BRENTWOOD – It’s been 364 days since Pope Prep ended the Brentwood Academy football team’s season last year. The Eagles had earned a first-round bye in the Division II-AAA state playoffs for the second year in a row and they hosted the quarterfinal matchup, again.

This time around, it was all Eagles.  

Relying on a heavy dose of the ground game, Brentwood Academy advanced to the state semifinals with a convincing 38-7 win Friday. The Eagles avenged last year’s 24-21 playoff loss and will host Baylor next week with a spot in the DII-AAA final up for grabs. 

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal




Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

Playoff Football – Pope Prep at Brentwood Academy, DII-AAA Quarterfinal

“They got us last year,” said BA sophomore quarterback George MacIntrye, who threw for 176 yards and a TD and also scored on a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter. “We knew if we did our job we could beat them.”

The Eagles racked up 230 yards rushing, led by Deuce Scott’s 143 yards on the ground and a TD. 

MacIntyre said the running game takes pressure off him as QB. The super sophomore has elevated his game as a first-year starter under center for the Eagles. 

“It has been great and the seniors have been very welcoming,” said MacIntrye, who eclipsed the 2,000-yard passing plateau for the season Friday. “I just try to take it one game at a time.”

George MacIntrye finds wide receiver Griffin Cropp for a 14 yard touchdown pass with 3:28 remaining in the first half to stretch BA’s lead to 24-0. ⁦@whsportspic.twitter.com/IbIvksRi2f

— Charlie Bateman (@CharlieBateman2) November 12, 2022

Teammate Griffin Cropp is a big MacIntyre fan. Cropp hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from MacIntyre with 3:28 to play in the first half as BA opened a 24-0 lead when they capped an eight-play, 78-yard drive with the TD. 

“To be honest, he is just that guy,” Cropp said. “He is a great player and teammate. He is going to be extremely good.”

Brentwood Academy got on the board late in the first quarter as senior running back Colby Jones turned on the jets from 26 yards out for the first touchdown of the game.

In the final minute of the quarter, Scott scampered his way into the end zone with an 18-yard run to give the Eagles a 14-0 advantage. 

Early in the second quarter, BA kicker and Navy commit George Laster booted a 32-yard field goal to stretch the Eagles lead to 17-0 before MacIntyre and Cropp connected in the endzone. 

In the middle of the third quarter, the Eagles got tricky as MacIntrye executed a fake handoff to Scott and scored on a 1-yard run. With 8:15 remaining in the game, the Eagles continued to roll as senior running back Foster McConnell tallied a 9-yard rushing score by diving into the end zone. 

Kenny Minchey, Pope Prep’s senior quarterback, played for just a couple drives for the Knights. The Pittsburgh commit had missed the previous six games with a shoulder injury and completed just one of his two passes in his limited action.

Chet Lax, another senior, guided the Pope Prep offense and hit Josh Mallander for a late TD to avoid the shutout. Lax went 15 of 37 for 199 yards with the TD and one interception

Brentwood Academy’s defense has allowed only single-digit totals in eight games this season, including the last five contests – all wins. 

Luke Smith led the defense with 8.5 tackles against Pope Prep. Kolby Jones snagged an interception and AJ Barbat forced a fumble. 

“Our defense had a great week in practice and they prepare just as much as any team in the state film-wise,” MacIntrye said.

“We have a lot of seniors and good players on our defense,” added Cropp. “We are just playing really well.”

Montgomery Bell Academy advanced with a 33-14 win over Christian Brothers and will host McCallie in the other state semifinal. The Blue Tornado knocked out Ensworth 38-28. 

Baylor advanced with a 42-16 win Friday over Memphis University. 

When the Eagles host Baylor next week, they are trying to earn their first championship game berth since 2018, which capped a string of four consecutive state titles for BA. 

“We are just going to continue to fight for our spot,” MacIntrye said about the semifinal showdown. “Everything that has been given to us, we have had to fight for. 

“We just need to continue to do what we do.”

Brentwood Academy 38, Pope Prep 7, Division II-AAA Quarterfinal 

PP 0 0 0 7  – 7

BA 14 10 7 7 – 38

Scoring Summary

1Q 4:01 BA – Colby Jones 26 run (George Laster kick);

1Q 0:58 BA – Deuce Scott 18 run (Laster kick);

2Q 9:32 BA – Laster 32 FG;

2Q 3:28 BA – Griffin Cropp 14 pass from George MacIntrye (Laster kick);

3Q 7:03 BA – MacIntrye 1 run (Laster kick);

4Q 8:15 BA – Foster McConnell 9 run (Laster kick);

4Q 2:08 PP – Josh Mallander 24 pass from Chet Lax (Will Arbuckle kick).