The Brookhaven Academy Cougars have been amainstay in the MAIS Class AA state playoffs for severalyears.  They have won fiveconsecutive district championships.  Thanks to a dominating effort Fridaynight, Brookhaven assured itself a trip to the playoffs once again,but more importantly earned a shot for the district title.

    Brookhaven whipped Adams County Christian School 42-7 Friday in agame that seemed to be over right after it started on R.M. “Red”Stuard Field.  Brookhavenimproved to 8-2 on the season and 2-0 in district play.  Adams fell to 1-9 overall and 0-2 indistrict play. 

    Brookhaven took the opening kickoff and registered points in justfour plays as Eli Gatlin scored the first of four first quartertouchdowns on a 1-yard run with 11:01 left in the openingperiod.  Bubba Keene addedthe extra point for a 7-0 Brookhaven lead.

    Junior quarterback Gage Posey enjoyed his best career game,completing all seven of his pass attempts for 167 yards and fivetouchdowns.  Poseyconnected with Will Lucas from 15 yards out with 9:11 left in theopening quarter.  Poseyadded a 16-yard strike to Bubba Keene and a 50-yard pass to JeffRushing to close out the opening quarter, with Brookhaven sportinga 27-0 lead.

    Posey continued his performance in the second quarter, connectingwith Matthews Evans on a 25-yard pass, and again with Keene from 26yards out.

The lone Adams touchdown came with 2:33left in the first half as Lester Wells scored on a 40-yard run,cutting the Brookhaven lead to 40-7 after Johnny Smith added theextra point. 

    The only points of the second half came with 5:14 to go in the gameas Jacob Conley and Jacob Philipp stopped Wells in the end zone forthe safety.

    “Our kids gave a good effort.” said BA head coach TrippMcCarty.  “Our offensiveand defensive lines have improved a lot as the season has gonealong.  Our offensive linehas done a good job the past couple of games giving Gage time tothrow.  He’s put up somegood numbers because of the receivers and offensive line workinghard.”

    Landon Nettles eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the season, gaining107 yards on 10 carries. Eli Gatlin added 23 yards on 5 carries with atouchdown.  Bubba Keene wasthe leading receiver, hauling in 4 passes for 72 yards and twotouchdowns. 

    Wells led Adams with 47 yards on 11 carries and atouchdown.  ChristopherPerry added 31 yards on 8 carries.

    On defense, Bailey Hodge led Brookhaven with 14tackles.  Colby Culbertsonand Jacob Philipp each added 9 stops in support.  Ken Britt and Garrett Pace eachregistered 8 stops.  JacobPhilipp recovered a fumble and Jacob Thurman had aninterception.

    Brookhaven travels to face Trinity Episcopal Friday for theDistrict 5-AA championship game.  Kickoff in Natchez is 7 p.m.