Frost coated the goal post’s crossbar as a last-gasp, 42-yardfield goal attempt by Hunter Estess sailed just left and fell inthe North end zone. The miss ignited a massive celebration onchilly King Field as Brookhaven’s Panthers claimed a thrilling27-26 Friday night win over the previously unbeaten West JonesMustangs.

Three seconds earlier, Estess had missed a 47-yard field goal astime expired. A Brookhaven defender ran into Estess and thePanthers were penalized five yards, giving West Jones another shotwith no time left on the scoreboard.

It was another heart-breaking loss for the Mustangs (12-1) whohad reached the South State 5A title game last season beforefalling to Wayne County.

Brookhaven (9-4), the 2010 Cinderella team of the stateplayoffs, advances to Saturday night’s state title game againstdefending state champion West Point, a 47-0 winner over previouslyunbeaten Ridgeland. It will be the Panthers’ first state titleappearance since 2004 when they won it all after beating West Jones28-14 for the South State championship.

West Jones coach Scott Pierson and his Mustangs were devastatedby the setback. Pierson praised the performance of Ole Brookquarterback Duwone Harris.

“That kid, No. 12 (Harris) just made plays when they had to,”said Pearson. Harris had played only briefly in his team’s 31-0loss at West Jones during the regular season.

On a frosty night, an estimated crowd of 5,000 watched Harrisrush for 172 yards and 1 touchdown. The talented senior completed 8of 12 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

The Mustangs struck first as quarterback Ben Stevens directed a67-yard, game-opening drive, passing to Devontay Barnett for 78yards and a TD on the ninth play, a 7-yard pass.

Harris brought the Panthers back in a hurry as he hooked up withwide receiver Ross Hill for 79 yards on the second play after thekickoff. It was 7-7 on Dewey Stailey’s PAT kick.

The Panthers made it 14-7 on their next possession. TravoriusShowers ran to his left side from 1-yard out, climaxing a 67-yardmarch.

On the third play of the second quarter, Barnett gave theMustangs a 14-14 deadlock on 2-yard sweep off the left end.

The Panthers took a 20-14 halftime lead as Harris engineered an8-play, 76-yard march to paydirt. He scored over left tackle from 8yards out with 46 seconds left in the half.

West Jones realized a 20-20 knot with 40 seconds left in thethird quarter. Stevens launched a long bomb that Xavier Hiltoncaught over his left shoulder. It was good for 48 yards and the TD.However, the extra point by Estess was blocked.

The Mustangs pulled ahead when Harris fumbled on a hard tackleat his 31-yard line. Ben McDonald scooped up the football and raceddown the sideline to paydirt. Estess missed the PAT and it was26-20 with 11:49 left to play.

BHS got rolling after a 41-yard punt return by E.J. Henderson tothe WJ 49. Harris and Showers rushed the football to the Mustangs’3-yard line. Harris rolled to his right and hit tight end NickPeavey in the corner of the end zone to tie the score at26-all.

“It was a sprint out and I ran a 3-yard drag,” Peavey recalled.”I saw the ball coming.”

As his teammates chanted “Dewey, Dewey, Dewey,” Stailey clickedon the PAT and BHS led 27-26 with 29 seconds left to play.

Stevens, who completed 16 of 28 passes in the game for 231yards, quickly drove his team down to Brook’s 30-yard line,completing passes of 14 yards to Barnett and 16 yards to Hilton. Hespiked the ball and set the stage for two long field goalattempts.

“That was a pressure kick Dewey made,” said BHS head coachTucker Peavey. “Obviously, we really needed it. A lot of peoplewere pulling for him.”

Peavey said he was delighted with his team’s triumph. “WestJones is a great team and our kids responded with a super effort. Iknow it’s hard to beat a team twice,” in one season.