By Jamie Wachter / executive sports editor
JACKSON — Brookhaven Academy's offense lived up to its billing.
The Cougars, who entered Friday's MAIS Class AA state championship at Millsaps College's Harper Davis Field averaging more than 400 yards and nearly 40 points per game, rolled past Lamar 63-28 thanks to a balanced offense that racked up more than 600 yards.
"We really didn't have an answer for them tonight," Lamar coach Mac Barnes said. "I thought they had an excellent gameplan tonight and they can just do so many things.
"It's just so hard to stop them. People have talked about the passing games of the two teams, it was their running game tonight that gave us fits."
That rushing attack rolled up 290 yards on 48 carries, with junior running back Jennings Mills rushing for 149 yards on 28 carries. Mills, who also caught two passes for 93 yards, scored three touchdowns and rushed for 82 yards in the first half when Brookhaven took control.
Junior quarterback Chandler Rogers added 137 yards rushing on 18 carries, 95 yards coming after halftime.
"The last three games, I think we've rushed for over 200 yards, and I just think that's an unbelievable job by our offensive line and Chandler and Jennings rushing the ball," Brookhaven coach Herbert Davis said. "Just taking what the defense gives us. The first half, they were trying to cover us and we were able to run the ball well and then mixed it up when we had it.
"That's the reason we've been able to score is because we have a balanced offense, believe it or not. As great of a quarterback as we do have, we've been a balanced offense."
Still, the Cougars' passing attack was potent, too. Rogers threw for 351 yards as Brookhaven totaled 641 yards on offense, 538 through three quarters. In addition to Mills, Rogers' weapons included sophomore Christian Keene, who caught a team-high six passes for 131 yards and two scores, and senior Tripp Jolly, who had five receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
"(Rogers) wanted this stage from the get-go and we were blessed enough to get it," Davis said. "It starts with him, he's the trigger guy but he's got a lot of help."
SENIOR SENDOFF
Lamar loses nine seniors, including its three biggest offensive weapons in quarterback Witt Haggard and wide receivers Bo Bidgood and Jamie Thompson. Thompson, who was held without a catch against the Cougars, ended the year with 800 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns on 52 receptions.
Bidgood had 96 grabs for 1,867 yards and 22 touchdowns receiving, while Haggard threw for 3,804 yards and 51 touchdowns, while being intercepted just five times.
"All of the seniors, I'm going to miss them," Barnes said. "I wish they could've gone out winners, and when you come over here that could happen and it may not. You don't go 15-0 by being average. They're really a good team."
The Raiders also lose linemen Beau Burns and Warren Welch and defensive stalwarts Justin Goldacker, Michael Crowe, Cameron Melancon and Andy Waite. Goldacker and Crowe were Lamar's top two tacklers and Melancon had a team-high five interceptions.
