When it comes to the playoffs, most coacheswill tell you that big plays and turnovers are often the differencein the games.  InBrookhaven Academy’s opening round game Friday night against OakForest, both aspects worked together to help theCougars. 

    Brookhaven toppled Oak Forest 27-12 in a tough, hard-hitting gameon R.M. “Red” Stuard Field.  The Cougars improved to 10-2 on theseason and advance to meet District 4-AA No. 1 seed Simpson AcademyFriday night in Mendenhall.  Oak Forest, the No. 2 seed out ofDistrict 6, lost to Brookhaven for the second time this season andends its season with a 4-8 mark.

    Brookhaven capitalized on a Yellow Jacket fumble on its firstpossession and a 78-yard kickoff return by Bubba Keene to open thesecond half to help the Cougars record their sixth consecutivevictory. 

    “I’m proud of my kids for earning the win,”  said BA head coach TrippMcCarty.  “I was prettyconcerned about a letdown after such a big game last week,”referring to the district-clinching win at Trinity. “We didn’t havea great week of practice but Coach (Hunter) Ogden and Coach(Johnny)Ball did a great job of making sure our guys wereready.  We’re going to haveto play a very good game next week.”

    It took the Cougars just five plays to go 32 yards after an OakForest fumble on its first possession.  Junior quarterback Gage Poseyconnected with Jeff Rushing from 10 yards out.  The extra point attempt failed,giving the hosts a 6-0 lead with 6:31 remaining in the openingquarter. 

    Oak Forest capitalized on a muffed Brookhaven punt that resulted ina short field, and registered its first points at the 2:11 mark ofthe opening quarter. Sam Bourgeois scored on a 10-yardrun.  The extra pointattempt failed, knotting the score at 6-6.

    Brookhaven was able to register one more score before the half.Landon Nettles rumbled in from one yard out, capping a 14-play,72-yard drive.  Poseyconnected with Will Lucas for the two-point conversion, giving theCougars a 14-6 lead at the half.

    Keene electrified the Brookhaven crowd with his kickoff returntouchdown to open the second half, and seemingly put some distancebetween the Cougars and Yellow Jackets. But Oak Forest respondedwith an 11 play, 79-yard drive that ended with Bourgeois scoring ona 7-yard run.  The extrapoint attempt failed, cutting the BA lead to 20-12.

    Brookhaven added an insurance score with 4:49 remaining in thegame. Keene scored from two yards out.  Will Lucas added the extra point,ending the scoring at 27-12.

    “It was a few mistakes and one big play that cost us.” said OakForest head coach Jason Brabham.  “We had some turnovers in our firstgame that ended up giving them the edge.  We gave up the kickoff return and theturnover on the first drive gave them a short field.  You can’t make those mistakes in theplayoffs and expect to win.”

    Posey led the Brookhaven Academy offense, completing 5 of his 13pass attempts for 123 yards and a touchdown.  Nettles followed with 41 yards on 13carries with a touchdown. Keene added 33 yards on 8 carries with a touchdown.

    Rhase Riggins led Oak Forest, picking up 98 yards on 11carries.  Josh Byersfollowed with 75 yards on 15 carries. Bourgeois picked up 40 yardson 11 carries with two touchdowns.

    On defense, Brookhaven had six players record at least 10tackles.  Bailey Hodge ledthe defense with 24 stops. Ken Britt followed with 16 stops, Colby Culbertson added 14, HunterFranklin and Jacob Philipp recorded 12 apiece and Bubba Keeneregistered 11 stops.  Hodgeand Jeff Rushing each recorded a fumble.

    Brookhaven advances to meet Simpson Academy for the second timethis season.  Simpsontopped the Cougars 35-23 in the first meeting Sept. 2. 

Kickoff in Mendenhall is 7 p.m.