By PIERCE GREENBERG
For Brentwood Home Page
Last week, Brentwood Academy head football coach Ralph Potter said the team that improved from here on out would be the last one standing come Dec. 1.

BA freshman C.J. Sanders (8) returns a kickoff for 73 yards

Rashaan Gaulden intercepts a pass by the JPII quarterback.

Stephen Miller (61) pats the helmet of kicker Ben Boatright (45) after another successful extra point.

Eagle junior Justin Anderson (9) carries the ball to another first down.

On Friday, Brentwood Academy dominated Pope John Paul II High School, 48-21, in the opening round of the TSSAA playoffs, but Potter said his team still has work to do.

"We made some mistakes that still bother me, but the next three weeks have got to be perfect and if we can get as good as we can get, we have a chance," Potter said.

Freshman C.J. Sanders provided a spark for the offense throughout the game. With a minute left in the first quarter, Sanders caught a short pass from junior quarterback Max Staver, shrugged off a defender and raced 30 yards to the end zone.

A 4-yard touchdown run by D'montre Wade put BA up 17-0 in the second quarter. But momentum shifted when Eagles wide receiver Al Thompson muffed a punt, allowing JPII to take over the ball at the BA 4-yard line. Running back Robert Davis rumbled into the end zone for the Knights, making it a 17-7 game.

But Sanders cut the JPII momentum short with a 80-yard kickoff return that set up a 17-yard touchdown run by Jalen Ramsey to give BA a 24-7 lead with under two minutes left in the half.

"C.J. is obviously an explosive guy. He's got a great future. He's a great kid," Potter said.

After forcing a quick three-and-out, BA got the ball back with 1:04 left – and six plays later, Staver found senior Graham Waldrop for a touchdown with 0:01 left on the clock.

Junior Ben Boatright hit field goals of 26 and 34 yards during the game.

In the second half, Sanders scored on a 22-yard pass, and Staver found the end zone on a 1-yard dive to give BA a 48-7 lead.

JPII scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

The win for BA sets up a date next week with Christian Brothers High School, with a road trip to Memphis. CBHS had a bye on Friday.

Pope John Paul II         0   7   0  14--21
Brentwood Academy  10 21 17  0--48 

1st  qtr
BA: Ben Boatwright 34 yd field goal  07:16 
BA: C.J. Sanders 30 yd pass from Max Staver (Ben Boatwright kick)  01:42 
2nd  qtr
BA: D'montre Wade 4 yd run (Ben Boatwright kick)  06:30 
JPII: Robert Davis 2 yd run (Evan Carter kick)  02:43
BA: D'montre Wade 17 yd run (Ben Boatwright kick)    01:53
BA: Graham Waldrop 10 yd pass from Max Staver (Ben Boatwright kick)  00:01
3rd  qtr
BA: Ben Boatwright 26 yd field goal  07:04
BA: C.J. Sanders 22 yd pass from Max Staver (Ben Boatwright kick)  04:09
BA: Max Staver 1 yd run (Ben Boatwright kick)    01:34
4th  qtr
JPII: Brad Jarreau 39 yd pass from Jacob Polman (Evan Carter kick)  04:49
JPII: Andrew Scruggs 1 yd run (Evan Carter kick)    00:32 

BA Academy Dancers perform during halftime.	Lineman Marcus Graham (58) recovers a PJP fumble to give the ball back to the Eagles.
Senior Graham Waldrop (84) reaches the end zone for six more points.	Concession stand workers keep everyone happy during the game: Cayce Joyce, Pam Coppage, Martian Edison, Susan Berthuime, Marilyn Meadow, Kimberly Bennett and Rexanne Brown.