By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Landon Sims and Bubba Nettles scored two touchdowns each to lead Escambia Academy past local rival Northview High, 27-22 last Friday, October 2, in the “Battle on the Line.”
The Cougars entered the game with a record of 4-1, while the Chiefs, who started their season on September 25, entered the game with a record of 1-0.
The matchup against the Chiefs marked the first time in school history that the Cougars have hosted the rivalry game.
EA wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard, as Sims found the end zone on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. Sims then kicked the PAT, and the Cougars took an early 7-0 lead.
Both team’s defenses fought tooth and nail to keep the other’s offense out of the red zone for the duration of the first half, and the 7-0 score stood at halftime.
During the early minutes of the third period, Logan Brown pulled down a 70-yard pass to put the Chiefs on the board. EA blocked the PAT, preserving a 7-6 lead.
With 7:24 left in the third quarter, the Chiefs scored on another long pass play. The two-point conversion gave them a 14-7 lead.
Sims scored his second touchdown of the night on an 11-yard run, and the game was tied 14-14 with just under three minutes left to play in the third period.
Two plays later, Daughtry McGhee came up with an interception that helped pave the way for a 9-yard touchdown run by Nettles with 11 seconds left in the quarter. Sims kicked the extra point, and the Cougars went back in front, 21-14.
Jayden Jackson regained the lead for NHS with 11:39 left in the game, and a successful two-point conversion gave the Chiefs a 22-21 advantage.
Nettles put EA back in front for good with a 33-yard dash into the end zone with 9:50 left to play. EA attempted a two-point conversion, but due to a false start flag, it was unsuccessful.
A key interception by Maliki Haynes preserved the Cougars’ fifth win.
EA will host Class AA, Region 2 rival Autauga Academy, a team they have faced in the AISA championship each of the past four years, this Thursday, October 8.