After a season-opening win over Adams County Christian School, Bowling Green traveled to Copiah Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi to face Brookhaven Academy at H. L. Stone Stadium. The game was held on Saturday at 11 PM due to bad weather Friday night.
The Buccaneers received the opening kickoff and started at their own 11 yard line. Unable to gain a first down, Bowling Green's Ryn Rivenbark punted and the Cougars took over at their own 37 yard line.
After converting a fourth and 10, Brookhaven Academy put together a five play, 37 yard scoring drive capped off by a 22 yard scoring pass. The PAT was good and the Cougars took an early 7-0 lead.
The two teams exchanged punts for several possessions before Bowling Green forced a Cougars punt early in the second quarter. Rivenbark fielded the punt and returned it 27 yards to the Bucs 35 yard line. Nathan Pylant took a handoff around left end, broke four tackles near the line of scrimmage and picked up 14 yards. On second down, Nate Schilling plowed over would be tacklers for a BGS first down at the 13 yard line. Three plays later, Schilling found the end zone from 7 yards out. The PAT was no good and the Bucs trailed 7-6. Brookhaven held the one point lead at the half.
After the Cougars received the second half kickoff, Rivenbark intercepted a pass at the BGS 48 and returned it to the Brookhaven 39 yard line. Schilling picked up 8 yards on first down before quarterback Joel Dupuy connected with Pylant for a 17 yard gain to the 16 yard line. With the Bucs facing a third and one from the 7 yard line, Schilling took a handoff to the right and was stood up by two Brookhaven defenders before spinning out of the tackles and making his way to the left side where he carried another Cougars defender into the endzone. Pryce O'Shaughnessy converted the PAT and the Bucs gained their first lead of the game at 13-7.
The Cougars wasted little time in striking back. Brookhaven put together a 10 play, 65 yard drive and scored on a 1 yard touchdown run. The PAT put BA back in front, 14-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Rivenbark fielded the ball at the BGS 17 yard line and weaved his way through would-be tacklers for an 83 yard touchdown. The Buccaneers converted a two-point conversion to regain the lead at 21-14.
The Cougars responded with a 10 play drive that covered 70 yards and capped it off with an 11 yard touchdown pass. The extra point put Brookhaven in a 21-21 tie with the Bucs at the end of the third quarter.
Brookhaven would strike back near the beginning of the fourth quarter. An interception gave the Cougars possession at midfield. A personal foul penalty on the Bucs put the ball at the BGS 25. On the next play, the Brookhaven quarterback dropped back to pass before scrambling up the middle and between Buccaneers defenders for a touchdown. A successful PAT gave the Cougars a 28-21 lead.
Bowling Green wouldn't be able to score for the remainder of the game and the Cougars finished with the seven point win.
Landon Boyd was the leading tackler for the Bucs with nine. Rivenbark had two interceptions along with his kickoff return for a touchdown and Nick Schilling added two rushing touchdowns.
This Friday the Buccaneers travel to Waynesboro, Mississippi to take on the Wayne Academy Jaguars. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM at T. F. Giles Field.
