Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Johns made his first varsityhomecoming as a starter a night to remember. Johns passed for fourtouchdowns and helped score another as the Brookhaven Panthersroared to a 55-12 Friday night trouncing of Port Gibson’s BlueWaves on rain-soaked King Field.

A large, partisan crowd watched LaToya Gibson crowned homecomingqueen in pregame ceremonies. Then they watched the Panthers (3-2,2-0) dismantle Port Gibson in a Region 6-4A contest. Sophomorereceiver Bud Chatman caught TD passes of 12, 24 and 6 yards,finishing with 7 receptions for 130 yards.

“Our offensive line stepped up and protected well,” said Johns.”This was my first homecoming but we didn’t execute well.”

On a field still soaked by Thursday’s Tropical Storm Isidore,the Panthers raced to a 28-0 halftime lead. Senior running backJosh Anderson scored the first TD in the first quarter on a 6-yardplunge, capping a 60-yard drive. Domenick DiPaolo kicked the extrapoint and the Panthers led 7-0 with 5:15 showing.

“This (homecoming win) means a great deal to me,” said Andersonwho led his team with 94 rushing yards on 13 carries. “It’s a bigstep in my life.”

Senior linebacker Emmanuel Perkins agreed. “It feels good to winhomecoming. We made a lot of big plays on offense and defense.”

Johns provided a remarkable touchdown in the second quarter. Hescramble around left end, fumbled at Port Gibson’s 10-yard linewhen he was tackled and the ball squirted across the goal linewhere Kendell Nickelson alertly recovered for a TD, making it13-0.

Chatman provided big-time TD catches. He leapt high in the backof the end zone for a 12-yard reception, making it 21-0. Johns hitNickelson on the PAT pass. An interception of Port Gibsonquarterback Carlos Jones by Tyrone Jones was returned to the PortGibson 12-yard line, setting up the first down TD pass toChatman.

On the next TD, a 48-yard pass to Chatman set up a 1-yardscoring strike to Darius Perkins. In the fourth quarter, Perkinsraced 47 yards for a TD, making it 48-6.

“The key to the game was we kept playing good defense,” said BHShead coach Tucker Peavey. “We had some guys on offense who made bigplays and we ran the ball well. Bud Chatman made some unbelievablecatches.”

Peavey said his coaching staff provided a solid game plan.

“Coach (Ryan) Ross on offense and Coach (Rod) Henderson ondefense did a goof job preparing the team.”

A 12-yard run by Kenny Smith concluded Brookhaven’s touchdownparade 4:14 left in the game. Zach Harrison, who usually kicks off,split the uprights on the PAT kick, making it 55-6.

The Waves (3-2, 1-2), with 17 seniors on the squad, got a40-yard TD pass from the rifle-armed Jones to flanker Jeremy Yatesin the third quarter and a 1-yard plunge by Melvin Ellis with 17seconds left in the game.

“Brookhaven came out ready to play and took it to us,” said PortGibson head coach Gary (Bo) Wright. “They didn’t look that good onfilm. They put a lot of pressure on us and did a great job.”

On defense, Emmanuel Perkins led the Pantherswith 7 tackles from his linebacker position. Belma Cager andLaKendrick Maxwell each had 5 tackles.

On the down side, Brookhaven lost senior defensive end JuliusLloyd to a broken ankle late in the third quarter. The Panthershost McComb Friday night for a region test.