Despite Brookhaven Academy’s school-record 10-0 start, No. 1 ranking in division AA and No. 3 ranking overall, Bowling Green has the chance to send the Cougars away empty-handed on Friday.

The Buccaneers will have their hands full with AA’s second-highest scoring offense, but if they can knock off Brookhaven they will take home the district title, denying Brookhaven the hardware for the first time in four years.

The Cougars, led by junior quarterback Chandler Rogers, run an up-tempo no-huddle spread offense and have averaged 41 points per game.

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Rogers has passed for more than 2,500 yards and 33 touchdowns this year. Last week he threw his second interception of the year in a 45-20 win over Columbia.

Rogers distributes the ball mainly to his three speedy receivers, seniors Trip Jolly  and Donovan Lorraine and sophomore Bubba Keen. Each has at least one 100-yard game to his credit. The Cougars also run the ball at times, utilizing junior running back Jennings Mills along with Rogers, who averages more than 50 rushing yards per game.

Friday, though, the Cougars will have to face a stingy Bowling Green defense that has allowed fewer points this season than any other AA team. 

The Buccaneer offense has been effective as well, averaging more than 26 points per game. Apart from the difference in production, the two offenses are similar. Bowling Green also runs a spread, but tends to balance its plays more between run and pass.

Senior quarterback Cash Cooley runs the show, and has plenty of options in his receiving corps. The Bucs also rely on senior running back/battering ram David Fulks for production.

The two teams met twice last year, with Bowling Green escaping each time with a two-point road win.

Bowling Green has won in three of its last four trips to Brookhaven.