For the first time in 13 years, Brookhaven Academy fans crowdedCougar Field Friday night to watch their Cougars host the firstround of the MPSA Class AA state playoffs. The standing-room-onlycrowd had a lot to cheer about as the Cougars delivered adominating performance over the visiting Centreville AcademyTigers.

Brookhaven piled up nearly 500 yards of total offense en routeto 38-21 victory. The Cougars improve to 11-1 on the year andadvance to face Porters Chapel of Vicksburg Thursday night in thesecond round.

Porters Chapel earned a visit to Brookhaven with a 34-6 victoryover Central Private. Centreville ends its season at 7-5.

Quarterback Price Sessums, who was just 4 years old whenBrookhaven last won a playoff game, delivered his best performanceof the season, piling up 217 yards on 24 carries and scoring 5touchdowns. He completed 8 of his 10 passing attempts for 179 yardsand another touchdown.

“The playoff atmosphere was great.” said Sessums. “We had a lotof fans come out and show that we have a lot of support.

“Our offensive line did a great job of opening holes.” continuedSessums. “It makes it a lot easier for our guys to run when they’vegot big holes to run through. Our receivers did a good job and madesome great plays.”

Brookhaven received the opening kickoff and saw the drive stall,turning the ball over on fourth down near midfield. But the Cougardefense went to work, forcing the Centreville offense to punt.

The Cougar offense took the field again at their own 20 yardline and took only three plays to go 80 yards for the touchdown.Sessums ran for 19 yards on the first two carries before breaking a61-yard scamper down the sideline. The two point conversion attemptfailed, giving Brookhaven a 6-0 lead with 6:34 remaining in thefirst quarter.

The Cougar defense picked up right where it left off, forcinganother punt from the Centreville offense, and again setting up theBrookhaven offense on its own 20 yard line. Brookhaven marched downthe field again, going 80 yards in 8 plays, capped off by a 2 yardrun from Sessums with 9:13 remaining in the first half. Thetwo-point conversion attempt failed, giving the hosts a 12-0lead.

The Tigers hoped to put points on the board with their lastpossession of the first half, but the Cougar defense forced afourth down and short situation with just under two minutesremaining in the half. Kolby Byrd and Bradley Allred stuffed Tigerrunning back Nick Goudeau in the backfield on the fourth down try,giving Brookhaven the ball with just over a minute left at theCougar 48 yard line.

It took Brookhaven just under 45 seconds to go 52 yards in 4plays for the touchdown. Sessums scored on a 4 yard run around theright end with 30 seconds remaining, giving Brookhaven a 18-0 leadat the half.

Centreville got its first score of the game on the openingpossession of the third quarter. The Tigers drove 65 yards and usedthree and a half minutes off the clock before Anthony Lopez scoredon a 9 yard run with 8:39 showing on the clock. Chip Jenkins addedthe extra point, closing the Brookhaven lead to 18-7.

Brookhaven responded with a 9 play, 66-yard drive that endedwith Sessums finding Seth Cliburn from 12 yards out with 5:11remaining in the third quarter. Corey Dickerson added the extrapoint for a 25-7 Brookhaven lead.

Sessums added his fourth rushing touchdown of the night with 30seconds remaining in the quarter on a 7 yard run that capped off a7-play, 35-yard drive for the Cougars. Dickerson added the extrapoint for a 32-7 lead going in to the fourth quarter.

Centreville registered its second score of the night with 10:31remaining in the game. Jenkins ran it in from 5 yards out. Theextra point attempt failed, closing the Brookhaven lead to32-13.

Sessums scored his last touchdown of the night with 8:40remaining in the game on a 14 yard run, that capped off a 3-play,39-yard drive that was set up by a Tiger turnover. The two pointconversion attempt failed, giving Brookhaven a 38-13 lead.

The last score of the night came with 6:39 remaining as HunterBrabham scored on a 9 yard run for the Tigers. Jenkins ran in thetwo point conversion, ending the scoring at 38-21.

“This was a great game for us.” said Brookhaven Academy HeadCoach Bo Milton. “Our offensive line did a great job of creatinglanes for our backs to run through and our defense showed a lot ofheart in the first half by keeping Centreville out of the endzone.

“I can’t say enough about Seth Cliburn.” continued Milton. “Hestepped up and made some big catches for us. Dickerson had anothergood night and made some big catches as well.”

Dickerson followed Sessums with 68 yards on 7 attempts.Dickerson and Cliburn both had 79 yards receiving. Dickerson hadthree receptions, and Cliburn pulled in 4 passes, one of which wasfor a touchdown.

Nick Goudeau led Centreville with 70 yards on 12 carries.Jenkins picked up 32 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown.

On defense, Kolby Byrd led Brookhaven with 14tackles and a fumble recovery. Steven Watts followed with 8 tacklesand an interception. Keith Franklin added 6 stops. Dickersonrecovered a fumble.

Brookhaven Academy hosts Porters Chapel of Vicksburg Thursdaynight in the second round of the MPSA AA state playoffs. Kickoff isset for 7 p.m.