GALLMAN — Brookhaven Academy sophomore quarterback PriceSessums became an immediate impact player Friday night in theCougars’ 34-21 win over the Copiah Academy Colonels in theseason-opener for both MPSA schools.

Sessums, who stands 5-10 and weighs 150 pounds, completed9-of-18 passes with one interception for 143 yards and a touchdown.He rushed the football 21 times for 184 yards and scored threeTDs.

“This was a big win for us,” said a sweat-soaked but happySessums after the game. “The line stepped it up. They knew it wasbig. It was huge. It keeps our winning streak going.”

The winning streak Sessums mentioned includes the last fourgames from the 2003 season that the Cougars won.

“It was a great effort,” said BA head coach Ray Ishee. “We haveto work hard to get better. We have young guys who need a lot ofwork. Everybody has to do it.”

It was not a great start for the Cougars in the firstquarter.

Cougar Cole Hodges kicked off to Copiah and senior running backPrice Henley took the football and ran it back for an 89-yardtouchdown and an early 7-0 lead following his own PAT kick.

On its second possession in the first quarter, BA drove 80-yardsin 10 plays to score its first TD on a 5-yard burst by Sessumsaround the right corner. Hodges kicked his first extra point, going4-for-5 on the night, as the Cougars tied the game at 7-all with2:10 left.

BA got a big break when Sawyer Smith recovered a Colonel fumbleat the 50-yard line with 46 seconds remaining in the firstquarter.

The Cougars executed five plays to set up a 39-yard pass-playfrom Sessums to junior tight end Paul Davis for the secondtouchdown that gave BA a 14-7 lead with 11:51 left in the secondquarter.

Two possessions later, Copiah ran two plays before BA seniorCameron Achord picked off Colonel quarterback David Hester’s passand returned it 65 yards for the third Cougar touchdown of thegame. BA pushed its lead to 21-7 with 7:16 seconds left.

The Colonels regrouped on their next possession and scored theirsecond touchdown to cut the Cougar lead to 21-14 with 1:42remaining in the first half. Copiah marched 67 yards in 15 plays topunch in its score on junior running back Jeb Stevens’ 1-yardplunge over the middle. Henley’s PAT kick was good.

BA kept its offensive machine rolling in the third quarter andthe Cougars scored touchdowns on their first two possessions.

The Cougars went up 27-14 following a 62-yard, 10-play drivethat was capped by Sessums going in on a big 32-yard burst to theright outside corner with 8:16 on the clock.

BA’s Bradley Allred recovered a Copiah fumble at the 4:11 markto set up an 86-yard, 8-play drive for the final Cougar TD of thegame. Sessums broke loose down the right side for a 38-yard TD anda 34-14 lead.

The Colonels never quit and came back to punch in its third andfinal touchdown in the fourth quarter. Copiah took over at its own31 with 5:07 left on the clock. The Colonels ran nine plays on thepassing talents of sophomore quarterback Bennett Wilson to set up a6-yard pass to Stevens for the touchdown. Henley kicked the extrapoint to cut the Cougars lead to 34-21 with 3:33 left.

“BA did what I thought they would do,” said Copiah head coachMitch Mitchell, referring to BA spreading out the Colonel defense.”Price Sessums makes the plays. He is a good little guy. BA justplayed real well. They did things they had to do to win.”

Henley, a 5-8, 170-pound senior, powered the Colonels with 23carries for 159 yards.

In the air, starting quarterback Hester went 2-for-4 for 24yards followed by Wilson who was 6-of-12 for 65 yards.

Defensively, BA was led by Davis, Steven McKinney and Achordwith seven tackles apiece. Making six stops each were Allred andChris Falvey. Hodges intercepted a pass.

BA plays its first home game Friday when the Cougars entertainPrentiss Christian School. Copiah travels to East Rankin. Game timeis 7 p.m.