On a hot Friday night in Lincoln County, the Simpson Academy Cougars left everything on the field. The scoreboard showed a 38–34 loss to Brookhaven Academy when the final whistle blew, but what fans witnessed was a high-energy, back-and-forth showcase of grit, heart, and big-play football.
From the opening kickoff, it was clear this one would be a heavyweight bout between two determined programs. Brookhaven struck first late in the opening quarter, as quarterback Will Newell connected with a receiver in the end zone to make it 7–0. But Simpson didn’t take long to answer. Early in the second quarter, the Cougars evened the score with a well-executed touchdown pass and a clean extra point.
That touchdown seemed to flip the switch. Brookhaven immediately returned the kickoff for a score, but Simpson responded again — this time with power running and disciplined blocking. Two rushing touchdowns before halftime sent Simpson into the locker room with a confident 21–13 lead and all the momentum on their side.
The third quarter saw more fireworks. Brookhaven managed a field goal, but Simpson’s offense continued to click. Another passing touchdown extended their lead to 27–16 before a missed PAT. Then, after Brookhaven added a quick score and two-point conversion, Simpson punched back once more with a rushing touchdown to make it 34–24.
For three quarters, Simpson looked in control. But in the fourth, Brookhaven found new life. A short touchdown run by Walt Smith cut the lead to 3. Moments later, disaster struck for Simpson — a tipped pass fell into the hands of a Brookhaven defender, who raced it back for a pick-6. The extra point made it 38–34, and suddenly the home crowd erupted as momentum shifted completely.
Simpson tried to rally in the final minutes, but Brookhaven’s defense stiffened. As the clock hit zero, the Cougars’ sideline fell silent, knowing they had come within a single drive of a statement win.
Despite the heartbreak, the loss revealed a lot about Simpson Academy’s potential. The offense mixed balance and creativity, while the defense, though tested, showed flashes of toughness. Head coach Todd Mangum’s squad has developed into a resilient, fight-to-the-finish team — one that refuses to go quietly.
Brookhaven’s late surge secured the win, but Simpson left town with heads held high, knowing they had gone toe-to-toe with one of the MAIS’s most consistent programs.
Statistically, Simpson’s offense put together one of its best showings of the season. Sophomore quarterback Braxton Baldwin completed 16 of 29 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while also rushing for 29 yards and two scores. Sophomore Kolt Walker added a perfect 5-yard touchdown pass and led all receivers with eight catches for 94 yards. Senior running back Jacob Coulson powered the ground game, rushing 28 times for 167 yards, averaging six yards per carry. Junior W. Fortenberry added a rushing touchdown, and both Thomas Jones and Jaydee Lane hauled in touchdown receptions.
In all, the Cougars rolled up 403 total yards of offense — 213 on the ground and 190 through the air — scoring five total touchdowns in one of their most balanced and dynamic offensive outings of the year.
Final Score: Brookhaven Academy 38, Simpson Academy 34
Though the Cougars didn’t get the result they wanted, their performance under the Friday-night lights proved that Simpson Academy is a team built to compete — and capable of beating anyone when the pieces fall into place.
The Cougars will be at home this Friday night as they take on Parklane Academy.
