Brookhaven and West Jones entered Friday’s regular-season finale unbeaten in Region 3-5A.
By night’s end, Brookhaven finished in the same way with a 26-0 win over West Jones in Soso and claimed the Region 3-5A title for the first time since moving up to Class 5A in 2009.
The Panthers end the regular season 10-1 overall and faces Wayne County (6-5) next Friday night at home in the first round of the playoffs.
West Jones closes out the regular season with an 8-3 record and faces Stone (7-3) at home next Friday night in the first round.
Impressive season thus far
West Jones won seven straight games before Friday night’s regular-season finale, including six straight wins to earn the right to contend for the Region 3-5A title.
After two straight seasons without a postseason appearance, West Jones will enter the playoffs as a second seed.
“We were pleased [with the events that led to tonight],” said West Jones head football coach Scott Pierson. “The problem is we ran into a team tonight that is playing some really good football.
“We’re better than we played tonight, but that is a really good team that beat us. The best part is that there is another game for us. It’s really bad when you get beat, and you feel like you didn’t play well, and you don’t get to play another game. Fortunately for us, we get a do-over and line back up to play. Hopefully, we will do a better job next week.”
Troubled first half
Brookhaven scored 16 of its 26 points in the first half.
A safety, a 12-yard touchdown run by quarterback Sevante Quinn and a 3-yard touchdown run by running back Damarrell Legget put the Panthers up 16-0 at the half.
West Jones struggled to gain any offensive yards, especially in the first half. Constantly starting off deep in its territory, the Mustangs managed only 53 yards of offense in the first half.
“It goes back to what we talked about earlier in the week,” said Pierson. “We always talk about winning on special teams, and tonight their punter, who is good, pinned us inside the 5-yard line twice.”
Brookhaven racked up 210 yards of offense in the first half, 140 of those coming on the ground.
West Jones played a more solid game after the first half, but Brookhaven was able to maintain the shutout, outscoring the Mustangs 10-0 in the second half.
