By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
For the second consecutive year, the Escambia Academy Cougars have clinched the AISA Class AA, Region 2 championship. This year it came in the form of a dominating, 41-0 victory over Lowndes Academy last Thursday, October 24.
The victory secured the top seed for the Cougars in the AISA playoff bracket.
EA senior Ty Williams led the offense with more than 173 total yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the offensive charge.
The Cougars scored early in the first quarter when Williams tallied his first touchdown of the night by returning a fumble recovery 75 yards. Kicker Orlando Medina tacked on the extra-point, and the Cougars led 7-0 with just under 10 minutes to play in the quarter.
Williams tacked on his second score with 5:46 left in the first quarter, when he dashed into the end zone on a 15-yard carry. Medina extended the lead to 14-0.
With 42 seconds left in the first quarter, EA quarterback Landon Sims connected with Williams on a 36-yard pass that, after Medina’s kick, extended the EA lead to 21-0 at the end of one.
With 3:07 left to go in the second quarter, Williams found the end zone for the fourth time, bringing in a 47-yard pass to extend the Cougars lead to 27-0.
Medina attempted a fake PAT that failed, and two Rebel players were injured on the play.
As the Cougars emerged from the locker rooms after the half, the home team’s scoreboard punishment continued as Daughtry McGhee scored on a 37-yard trample. Medina tacked on the extra point, and EA led 34-0 going into the fourth quarter.
Shannon Wheat fired the final shot of the game, scoring on a 43-yard scamper that bought the final tally to 41-0.
With the win, EA extended its season record to 6-3, clinched the region championship and secured opponent Lakeside for the first round of the AISA playoffs.
EA will face Lakeside for the first round of playoffs on Friday, November 8.