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By Wes Sparkmon
Despite the poor weather threatening to cause issues for the two-time defending champions, Brentwood Academy was able to persevere on the strength of a 135-yard rushing performance by Tomario Pleasant and top regional rival Pope John Paul II 43-7.
The Eagles struck early with a 30-yard pass from Gavin Schoenwald to Daniel Taylor capping a 4-play, 75 yard drive in just under a minute, making the score 7-0. Miscues slowed the BA attack for the remainder of the first quarter, with drives ending in punts and a missed field goal. Despite their issues on the offensive side of the ball, the staunch Eagle defense was able to stifle the Knight offense early and often.
On their first drive of the second quarter, Brentwood Academy was able to take advantage of the strong legs of Pleasant, with the running back finishing the Eagle drive with a 2-yard plunge by Pleasant. After another defensive stop, BA would finish a 10-play drive with a diving touchdown snag by Mike Archie from 6 yards out. On the PAT attempt, the Eagles would see Archie alone on an island and complete the 2-point conversion, setting the halftime score at 22-0.
While the rain would let up during the intermission, rain would begin to fall once the teams took the field again. After yet another defensive stand, Pleasant would get his second touchdown of the night with a 45-yard scamper through the heart of the defense. On the first team offense’s final drive, the Eagles would chew up 74 yards on 4 plays, with Schoenwald punching it in from 11 yards out to make the score at the end of the third quarter 36-0.
With the running clock beginning in the third, the Eagles would go to their reserve units in the fourth to finish the game out. Backup quarterback Conner Woodlee would score on a 9-yard keeper to make it 43-0. Finally, the Knights would tally with a 3-yard touchdown run by Antwan Roberts, setting the final margin at 43-7.
“I thought we handled [the weather] well,” said BA coach Cody White. “I was pleased with us. We feel like we’ve got a really good defense, and offensively, we’re going to be exceptional before it’s all said and done.”
The Eagle dominance was extra apparent in the box score, with BA outgaining JPII on the ground 183 yards to -2 yards, in total offense 371 yards to 34 yards, and first downs 19 to 2.
Next week, Brentwood Academy heads to Shreveport, Louisiana to represent Tennessee in the “Battle on the Border”, where they will face Dallas, Texas powerhouse Bishop Dunne Catholic High School.
