WAYNESBORO, Ga. --- They were the moments that fit best right before hoisting trophies.
Burke County coach Eric Parker had dodged Gatorade showers the past few weeks from a surging team that had ripped off seven consecutive victories.
He didn't dodge the one in the final seconds of a 21-14 region co-championship clincher against Benedictine. The eighth win in a row for the Bears stirred up a good kind of chill Friday night.
"I told them if we won a share of the region title and earned the first seed in the region they could soak me," Parker said. "When I knew we had it, I stripped down and told them to go ahead and go for it. I gave them a good target."
Parker shed the windbreaker that kept him warm and stripped down into a black T-shirt.
"I gave away the cell phone and everything else," Parker said. "I didn't mind it one bit. It was a good bath."
There were a host of Bears who starred. Defensive back Alphonso Gillette came up with an interception and two fumble recoveries that halted Benedictine drives. Those were three of the Cadets' five turnovers.
Senior running back Brandon Brown surged for 93 yards and the first two Burke County scores. But the two biggest Bears of the night were quarterback Tyler Hammett and receiver Terrell Brigham.
Hammett completed 13-of-23 passes for 197 yards. His 13th completion was his best.
That's when he found Brigham on a seam route for a 61-yard score that broke a 14-14 tie with 4:37 left in the game.
"Perfect ball," Brigham said. "The safety came up and hit me. But he didn't hit me hard enough. I bounced off and saw nothing but green. And then everybody in the stands started feeling real good."
Brigham caught seven of Hammett's passes for 140 yards.
"I make a comparison with him to a guy that we all know real well," Parker said.
Parker was referring to one of his former players, Laney standout Robert Dunn, now a starting receiver at Auburn. Dunn won the Georgia Sportswriters Association All-Class State Player of the Year Award in 2004.
Parker spotted Brigham's talents in spring practice this year after leaving Laney for the head job at Burke County.
"I made that comparison and I am going to stick by that," Parker said. "He's going to be that type of player by the time he's through."
Benedictine was done in by five turnovers. The Cadets (6-4) had their biggest highlight of the game of their first snap.
Caleb Collins split the middle of the defense on a dive play and chugged 69 yards to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter.
"They got a mismatch a couple of times but those things happen," Benedictine coach Bob Herndon said. "But we were killed by just turning it over. If we don't turn it over then we could have seen a different outcome."
Burke County (8-2) will have to wait on today's results from Region 1-AAA to see who it hosts next Friday in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.
Benedictine also earned a playoff berth after Liberty County's win over South Effingham.
Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.
BURKE COUNTY 21, BENEDICTINE 14
PLAY OF THE GAME: Burke County quarterback Tyler Hammett found Terrell Brigham on third-and-17 from the Bears' 31. Brigham hauled in the pass after his seam route and shook off a tackle from the Benedictine safety. His 61-yard catch-and-run touchdown broke a 14-14 tie with 4:37 left to play.
WHY BURKE COUNTY WON: Balance. The Bears ran for 123 yards and threw for 197. Senior runner Brandon Brown ran for 93 yards on 19 carries to back up the team's passing attack.
WHY BENEDICTINE LOST: The Cadets put the ball on the ground eight times. They lost four of fumbles to the Bears.
STAR OF THE GAME: Brigham. The sophomore hauled in seven catches for 140 yards along with the game-winning score.
WHAT'S NEXT: Burke County (8-2) will play host to the No. 4 team from Region 1-AAA in the state playoffs next week.
BURKE COUNTY 21, BENEDICTINE 14
Benedictine 7 0 0 7 -- 14
Burke County 7 0 7 7 -- 21
First Quarter
BC--Brandon Brown 7 run (Nathan Chance kick), 7:59
B--Caleb Collins 69 run (Daniel Fisher kick), 7:44
Third Quarter
BC--Brandon Brown 5 run (Nathan Chance kick), 3:35
Fourth Quarter
B--A.J. Defilippis 1 run (Daniel Fisher kick), 11:09
BC--Terrell Brigham 61 pass from Tyler Hammett (Nathan Chance kick), 4:37
BC B
First Downs 15 10
Rushes-Yards 33-123 37-200
Passing Yards 197 0
Comp.-Att.-Int. 13-23-0 0-4-1
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 8-4
Punts-Yards 4-102 2-52
Penalties-Yards 4-36 1-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Benedictine: John Williams 16-109, Caleb Collins 10-77, A.J. Defilippis 6-14, Stephen Swinson 1-8, Cameron White 3-7. Alex Hunt 1-6. Burke County: Brandon Brown 19-93, Nathan Moye 8-32, Tyler Hammett 6-(minus-2).
PASSING--Benedictine: A.J. Defilippis 0-5-1 0. Burke County: Tyler Hammett 13-23-0 197.
RECEIVING--Burke County: Terrell Brigham 7-140, Bobby Burum 3-30, Nathan Moye 2-21, Zandon Jones 1-6.
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