Darius Perkins rushed for 147 yards and Grant McDonnieal scoredboth of Alexander’s touchdowns as the Panthers edged the TylertownChiefs 16-8 in junior high football action on King Field, Thursdaynight.

Mother Nature intervened during the 9th grade contest. Atorrential rainstorm came down the first half of the freshman gamebetween Brookhaven High and Tylertown. The Chiefs led 14-0 at theintermission over the Panthers. Several bright streaks of lightninggraced the dark skies and the game was called on that account withTylertown being declared the winner.

AJH and the Brookhaven freshmen will travel to Pike County totake on McComb Sept. 28. Game time is set for 5 p.m.

In the 8th grade game, the Panthers (3-1)racked up 187 yards of total offense. McDonnieal added 44 yards on7 carries.

With 4:10 left in the second quarter, McDonnieal crossed thegoal line from 9 yards out. Perkins tacked on the 2-pointconversion to give Alexander an 8-0 lead.

McDonniel added his second touchdown of the evening, when hedove into the endzone from 5 yards away. Perkins added the 2-pointconversion try and with 1:43 remaining in the first half and thePanthers increased their advantage to 16-0.

The Chiefs would get their lone score with approximately 3minutes left in the third quarter on a 6-yard run. Their 2-pointconversion attempt was successful to decrease their deficit to16-8. Both teams swapped several possessions before the final hornsounded.

Defensively, Jimmy Johns, Perkins and McDonnieal hadsacks to lead the Panther defensive attack. Michael Thrasher andDarrell Smith recovered fumbles. Jessie Bowman had several hugetackles.

In the 9th grade game, the floodgates opened up duringthe pregame warm-ups.

Once the game got underway, the field became very slickas Tylertown and Brookhaven were unable to move theball.

Tylertown scored with 4:44 remaining in the first periodon a 38-yard run. The 2-point conversion try was good and theChiefs were ahead 8-0.

The Chiefs tacked on another touchdown with 1:35 left inthe first half on an 8-yard scamper. Tylertown’s 2-point attemptwas good and their lead increased to 16-0.

As the horn sounded to end the first half, heavy rainsand lightning lit up the dark skies. At this point, the game wascalled due to the inclement weather.

Jason Dixon led the Panther offense with 11 yard on 4carries. Tremain Mathis and Generio Richardson were in on severaltackles to pace the defensive effort.