First of all, it’s not an excuse.
Laurel head football coach Todd Breland is clear about that.
But the reality is this: when Laurel faced Brookhaven in the regular season, not all pieces were in place for the three-time Region 3-5A champs.
This Friday night, Laurel – coming off an upset last Friday night against Picayune in the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs – will face Brookhaven again.
The reality this week? Laurel is fully healthy and all the pieces are in place, including running back Micheal Terrell, first string running back who missed the first half of the season due to surgery on his shoulder in the offseason.
“The first one that strikes me is Micheal Terrell,” said Breland. “He came back the week after our game against Brookhaven. I can’t remember everyone that was injured on banged up [during our first meeting with Brookhaven], but Terrell was the main one.
“But now we are 100 percent healthy, and I know we were not last time. I know that’s not an excuse [for last time], we should have made the plays we needed to make then.”
The rematch, not uncommon this time of the year, was made possible by Laurel’s stellar performance against 5A powerhouse Picayune last Friday night. The three seeded Tornadoes downed Picayune, a two seed, on the road at Picayune Memorial High School Stadium, 42-35.
“It started the Monday before,” said Breland. “We had a good practice all week. Our coaches did a phenomenal job of putting a good game plan together. Our kids brought into it. After practicing well, our kids went down to Picayune and executed it.”
The execution and protection given by Laurel’s offensive line proved to be the deciding factor according to Breland.
“Looking back last week at Picayune, we had zero sacks, zero hurries and zero holding calls,” Breland said. “When you do things like that, and you don’t turn the ball over, and you make stops on defense, you give yourself a chance to be successful.”
Members of the offensive line include An’ton Loftin (Jr.), Michael Brown (So.), Brandon Crosby (Sr.), Jaques Bester (Sr.), Brian Cooley (Jr.) and Charles Cross (Jr.).
Behind the offensive line’s performance, Laurel junior quarterback Sinclair Ulmer passed for 195 yards on 11 completions and ran for another 111 yards on six carries.
It’s been well over a decade since Laurel was a third seed in the playoffs. Because of it’s seeding this year, it has had to take a difficult route in the playoff bracket. If Laurel were to beat Brookhaven Friday night, they would most likely have to face another team it lost against in the regular season – Hattiesburg.
“When you look at it now, you obviously would want to go in as a one seed,” said Breland. “Everyone wants to be the winner. But coming in where we did, the bottom line is everyone is 0-0. You are going to play these good teams at some point in the playoffs regardless.
“By us going on the road and beating a good Picayune team, which was tough, we get to face Brookhaven here and not on the road for the second time around. So you can toss it up in the air. In the playoffs, every team is good.”
What does Breland think about Friday night’s contest: “if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
The first time around Brookhaven took an early 28-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. Laurel’s well-intentioned rally in the second half fell just short of a comeback win.
This time around Breland says a quick start for his squad is of great importance.
“We don’t need to get down in this game as we did in the last game against Brookhaven,” noted Breland. “But that game taught us a lot about ourselves. That is just part of the growing process. It is never over for us. We can score quick. And we can get the big stops and be successful.
“The truth is there is a lot on the line for us, and there is a lot on the line for Brookhaven as well.”
Kickoff Friday night ‘between the bricks’ is scheduled for 7 p.m.
