BROOKHAVEN — Sophomore quarterback Dreamus Harron found an empty hole and dashed 70 yards to score 17 seconds into Brookhaven High’s 38-12 win over Provine Friday night. Brookhaven improved to a 3-5 record by winning the MHSAA 5A District 3 game on homecoming.

It was Harron’s first full game since he fractured his tibia against Franklin County earlier in the year. Before the game, head coach Tucker Peavey turned out the lights in the locker room to set the scene for the game.

“He said ‘Imagine yourself out there and do your thing.’ We get out on the field for the first drive and I see how they are lined up and called the play. I told Xavier Gayten I was going to the crib,” Harron said. “I saw the hole open up and took off.. There is nothing better than that. It was more of a read option play that we had run in practice with success. It means a lot to come out first and score. Especially for the fans, they came to watch us win.”

It took a while for Brookhaven to score again. Harron said it got a little rough. Provine caught a deflection on one of his passes for an interception inside the red zone. There was 3:40 left in the first quarter. Ole Brook’s defense forced a turnover to set up a seven-yard rushing touchdown for Ole Brook senior running back Xavier Gayten.

Gayten scored on a 50 yard rush with 2:50 left in the second quarter by trucking a poor Provine defender. He scored again a little while later on a 40-yard rushing touchdown to make it Brookhaven 28-0 Provine towards the end of the half.

Provine managed to quickly drive down the field and score on a four yard rush with four seconds before halftime. The Rams struck again after halftime on a 20 yard touchdown pass.

Senior kicker Bryce Smith, who recovered from a devastating knee injury last year, made a 30 yard field goal to extend Brookhaven’s lead to 31-12.

Gayten scored the last touchdown of the night on a 27 yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Jeremy Bibbs. Gayten finished the night with 250 rushing yards, 27 yards passing and four touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns were rushing scores in the first half thanks to the work of the offensive line to open up holes. Harron said he enjoys sharing the backfield with Gayten.

“Even though we are supposed to be serious he is funny,” Harron said. The defense sees him and they focus on him. Then they find out we have me and Jaden Allen. They see we can come out of the pocket at quarterback. You got us and they don’t expect us to run so we take the ball to the crib.”

Brookhaven will play at South Jones next Friday. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. Harron said the Provine game is now behind them and they are focused on playing the Braves. They will clean mistakes up and continue to build.

“I feel like we can go to state. We have to win district. We are worried about the next game though,” Harron said. “We have to win district so we can host in the playoffs. Our team has come together. I feel like we have our chemistry back. We have young guys on the field this year.”