TERRY — Charles Wilson drew his first starting assignmentFriday night and responded like a thoroughbred stallion on a muddyrace track. The Brookhaven sophomore rushed for 190 yards and 1touchdown, sparking the Panthers to a rain-soaked, 48-6 trouncingof the Terry Bulldogs in Region 6-4A action.

Wilson, starting in place of injured senior Ronny McNultycarried the football 22 times. After quarterback Jimmy Johns rushedfor his second TD with 10:42 left in the third quarter, giving thePanthers a 42-0 lead, BHS head coach Tucker Peavey pulled hisstarting offense.

Brookhaven improved its record to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in theregion as the 10th-ranked Panthers won their fifth straight gameand climbed to 4-0 in the region. They’ll visit No. 7 South Pike(7-0, 3-0) Friday night for a region showdown in Magnolia.

“Charles Wilson did a good job running the ball for us tonight,”said Coach Peavey. “I was proud of the way we ran and passed theball on offense, especially in these conditions.”

Peavey’s Panthers had to walk through ankle-deep mud fromTerry’s field house to the field which was in poor condition. Aspitting rain and gusting wind didn’t discourage the large group ofPanther followers who watched their team splash to a 35-0 halftimelead.

“Ronny could have played tonight but I want him to be 100percent,” said Peavey. McNulty, Brookhaven’s leading rusher withover 900 yards, had injured his shoulder in the previous week’sgame against McComb.

For the Panthers, their main order of business on defense wasslowing down Terry junior running back Anthony Dixon who rushed 26times for 188 yards. Dixon (6-2, 220) broke loose on a 65-yard TDgallop late in the fourth quarter against BHS reserves.

Ole Brook senior linebacker Eric Edwards said the Panthersfocused on Dixon. “Our main goal was to stop No. 24 (Dixon). Coachtold us to hit him high and hit him low.”

Junior cornerback Anthony Caffie was a star on defense forBrookhaven. He intercepted 2 of Terry quarterback Blake Pennock’spasses. The first theft led to Ole Brook’s first TD, a 3-yardkeeper by Johns.

Will Thibodeaux kicked his first of 5 extra points with 6:40left in the first quarter.

Terry’s second turnover, a fumble by Dixon at the Bulldogs’19-yard line, was recovered by Virgil Sanders. On first down,Wilson raced around right end for his first varsity touchdown.

Wide receiver Tauren Jones pulled in a 21-yard TD pass fromJohns on a fourth-down conversion. It was 21-0 with 7:45 left inthe first half.

With 48 seconds left in the first half, Johns scrambled 9 yardsfor a TD and a 28-0 lead. A 27-yard pass to tight end MichaelThrasher set up the score.

Caffie stepped in front of another Pennock pass and almostreturned it for a TD. After running 48 yards, Caffie was tackled atTerry’s 10-yard line with 3 seconds left in the half. Thibodeauxlined up for an apparent field goal attempt but Johns, the holder,sprang to his feet and threw a TD strike to Thrasher for a 35-0bulge.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 1-2) attempted an onside kickoff to start thesecond half but it misfired when the Panthers recovered at theTerry 48. Two rushes by Wilson gained 30 yards. Johns finished thedrive with a twisting, 10-yard run and the Panthers led 42-0.

Backup quarterback Chase McIntyre cashed in Ole Brook’s final TDwith a 1-yard sneak and 4:39 left in the third quarter.

First-year Terry head coach Bill French praised the Panthers.”We knew Brookhaven was good. They have a lot of talent. They madeadjustments on defense and hurt our running game.”