Bowling Green took advantage of two Brookhaven Academy turnovers then held off a late rally by the visitors Friday night to preserve a 22-20 home win.

The game came down to the final seconds when the Buccaneers defense shut down a long drive by the Cougars.

With a minute left in the final period and the ball at their own 22-yard line, Brookhaven Academy began a fast and desperate march down field. But the Buccaneers defense held the Cougars at the 10 to end the game.

The contest was tight from the start.

Bowling Green’s Patrick Roublow carried the ball 54 yards for the first touchdown for a 6-0 lead, and the Buccaneers missed the extra point. Then the Cougars answered quickly with a touchdown and extra point with five minutes left in the first half to move ahead, 7-6.

Brookhaven increased its lead to 14-6 with four minutes gone in the second half as Jacob Thurman scored on a 5-yard run and the PAT was good.

Then a fumble by the Cougars with 1:41 left in the third quarter gave Bowling Green the opportunity to rally.

Forty seconds into the final period the Buccaneers recorded their second touchdown with a quick pass to Roublow, then quarterback Connor McCain hit Logan Wood for the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 14-14.

Bowling Green took the lead after another Brookhaven fumble when senior Elgin Austin ran for the score. The Bucs opted to go for 2 again, and McCain ran it in to make it 22-14.

Brookhaven regained control of the ball and push hard down the field. Heath Hickman ran in with 5:15 left on the clock to make it 22-20, then Brookhaven’s 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Bowling Green in front.

Bowling Green was forced to give the ball back to Brookhaven with a minute left, but Brookhaven was unable to get into the end zone.

Roublow had a strong showing for Bowling Green with 83 yards rushing and 43 yards receiving. Austin rushed 19 times for the Bucs and gained 82 yards.

“We got a lot of guys who were pretty beat up, but we played hard,” said Buccaneers coach Carmon Moore. “We pulled two rabbits out of the hat with those 2-pointers.”

Bowling Green opens District 6AA play Friday on the road against Silliman Institute.