Running back Semmie Smith celebrated the 2008 season opener withan impressive 4-touchdown performance. The Brookhaven junior slicedthrough North Pike’s defense, sparking the Panthers to a 44-6Friday night trouncing of the Jaguars on sweat-soaked KingField.

>Smith (5-10, 185) could have done much more damage out ofOle Brook’s no-huddle offense but head coach Tucker Peavey gave hisstarters a rest after Smith streaked 27 yards for his fourth TD,making it 35-zip with 10:19 left in the third quarter

“I could have done a lot better,” answered Smith, when askedabout his 97 yards rushing on 13 carries and 4-TD performance. “Wehad some good blocking from our offensive line.”

Offense was the highlight, supported by an aggressive,hard-hitting defense that didn’t allow a score untilthird-stringers yielded late in the fourth quarter. Bud Britt, abackup for 2 seasons, made a sparkling debut at quarterback,hitting 12 of 16 passes for 183 yards and 1 TD.

“It felt good,” said Britt. “It’s a fast-paced offense and it iswide open. It’s high-tempo and fun to run.”

Britt threw accurate passes and his young receivers respondedwith good catches. Sophomore E.J. Henderson had 3 catches for 66yards, including a 38-yard TD reception.

“Trent (Powell) stepped up and made a bunch of catches,” saidBritt. “Nick (Peavey), E.J. and Duwone (Harris) also made some goodcatches. This was a confidence booster for our offense and ourdefense.”

The Panthers led 28-0 at halftime, dominating on boths sides ofthe line of scrimmage. BHS linebacker Renaldo Epps picked off NorthPike quarterback Revis Butler and returned the theft to theJaguars’ 46, setting up Brook’s second TD. Smith ran it in from 2yards out and Chris Lowman kicked his second of 6 extra points.

“It feels good to win at home,” said BHS linebacker ChavonMiddleton. “We have good coaches and they had us prepared.”

In the third quarter, sophomore Chris Seals intercepted Butler.The Jaguars would give up a safety when a snap sailed over Butler’shead and he was tackled in the end zone.

“It was a real long night for us,” said North Pike second-yearhead coach Chris Smith. “You have to come ready to play footballwhen you come to Brookhaven. We weren’t mentally ready. We werebug-eyed the first half.”

Coach Peavey was pleased with his young team’s peformance whichovercame injures to key players. Due to foot surgery, seniorlinebacker Jarvis Wilbert watched from the sidelines on crutches.Sophomore center Sam Ballard missed the game due to a back ailmentand was replaced by Mitch Case.

“We played about as good as you can on offenes,” said Peavey.”Trent Powell made some great catches. Everybody we threw to,caught it.”

Peavey also saw improvement on defense since the previous week’sfootball jamboree at Wayne County. “We had more intensity ondefense, too. We played with more confidence on both sides of theball.”

The Panthers receive a much more severe test Friday night,meeting the South Pike Eagles at Magnolia. South Pike shut outMcComb 28-0 in its season opener.