Blue Devils score first points, earn first win
By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
After being benched last Friday by Hurricane Sally, Escambia County High’s football team stormed back to defeat St. Michael Catholic 13-9 in a game postponed last Friday due to Hurricane Sally and played instead on Monday night, September 21.
The win was ECHS’s first of the season and gave the Blue Devils a 1-1 mark in Class 4A, Region 1 play.
With a strong start from Willie Banks, ECHS stepped up to the Cardinals defense early. It appeared the Blue Devils, who entered the game with an 0-3 mark and without having scored a point, would light up the scoreboard on their first offensive possession, but an Aaron Calva 30-yard field goal attempt fell short.
St. Michael drew first blood, scoring on a safety when ECHS fumbled the ball in the endzone with just over five minutes left in the first half.
Then, with just over a minute left in the first half, Anthony McCants scored the first touchdown of the season for the Blue Devils on a 1-yard run that gave ECHS a 6-2 lead.
Early in the third quarter, St. Michael retook the lead on a 70-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Trailing 9-6 at the start of the fourth quarter, Banks cashed in with a 15-yard touchdown on the period’s first play, and Calva’s extra-point kick provided ECHS with its final point of the night.
“The guys are growing up,” ECHS head coach Scott Mason said after the contest. “I am proud of these guys. They fought hard and gained the first victory of the year for us. They just keep getting better and better, and our future looks bright. James Whatley and Banks really helped lead the team, and I am looking forward to our next game.”
The Blue Devils will celebrate homecoming this Friday, September 25, when they host Monroe County in a non-region matchup. Monroe County’s Tigers are 2-2 and will enter Friday’s game on the heels of a 42-0 setback at the hands of Greensboro.