and junior Elijah Fuller controlled the action up front all night and gave the Yellow Jacket ball carriers plenty of room to run.
West Lincoln got a spark to get on the board early in the second quarter when junior Tyler Hall returned a Prewitt Falvey kickoff 60-yards down to the Enterprise 20-yard line.
On third down, West Lincoln junior quarterback Caden Seay plunged ahead from 11-yards out behind his line to score. Junior Gabe Gennaro knocked through the PAT kick and West Lincoln cut the lead to 14-7 with 10:12 left until halftime.
The following drive by Enterprise ate up five minutes off the clock and covered 95 yards. It was capped off by a 7-yard scoring run by Nick Harris.
A 3-and-out by the West Lincoln offense gave the Jackets the ball back and McNickles moved his team quickly into scoring range with a long completion to Parker Harris.
McNickles capped the drive with a 10-yard scoring run that came with 32 seconds left until halftime.
Unfortunately for West Lincoln, Seay suffered an upper body injury that kept him on the bench in the second half. The Bears and coach Brad Bland were also without two other starters on Friday as senior Brice Peeples has been sidelined by a leg injury and senior offensive lineman Zackary Taylor sat out for a second straight week with an injury.
The Bears kept plugging though, mixing up their formations and giving the ball to sophomore fullback Braden Hamm on inside runs.
Freshman Bricen Hamm filled in at quarterback in the second half and with 15 seconds left in the game, sophomore Weston Patten scored on a 1-yard run to give West Lincoln its second touchdown of the night. Gennaro kicked the PAT on an untimed down to provide the game’s final point.
West Lincoln (1-4) is back on the friendly confines of Perry Miller Field to host Sylva-Bay Academy (0-6) next week.
Enterprise and Woodard begin Region 8-1A play with a trip to face Lumberton (2-3) next week. Winning at Lumberton isn’t easy as the Panthers have a strong program on a yearly basis.
It’s not impossible though as the Jackets won 52-38 at Lumberton in 2021 when the Panthers were the defending MHSAA 1A state champions.
EAC is back at home on Oct. 6 when they’ll host Resurrection Catholic in another region test.
Brookhaven Academy 49, Salem 14
Brookhaven Academy went to Walthall County to face the Salem Wildcats and returned with its first win of the season. The meeting was the first ever between the MAIS Cougars and a MHSAA program.
The loss was the 41st consecutive defeat for the MHSAA 1A Wildcats.
BA and coach Reggie Lea led 42-6 at halftime after recovering three straight onside kicks in the fist half. Brookhaven Academy (1-5) plays on the road next week at Simpson Academy (3-3) for a non-district game.
Loyd Star 49, Stringer 8
It was a happy homecoming in Hornetville as the homestanding Loyd Star Hornets whipped the Stringer Red Devils from Jasper County.
The win was the third straight for Loyd Star (4-1) and first year head coach Adam Smith. Region 7-2A play begins next week with Wilkinson County visiting Loyd Star.
Wesson 19, Mize 13
Wesson ended up in a dog fight against Mize in Smith County but brought back a close win to remain unbeaten. The Cobras (5-0) had scored 40 or more points in their first four wins before playing at Mize (2-3).
Coach Jeremy Loy and his Cobras are off next Friday before beginning region play by hosting Port Gibson on Oct. 6.
Bogue Chitto 35, Puckett 29
The Bogue Chitto Bobcats (3-2) and coach Gareth Sartin knocked Puckett (4-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten with a thrilling win on Troy Smith Field.
The Bobcats will kick off Region 7-2A play next week with a home date against the Amite County Trojans.
Lawrence County 42, Tylertown 18
Homecoming in Monticello was capped with a big win for the homestanding Lawrence County Cougars (2-3) over the visiting Tylertown Chiefs (1-4).
LC led 34-0 at halftime. The Cougars and coach Jesse Anderson will open region play next week by playing at Sumrall.
Northwest Rankin 41, Brookhaven High 19
Early turnovers set up some short drives for Northwest Rankin and the 7A Cougars (4-1) cruised to a win at 5A Brookhaven High (2-3).
The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter before NWR scored three state times to take a 28-7 halftime lead.
Brookhaven High has an off week to prepare for the biggest game of the season, their region opener on Oct. 6 at Florence High (3-2). Florence lost 42-41 to Mendenhall in double overtime a week ago and 42-40 to Holmes County Central (5-0) on Friday.