Brookwood dominates in first win of Hurst era
THOMASVILLE – The Brookwood Warriors opened the season with a convincing 30-7 win over Northside Methodist Academy Knights on Friday night.
The first drive for the Warriors ended on the first play with a fumble recovery by NMA. Setting up the Knights on Brookwood’s 38 yard-line.
After a false start backed up NMA, Tyson Cochran blew up the designed quarterback run to make it second and long, then Maddox Windham brought the ball carrier down for a short gain to force a third and long.
On a run to the right, Cochran made the open-field tackle to bring up a punt for the Knights.
Following an incomplete pass, Jack Tyson rolled out of the pocket and found Cochran on second down to make it a third and short. Next, Tyson managed to break away from a defender, but with no one open downfield, he threw it away, bringing up fourth down.
NMA drove the ball to the Warrior 34. However, Johnson Beatty read the quarterback’s eyes and snagged an interception to give the offense the ball back.
On the first play of the drive, Jaiden Mathis got to the edge and ran over a defender for a first down. After Cochran carried the ball for a few yards on first down, Mathis made it to the outside again for a big gain and a first down.
Brookwood went to the sophomore again, as Mathis picked up nine yards for second and one. Then Cochran got the ball and got into open space to get to the red zone. After a quick four-yard gain by Mathis, Cochran took the outside handoff and weaved his way through to the end zone for a touchdown.
Taking a 7-0 lead into the second quarter, the Warrior defense forced a three-and-out, giving the ball back to the offense.
On the first play, Mathis took the ball all the way to the house for a touchdown, but a holding penalty called back the score.
A play later, Tyson faced heavy pressure from the rush, and almost connected with John Bret Tenny, but the ball went just out of reach for an incompletion. After no gain on second down, Brookwood faced a third and long.
Breaking out the hook and ladder play, Tyson completed the pass to Mathis, but the lateral to Cochran fell short, forcing Cochran to fall on the ball for fourth down.
On the ensuing drive from NMA, the Knights managed to make it into Warrior territory. However, a fumble recovered by Wesley Hall gave Brookwood the ball with a chance to score before the half.
After a penalty negated a reception from Mathis, Tyson found him again and took it to the Knights 49. Tyson then connected with Tenny for a big gain, but another penalty cancelled out the play.
Next, Tyson hit Cochran who almost made it to the original line of scrimmage for second down. Then Tyson scrambled for a few yards for third and long. On the last play of the half, Tyson dropped back but could not find anyone open, throwing the ball away to head into the half.
NMA got the ball to start the half, and the Warrior defense held strong again to force a punt. On the punt, Brinson King broke through and blocked it, and Asher Jackson recovered the ball and brought it to the five-yard line before a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct backed up the Warriors to the 20.
In a drive which had a mixture of excellent plays and missteps, Brookwood found themselves facing fourth and three from the 10. Cochran took a jet sweep and made it to the line to gain for a first and goal.
On fourth and goal, Tyson found Hayden Butterfield for a score, but an ineligible receiver downfield penalty negated the touchdown. Tyson stepped back to throw again and just overthrew his intended target resulting in a turnover on downs.
The Knights offense could not solve the Warrior defense, and on the ensuing punt, Beatty blocked the punt for the Warriors, giving them first and goal from the five.
It only took one play for Brookwood to score as Mathis ran the ball up the gut for the touchdown. After an offside penalty on the extra point brought the Warriors closer, Mathis had his number called again, running it in for the two-point conversion.
Brookwood’s defense continued to make things difficult for NMA as they forced a fourth down. The Knights went for it, and Mathis batted the ball away for a turnover on downs.
The Warriors went to work with a handoff to Landon Huber for a big gain on first down, after another first-down run by Huber for a couple of yards. Tyson ran the ball himself to the one-yard line. Then Tyson punched it in on a QB Sneak to make it a 22-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive by the Knights, they managed to make it across midfield for the first time in the half, but on fourth down, the pass rush of Cochran and King brought down the quarterback for the turnover on downs.
Brookwood took over as the third quarter came to an end.
In the final quarter, the Warriors put the cherry on top of the win, as Huber ran it in for one more score. On the extra point attempt, Jackson muffed the hold, but quickly picked up the ball and ran it in for two.
The Knights did manage to score one touchdown before the game came to an end, as Brookwood earned their first win under head coach Jason Hurst.
Tyson finished 13-23 for 134 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball six times for 35 yards and a touchdown. Mathis carried the ball eight times for 48 yards and a score and caught four receptions for 54 yards. His backfield mate Huber ran the ball four times for 42 yards and a touchdown.
The Warriors will be back at home on Friday, August 28th, as they face SGSTEMC at 7:30 p.m.
Brookwood School
Located in Thomasville, GA, Brookwood School is a private school for grades JK-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.