Centreville faces familiar opponent in second round of playoffs

Published 12:18 am Thursday, November 2, 2017

Brookhaven Academy (9-2) at Centreville Academy (9-2)

CENTREVILLE — The No. 2 seed Centreville Academy Tigers will host a familiar opponent in the No. 7 seed Brookhaven Academy Cougars in the quarterfinals of the MAIS Class AA State Playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday.

This is a rematch of the Sept. 29 game between the two teams. The Tigers won the game in a shootout 57-35.

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“I expect a lot of scoring, just like the last game,” Tigers offensive coordinator Will McNabb said. “They’ve gotten much better on offense, and we’ve gotten (much) better on offense.”

In the previous matchup, Stone Reynolds ran for 257 yards and five touchdowns on 26 carries for Centreville. Four of those touchdown runs came when the Tigers outscored Brookhaven Academy 36-14 in the fourth quarter. Daniel Vine had 12 carries for 134 yards and one touchdown, while Wyatt Brabham added two scoring runs.

Cougars quarterback Dawson Flowers completed 20 of 35 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns to go with one touchdown run. However, he also threw three interceptions. Two of his touchdown passes went to Tanner Waldrop, who had a scoring run of his own.

“We’ve moved around some players that we didn’t have the first time around,” McNabb said. “So hopefully they’ll step up and make a difference.”

The Tigers will also have to rely on its ground game to keep the Cougars’ potent offense off the field as much as possible. In the first meeting, they had 504 total rushing yards.

“We’re going to have to be efficient running the ball. Keep their offense off the field as long as possible. They can score really fast on you,” McNabb said.

Both teams advanced to the quarterfinals after rather convincing first-round wins despite less-than-ideal weather conditions. Centreville defeated Carroll Academy 46-18 and Brookhaven Academy beat Central Holmes Christian School, 45-18.

But unlike last week, when Centreville didn’t throw the ball, McNabb said the Tigers will have to put it up in the air this week.

“We’ll probably have to throw the ball some. Last week the weather kept us from throwing the ball at all,” McNabb said. “Hopefully this week the weather will cooperate.”