It’s a tale of two outstanding junior quarterbacks directing twotitle contenders in the Region 6-4A race. Friday night’s matchup atHughes Field on Ellis Avenue in Jackson sends Jimmy Johns and theBrookhaven Panthers (3-1, 1-0) against Tony Hobson and the Jim HillTigers (3-1, 1-0). Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Brookhaven is fresh from a 50-7 thrashing of the WingfieldFalcons in the first region test of the season. Hill is coming offits first regional game, a 44-20 triumph over Terry’s Bulldogs.

Johns passed for four touchdowns in Brookhaven’s rout ofWingfield. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 185 yards, includingbombs of 40 and 55 yards to senior wide receiver John Wayne Havard.That performance earned Johns (6-2, 215) The DAILY LEADER’sOffensive Player of the Week recognition.

Hobson (6-3, 195) completed 11 of 17 passes for 185 yards and 2touchdowns versus Terry. He also ran for 2 TDs. Hobson has 4passing TDs and 5 running TDs this season.

Brookhaven head coach Tucker Peavey said he’s been impressed bywhat he has seen of the Tigers on film. “Their skill guys are goodplayers. They do a pretty good job of both running and throwing.Jim Hill has a good passing game and they mix some option in there,too.”

To contain the Tigers, Peavey said, “We have to stay in positionon defense. We must contain where we need to contain.”

Hill, coached by Daryl Jones, finished 9-2 last season,advancing to the state playoffs. Running back Tony Miner (5-10,200) rushed for 800 yards and caught over 500 yards worth of passeslast season as a junior. Miner runs a 4.5 in the 40.

This year the Tigers kicked off their season with a 36-6 loss topowerhouse Jackson Provine. They defeated Callaway 28-14 and Lanier26-8 before whipping Terry last week.

“They (Tigers) look real athletic,” said Peavey. “They haveseveral guys who look like they can run real well. They are prettysound on their schemes on both sides of the ball.”

Peavey’s Panthers dominated Wingfield (1-3, 0-1), leading 44-0at halftime. Brookhaven’s starting offense scored on its firstpossession of the second half and watched the rest of the game fromthe sidelines.

Junior running back Ronnie McNulty directed the Brookhavenrushing attack with 6 carries for 108 yards and 1 TD, a 36-yardscamper. Dominique Smith followed with 12 carries for 62 yards anda TD.

Havard had 3 catches for 98 yards. Taurean Jones made 3 catchesfor 50 yards.

On defense, junior tackle Jessie Bowman spearheaded the Pantherswith 10 tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. AnthonyCaffie had 5 tackles. Phillip Tobias had 3 tackles and aquarterback sack. Defensive end Julius Brown had a sack but isdoubtful for tomorrow night’s game due to a foot injury.

Panther Paws: Brookhaven hasn’t played Jim Hill sincethe 1994 season when the Tigers prevailed 35-15 on Oct. 28 atJackson in Coach Rusty Funk’s second year at the BHS helm.Brookhaven beat Hill 20-0 in 1993.