BROOKHAVEN — When facing a team the caliber of defending MAIS Class AA state champion Brookhaven Academy, even one turnover can prove costly.

Adams County Christian found that out Friday night as a fumble resulted in a Cougars touchdown and turned a close ball game into a rout as the Cougars defeated the Rebels 52-28 in the first round of the Class AA South State Playoffs.

“It was 21-13 and a turnover occurred. That hurt us,” ACCS head coach Paul Hayles said. “When you face a good football team, you can’t let off. At that point, Brookhaven took the momentum and we couldn’t match that momentum.”

After that game-changing turn of events in the second quarter, the Cougars went on to score two more touchdowns before halftime to take a commanding 42-13 lead at the break.

ACCS, which entered the playoffs as the South No. 1 Wild Card, scored in the first quarter on a Brandon Sanders 30-yard run and in the second quarter on a 27-yard pass from Kent Yates to Daniel Guedon.

The Rebels didn’t score again until the fourth quarter and by then it was too little, too late. Zack Day scored on a 2-yard run and Tyler Buckles scored on a 28-yard run.

Brookhaven Academy (11-1) added to its lead before taking its starters out of the game early in the fourth quarter.

Even though Hayles said he wasn’t too happy with the outcome of the game, he was proud of the team’s effort throughout the season.

“This team played with a lot of heart. I’m proud of those kids,” Hayles said.

ACCS finished its season with an 8-4 record. Meanwhile, Brookhaven Academy hosts playoff upstart CENLA Christian next Friday at 7 p.m. The Lions defeated Central Private 16-6.

Centreville 34, Bowling Green 7

CENTREVILLE — Despite rushing for only 32 yards, Hunter Travis had three first-half touchdown runs while Cliff Hurst had over 100 yards rushing as Centreville Academy took care of Bowling Green School Friday night.

In this MAIS Class AA South State Playoff first-round contest, South No. 2 Wild Card Bowling Green was overwhelmed not only by Centreville’s offense, but its defense as well.

Travis had touchdown runs of nine yards in the first quarter and two and six yards in the second quarter. Colton Terrell had a 4-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter as the District 5-AA champion Tigers opened up a 28-0 halftime lead.

Hurst scored on a 56-yard run early in the third quarter to make it a 34-0 game. Hurst finished with 108 yards rushing on 10 carries and he completed 5 of 11 passes for 66 yards with one interception.

The only thing that went wrong for Centreville was turnovers – four of them to be exact. However, Bowling Green (3-8) was not able to capitalize on them. The Tigers’ defense held the Buccaneers to just 124 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers and six punts.

Centreville hits the road for a second-round matchup at second-ranked and District 6-AA champion River Oaks School next Friday at 7 p.m.