WAYNESBORO — Brookhaven Academy fans made the long trek east onHighway 84 to Waynesboro Friday night with hopes that the Cougarswould be able to get back on the right track after a disappointingloss to Adams Christian on Oct. 13. It took just one offensive playfor Brookhaven to set the tone and show Wayne Academy that theCougars were back on the right track.

Brookhaven topped Wayne Academy 35-20 in a non-district matchupto improve to 8-1 overall. The Cougars remain 3-0 in district 6-AAplay. Wayne fell to 6-3 on the season.

Senior quarterback Price Sessums hooked up with junior widereceiver Corey Dickerson on the first play from scrimmage for a59-yard touchdown pass, giving Brookhaven a lead it would neverrelinquish. The point after try failed, giving the Cougars a 6-0lead with 11:40 remaining in the first quarter.

Brookhaven’s defense followed suit, holding the Jaguars to aquick three and out, with the ensuing punt setting up Brookhaven atits own 41 yard line. It took Sessums just three plays before hebroke loose with a 52 yard run and 6:05 remaining in the openingquarter. The Cougars tried for the two-point conversion but failed,keeping the score at 12-0.

The Cougar defense appeared to control the Jaguars once again onthe following drive, forcing to hosts to a fourth down and threesituation. But a successful fake punt brought new life to theJaguars, who kept the drive going until Jared Lee scored on a2-yard run with 11:54 remaining in the first half. Jabo Lee addedthe extra point, closing the Brookhaven lead to 12-7.

Brookhaven responded on the ensuing drive when Sessums leapedover a defender and darted 47 yards up the middle, pushing theBrookhaven lead to 18-7 with 9:54 left in the first half. Sessumsfound Dickerson in the end zone on the two-point try, giving theCougars a 20-7 lead.

The Cougar defense went to work once again, forcing anotherthree and out from the Jaguars. Sessums took the punt at his own 28yard line, dodged three defenders, and streaked up the sideline forthe touchdown. Sessums found Daniel Lofton on the 2-point try,giving Brookhaven a 28-7 lead with 8:46 remaining in the half.

Wayne met disaster on the ensuing kickoff. After a short returnto their own 11 yard line, the offense lost yardage on twoconsecutive plays, before Brookhaven defensive lineman BrandonSmith picked up a Jaguar fumble and ran 8 yards for the touchdown.Dickerson added the extra point for a 35-7 Brookhaven lead with7:53 remaining in the first half.

Brookhaven head coach Bo Milton took advantage of the lead andused the remaining time in the game to get his younger playersplaying time.

Wayne was able to score its only other points of the night latein the fourth quarter. Daniel Bunch scored on a 5 yard run with2:08 remaining, closing the Brookhaven lead to 35-14 after Leeadded the extra point.

After a successful onside kick attempt by the hosts, Bunch wasable to add his second touchdown of the night with 20 secondsremaining in the game on another 5 yard run. The extra pointattempt failed, ending the game at 35-20.

“It’s a good win.” said Milton. “Any time we can get our youngerplayers playing time, it’s a good thing. Our offense executed welland our defense did a good job of keeping them out of the end zone.Now we just need work and prepare for our last two regular seasongames.”

Sessums led Brookhaven with 365 all-purpose yards. He rushed thefootball 8 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He was 6 of 8through the air for 124 yards and a touchdown. He also had 3 kickreturns for 111 yards, one of which was for a touchdown.

Dickerson led all receivers with 5 receptions for 106 yards anda touchdown.

Jared Lee led Wayne with 26 yards on 6 carries with atouchdown.

On defense, Aaron Douglas led Brookhaven with10 tackles and 3 sacks. Bradley Allred, and Brandon Smith followedwith 5 tackles. Sessums and Kolby Byrd each had an interception.Brandon Smith had 4 tackles and recovered a fumble.

Brookhaven returns to Cougar Field Friday night for its finalregular season home game as they host Amite School Center in adistrict 6-AA matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.