CENTREVILLE — The Centreville Academy Tigers pulled off the first big upset of the season as they defeated the defending MAIS Class AA state champion Brookhaven Academy Cougars 35-14 Friday night.

And they did so in an unconventional way — through the passing game. With the lack of a bruising running game, Centreville had to rely on junior quarterback Casey Haygood to move the offense down the field and into the end zone.

And Haygood did his job, completing 17 of 29 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns with just one interception. He would have had three touchdown passes on the night, but a pass to Colby Shaw late in the third quarter went for 27 yards, but he was hit and the ball came out. Fortunately for the Tigers, Daniel Hollingsworth picked up the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown that gave them a 35-0 lead.

“We just came out fired up and played well offensively and defensively,” Centreville assistant coach Brian Stutzman said. “Hit a couple of big plays early in the passing game, which opened things up. We’re trying to use our skill players a little more. We’re blessed that Casey can throw the ball well. So we stuck with it tonight.”

The Tigers’ opening scoring drive ended with an eight-yard pass from Haygood to Hollingsworth with 4:27 to go in the first quarter. Brock Andrus added the extra point.

Tyler Caston scored on a one-yard run just 44 seconds into the second quarter and Haygood connected with Shaw on a 22-yard touchdown pass with just 46 seconds to go until halftime that gave the Tigers a stunning 21-0 lead at the half.

Haygood scored on a one-yard run nearly midway through the third quarter for a 28-0 Centreville lead. Andrus made all five extra points in the game.

Shaw had seven catches for 124 yards and Hollingsworth had seven receptions for 95 yards. Mary Curry was the team’s leading rusher with 61 yards on five carries.

Centreville’s defense was also a major factor in the team’s win as the Tigers held the Cougars to just 63 yards passing and 215 yards of total offense. Even though they didn’t create any turnovers, Stutzman was more than pleased with the effort.

“Our pass defense, our secondary played extremely well. The defense played good, and we got pressure on the quarterback,” Stutzman said.

Brandon Arnett led the Tigers with eight tackles while Chase Hughes had seven tackles. Jordan Clark and Sean Perry had five tackles each.

With Centreville’s second team defense in the game for the fourth quarter, Brookhaven Academy scored two touchdowns. Bailey Warren scored on a seven-yard run with 11:30 remaining and Warren connected with Carter Culbertson on a 12-yard pass with 2:56 to go.

Centreville Academy (1-0) plays at 7 p.m. next Friday at home against Trinity Episcopal.