It was a double delight for Brookhaven football fans Fridaynight. Besides the homecoming festivities, Ole Brook’s 16 seniormembers of the football team were honored plus senior cheerleadersand band members on King Field.

Senior running back Clayton Winston rushed for 3 touchdowns,directing the Panthers to a 42-0 trouncing against the Port GibsonBlue Waves. That pleased homecoming queen Ashley Gayten and hercourt.

The victory raised Ole Brook’s record to 5-2 overall and 4-1 inthe Region 6-4A race. The Panthers have an open date this weekbefore wrapping up regular season play at Florence, Oct. 31.

“It was exciting to win homecoming, even though we didn’t playas well as we should have,” said BHS senior quarterback Bud Britt.He rushed for 1 touchdown and scored a 2-point conversion beforesitting out the fourth quarter when the clock was allowed torun.

The Panthers sputtered offensively in the first half, taking a14-0 lead on Winston’s 9-yard run and Britt’s 4-yard plunge. Seniorplacekicker Chris Lowman nailed both extra points.

Brook’s defensive unit played exceptionally well, limiting PortGibson to just 106 yards total offense.

Defense would ignite the Panthers in a 28-point third quarter.The first bonus came when outside linebacker Chavon Middleton brokethrough and blocked a punt by PG’s Joshua Dotson. Isaiah Williamsalertly picked it up and raced 17 yards to the end zone.

“I felt like I had won a million dollars when I crossed the goalline,” said Williams. “Chavon told me he was going for the blockand to watch for the ball. My adrenalin was rising and I wanted toget the ball.”

Middleton also intercepted a pass by Wave quarterback JoDariusGrigsby.

The Panthers scored 3 touchdowns in the next 9 minutes. Juniorrunning back Semmie Smith broke loose on a 78-yard TD dash. Winstonscored on runs of 3 and 7 yards.

Smith toted the football 8 times for 148 yards.

BHS head coach Tucker Peavey said he was disappointed with histeam’s first-half performance after they drove 75 yards with thegame-opening drive. Winston had taken the pitch around right endfor the TD.

“We did good at first but then we hit a wall,” said Peavey. “Wedidn’t execute on offense.”

Peavey praised the Panthers for their performance on defense.”That blocked punt seemed to pick us up. We played well on defenseand kept the pressure on Port Gibson. It’s always good to winhomecoming.”

The Panthers were minus starting offensive tackle DerrickHenderson who was sidelined by a sprained ankle.

Port Gibson, coached by Willie Brown, only had 3 seniors in thestarting lineup. Senior running back Antwan Walker picked up 100rushing yards on 23 carries. Brown said this is Walker’s first yearto play football.

“Brookhaven has a good team,” said Brown. “They have a goodprogram with a lot of tradition.”

Brown left Hazlehurst after coaching the Indians to a Class 3Astate championship in 2005. He spent two years coaching Greenvillebefore taking the job at Port Gibson, an annual doormat infootball.