By Kevin Price For GCS Athletics All those who traveled with the Brunswick High Pirates to their first-round game in the Class AAAAAA state playoffs were treated to a thrilling victory Friday night by the Blue and Gold. The Pirates rallied from a 22-7 halftime deficit to knock off Mundy’s Mill 28-22 at 12 Oaks Stadium in Hampton to advance to the second round for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The victory was also the first in the playoffs for second-year head coach Garrett Grady who led the Pirates to a second straight Region 2-AAAAAA title and unbeaten regular-season last fall before they lost a heart-breaker at home to Houston County in the opening round. This year, the Pirates went to metro Atlanta as the No. 3 seed from Region 2 just a week after falling 31-28 at Effingham to end the season schedule with the Rebels kicking a winning field goal as time expired after Brunswick had battled back from a 21-7 deficit at intermission. Just like a week ago, the Pirates (7-3) were down two scores to the Tigers (8-3), the No. 2 seed from Region 3, coming out of the locker room for the second half. This week, though, the Pirates did all the scoring after halftime as they came from behind to win. Brunswick pulled within 22-13 at the start of the third quarter on a 17-yard touchdown run by freshman Waseem Murray. The Pirates actually got what appeared to be a defensive score on an interception return for a touchdown by Jashawn Towns on the opening possession of the second half. However, the score was nullified by a pair of personal fouls called on the Pirates. The penalties also forced BHS to start its ensuing offensive series at midfield. The Pirates would cover the 50 yards to score on Murray’s run. The score stood at 22-13 going into the fourth quarter when the Pirates pulled within 22-20 on a 36-yard scoring strike from quarterback Grant Moore to running back Jamarious Towns. Brunswick began the scoring march from its own 24 after taking possession following a punt by Mundy’s Mill from midfield with about 8 minutes left. The Pirates would go in front for the first time since an early 7-0 lead when they paraded 78 yards following a stop by their defense which included a third-down sack by seniors River Creel and Devin Smith. BHS converted a fourth-and-1 play when Heze Kent, the 250-pound tight end, took a handoff to midfield for the first down. Brunswick also got 15 more yards with a face-mask infraction against the Tigers on the tackle. Three snaps later, Murray scored on a reverse from 7 yards out and Brunswick would have the 28-22 lead with just over two minutes remaining. The Pirates needed one last stop by their defense to complete the comeback which they got after the Tigers reached the Brunswick 39 on their last possession. “I’m so proud of our team and coaching staff,” said Brunswick’s Grady. “We dug a hole early and went into the half down, but our team never quit. They kept chopping wood, one play at a time. They believed in each other.” The Pirates took the early lead after a stop of the Tigers to open the night deep in BHS territory. The Brunswick offense quickly went 86 yards and scored on a 28-yard TD run by big Kent with just over six minutes left in the initial quarter. BHS had a prime chance to go up two scores early after Smith hit the Mundy’s Mill quarterback as he tried to deliver a pass. The ball was intercepted and returned to the home team’s 30 by Donyea Broughton. But, the Pirates turned over the ball on downs to the Tigers. They would go 75 yards for their first touchdown, and after a two-point conversion, led by 8-7. The Tigers jumped ahead 16-7 when they scored on fourth-and-goal and again added a two-point conversion. BHS pounced on a fumble by the Tigers in the end zone to keep them from scoring again with about four minutes remaining in the opening half. The Pirates would go three-and-out, and they decided to gamble with a fake-punt try. A pass by BHS was intercepted at midfield and returned for a touchdown that made for the 22-7 score at the break. Next week, the Pirates will travel back to metro Atlanta for their second-round game at perennial power Marist, the champion and top seed from Region 4. The War Eagles won their playoff opener 38-21 over Northside-Warner Robins on Friday night. The Pirates were the only team from Region 2 to advance. Effingham, the region champion, got pounded by Lovejoy which won 47-14 over the Rebels in Springfield. Glynn Academy, the No. 2 seed, lost 32-31 to Jonesboro after trailing 26-7 at halftime. Also, Evans, the No. 4 seed, lost to Region 3 champion Woodward Academy 31-14.