PASCAGOULA – The Brookhaven Panthers managed to convert turnovers into big plays to spring past the Pascagoula Panthers 28-20 Friday night in the first round of the 5A playoffs.

Ole Brook came up with four interceptions and a fumble recovery and scored on plays of 75, 68, 75 and 21 yards to stun Region 4-5A champion Pascagoula in a battle of Panthers at War Memorial Stadium. Pascagoula ends the season at 10-2, while Brookhaven (9-3) advances to host the Laurel Golden Tornadoes in the second round at King Field.

“Our players and coaches did a heckuva job tonight,” said Brookhaven coach Tommy Clopton. “Our defense kept coming up with turnovers and big stops over and over again, and our offense found a way to score when we needed to. Pascagoula has a really good football team, but we had some guys step up tonight and make some huge plays.”

In the second half, Pascagoula captured a 20-14 lead with 7:21 left the third quarter on Alphonso Allen’s 21-yard touchdown run, but that would be the last real highlight for Pascagoula as Brookhaven’s Leo Lewis leapt over the Pascagoula long-snapper to block the extra point, and Ole Brook dominated the rest of the way.

Brookhaven’s quarterback Fred Trevillion sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown on the first play following the ensuing kickoff to take the lead for good at 21-20 on Jonathan Martinez’s extra point with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter.

The next four Pascagoula possessions ended in interceptions, and Brookhaven, the No. 4 seed from Region 3-5A, added a Trevillion-to-Shuntez Smith 21-yard touchdown pass later in the quarter to complete the scoring.

Even after the four straight turnovers, Pascagoula had one last shot to tie the game after stopping Brookhaven just short on fourth down at the PHS five-yard line with 2:27 to play. Pascagoula drove to the Brookhaven 26 before turning the ball over on downs with 33 seconds left.

“We struggled to find our consistency which we never found, on either side of the ball,” Pascagoula coach Lewis Sims said. “But I know our guys fought hard. We battled to the end.

“It’s the playoffs. (Seeds) 1 and 4 doesn’t matter. Brookhaven’s as good as most No. 2-seeds. They’re a heck of a ball club.”

Trevillion rushed for 103 yards on seven carries, while passing for 135 yards and two scores with one interception. Ben Robinson had two of Brookhaven’s four interceptions, with Smith and Billy Thomas also picking off Pascagoula’s quarterback Drew Dunn.

Brookhaven also got a defensive score in the first half, when Kardale Clark picked up a fumble and ran 75 yards to the end zone. Trevillion hit Javontae Trevillion on a 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter, a play on which three Pascagoula defenders were in position for the tackle, but came up empty.

“Pascagoula is extremely good on defense; we knew they were,” Clopton said. “My hats off to Coach Sims, his staff and his players. He runs a very classy organization, and I have a lot of respect for the job he does..”

Pascagoula’s first two touchdowns came in the second quarter on a 12-yard pass from Dunn to Will Inlow and an 85-yard kickoff return by Jaylen Smith. Dunn went 17 of 35 for 263 yards and a score, while Allen rushed for 92 yards on 15 carries.

Fred Trevillion was the offensive leader for the Ole Brook Panthers, completing six-of-14 passes for 132 yards

Javontae Trevillion was the top receiver with four receptions for 103 yards. Running back Tre McDaniel ran for 63 yards on 19 carries, part of a 232-yard team rushing effort for Ole Brook Panthers.

Defensively, Willie Bates paced Brookhaven with 11 tackles, Leo Lewis contributed seven stops. Ty Hill and Darious O’Quinn provided eight tackles apiece. Ben Robinson picked off two interceptions. Billy Thomas and Shuntez Smith intercepted a pass each. Clark recovered a fumble.

“I would like to thank all of our fans that made the long trip to Pascagoula,” said Clopton. “It was a great atmosphere for a playoff game, but nothing like King Field where we will be next week when Laurel comes to town. I told our team you don’t get a lot of second chances in life, but we do this week.”

In other South games, Picayune travels to Wayne County. The Maroon Tide beat West Jones 48-14 on Friday, while the War Eagles routed Gautier 58-7.

Editor Note: the following story was written by CREG STEPHENSON/GulfLive.com