CENTREVILLE — AP1. After Price season 1. That’s the term usedby Brookhaven Academy head coach Bo Milton to describe the 2007football season.

Milton and his Cougars started the new season Friday night,looking to replace all-state quarterback Price Sessums, whograduated last year and is now a walkon at Ole Miss. Brookhavenfans were not sure what to expect this season, as the task offilling in a position player who produced nearly 3,500 total yardsand 47 touchdowns seemed to be too much to handle.

The first test of the new campaign for Brookhaven came againstCentreville Academy, a team the Cougars defeated in the stateplayoffs last year. But less than a year later, the Tigers ofCentreville got their revenge, whipping Brookhaven 27-14 Fridaynight in the season debut for both teams.

Brookhaven battled what most referred to as first-game jittersfor the entire game. Bad snaps, dropped passes and missed blocks,all of which make it hard to win a football game, were commonplacefor the Cougars. Brookhaven took the opening possession of the gameonly to have the drive end in three plays, as quarterback DanielLofton’s pass found the hands of Centreville defensive back AdamPerry.

Brookhaven’s defense responded on the ensuing possession aslinebacker Steven Watts intercepted Centreville quarterback KyleBrown’s pass and returned it 34 yards to the Tiger 4-yard line. Onthe next play, Lofton scored a on sweep to give the Cougars a 6-0lead with 8:54 remaining in the first quarter.

That was the only lead Brookhaven would have as the Tigersrattled off 27 straight points, led by tailback Nick Goudeau, whopiled up 156 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries. Brookhavenseemed to have no answer for the lethal Centreville rushing attack,as the Tigers controlled the clock and the game for the last threequarters.

Brookhaven’s only other score came with 8:07 left in the fourthquarter. Lofton scored on a 13-yard run to close the Centrevillelead to 27-14.

Once again the Centreville offense pounded the Cougar defense onthe ground and ate up the clock.

“We made too many mistakes.” said Coach Milton. “We made toomany little mistakes that we shouldn’t have made. We’re not goodenough right now to beat a good team when we make those kinds ofmistakes.

“But we’ll get better as the season goes on. All we can do islearn from it and move on.”

Lofton led Brookhaven’s offense that totaled only 172 totalyards compared to a 336-yard output from the Tigers. Lofton rushedthe football 12 times for 50 yards and two touchdowns. He was fivefor 12 through the air for 88 yards with two interceptions.

Kolby Byrd led the Brookhaven defense with 19 tackles and 1sack. Jeremy James added 9 tackles and Will Gatlin recorded 8 stopsand recovered a fumble. Steven Watts had an interception.

The Cougars to Brookhaven for their home debut Friday night asthey welcome Oak Forest, La to Cougar Field. Kickoff is set for 7p.m.