By PAOLO GORME
News Sports Writer
The Cougars traveled to Butler, Ala. to face the Patrician Academy Saints Friday, Sept. 14. These two teams have met 13 times before Friday night’s game and the Cougars won only one of those games. These two teams have not played each other since 2011. This year’s Cougars ended that losing streak and took home an easy 35-7 win over the Saints.
EA scored 28 points in the first half and Patrician scored their lone touchdown in the second quarter. On offense, EA had 330 yards on the ground and 57 yards through the air that totaled 387 yards. Four of the touchdowns they scored were rushing touchdowns and one was a receiving touchdown. Patrician on the other hand, only had 107 yards of total offense.
The Cougar defense stepped up these last few games containing the opponent’s offense and forcing turnovers.
EA started the game tremendously strong. Only 27 seconds after the initial kickoff, Pat McGhee scored on a 16-yard rush to draw first blood. The extra point by Sam Martin was good and the Cougars had an early 7 to nothing lead.
Shortly after, the Cougars forced Patrician to fumble the ball and retained possession of the ball. With 8 minutes and change on the clock, Jabe Dawe threw it up to Chase Bell who snagged it for a 14-yard touchdown reception. The extra point by Martin was good and the score was 14-0.
To start the second quarter though, Sammy Lewis of Patrician scored on an 11-yard rushing touchdown and the point after was good and the score was 14-7.
Pat McGhee answered with his own rushing touchdown roughly 4 minutes after Lewis scored. McGhee took it to the house 36 yards to put the Cougars up 21-7 with 8:35 left to go in the half. With a little under 4 minutes left in the first half, Jason Davis scored on a goal line rush that put the Cougars up 3 scores.
The last score of the game came from none other than Pat McGhee on a 50-yard rushing touchdown from the wildcat formation. The extra point by Martin was good and the final score was 35-7. EA’s underclassmen showed some good stuff during half of the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter led by Christian Crook.
“This was a very important game for us,” Head Coach Hugh Fountain said. “Playing at Patrician has never been good for Escambia. This was our first win ever at Patrician, so that made it special. The importance was because now us and South Choctaw are the only undefeated teams in the region and we play them in two weeks. I was very pleased with our execution, other than a few minor glitches we played hard, played physical and had a big victory.”
This week, the Cougars travel down the road to Jay to face the Jay Royals. Go, Cougars!