When Brantley High School traveled to Highland Home last Friday, neither coach saw the game as a rivalry. Instead, it was a chance for each team to prepare for the rest of the season’s region play.

“We have a tough four weeks ahead of us,” said HHS head coach Claude Giddens. “And playing Brantley was a great way to prepare us for it.”

The Squadron’s next four games are all region play. The team will travel to New Brockton Friday.

“They’re a tough team,” Giddens said.

For Brantley head coach Ashley Kilcrease, he asked his team to learn from the mistakes made. The biggest lesson was about attitude. The team lost a touchdown that would have put them at 34-0. Kilcrease said the Bulldogs took the call to heart, which gave the Squadron its first opportunity to score.

He asked his team to ignore the scoreboard and just play the game.

Overall, the Bulldogs were 21 rushes for 50 yards and one touchdown.

Quarterback Jacob Free ended the night with 16 of 22 passing for 274 yards and three touchdowns.

Brantley had 11 penalties for 85 yards.

Darian Jones scored a 69-yard punt return touchdown and a 53-yard punt return touchdown.

Savion Jones had a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown.

It was big plays like the Jones’ that won the game for Brantley.

Also scoring for BHS were Xavious Coleman, Korious Foster, Korey Williams. Coleman had four rushes for 26 yards in addition to his touchdown.

On the other side of the field, Highland Homes’ Tay Fuller was 3 of 5 passing for 56 yards and one touchdown.

Cole Roper ended the night with 13 rushes for 47 yards and one touchdown.

Brad Akers had one rush for 11 yards and one touchdown.

The team had 40 total rushes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

The Squadron was 3 of 9 passing for 56 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The team ended the night with three penalties for 30 yards.

Brantley will also be on the road this week, traveling to Florala for a region game.