By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Escambia Academy’s Cougars made homecoming a lot less festive for South Choctaw Academy, dominating the Rebels on their home turf last Friday, October 18, to take a 47-0 victory.
The win improved EA’s AISA Class AA, Region 2 record to 4-0 and secured for the Cougars one of the region’s top-two playoff seeds. Lowndes Academy (3-1) and Clarke Prep (2-2) are EA’s closest competitors. EA has beaten Clark Prep and will play Lowndes this week for the Region 2 title.
Last Friday night’s game marked the 20th meeting between the Rebels and Cougars since 1971. The win gave the Cougars a 13-7 series advantage.
Escambia kicked off the scoring early, scoring the first six points of the game on an 86-yard, Shannon Wheat dash with just over seven minutes left in the opening period.
Just over five minutes later, EA quarterback Landon Sims rushed 54 yards into the end zone to extend the Cougars lead to 13-0.
As the second quarter clock ticked away, Sims handed off to Jabo Davis, who made a beeline downfield for 44 yards. The run set up a 16-yard touchdown run by Sims. Davis added the two-point conversion, and the lead was 20-0.
EA extended the scoring roll on its fourth offensive possession. A 38-yard Sims completion to Tiquale Taylor set up a Sims-to-Chase Bell TD pass of 25 yards. Orlando Medina knocked in the extra point, and the Cougars led 27-0.
With 3:30 left in the half, Sims connected with senior, Ty Williams for a 45-yard touchdown pass that extended the EA blowout to 34-0.
EA continued to silence the Rebel yells as halftime festivities neared, scoring again when Bell went 84 yards with an intercepted pass with only 4.9 seconds on the clock. Bell’s score, however, was called back due to an illegal block.
After having scored on five consecutive possessions, the Cougars sent SCA to the locker room to search for answers.
Despite a decent Rebel defensive stance, EA continued the scoring party after halftime. The Cougars added to the lead when Sims scampered 6 yards into the end zone with 52.7 second left in the third. Medina booted the extra point, and the Cougars led 41-0.
Then, with 20 seconds left in the game, Caleb Davis (younger brother of Jabo), returned an interception 41 yards for a score. Parker Robinson’s PAT kick missed its mark, and the 47-0 score stood as time ran out.
The shutout is the first of the season for the Cougars, who are slated to travel to Lowndes Academy this Thursday, October 24 for the region-title showdown.