By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils are still searching for the first win of the season after suffering a 36-6 loss at the hands of the T.R. Miller High School Tigers last Friday, August 27.
After a disappointing start to the season the week before against Bayside Academy, the Blue Devils went into last Friday’s game hoping for a different outcome, but fell short in a game that was almost completely controlled during the first half by the Tigers.
T.R. Miller gained a quick, 7-0, lead with 9:31 left to play in the first quarter and scored on 2 other big plays stemming from ECHS offensive mistakes. At the end of the first quarter, the Tigers led by 22 points as the Blue Devils scrambled to keep the game from getting out of hand.
During the second quarter, ECHS was still unable to generate much offense as penalties, mistakes and a strong Miller offense and defense kept the Blue Devils inside the trenches. The Tigers gained the only points of the second quarter, which stemmed from a short 2-yard touchdown run. At the halftime mark, T.R. Miller led ECHS, 29-0.
As frustration and lack of producing drives plagued the Blue Devils during the first half, ECHS took to the field for the second half with hopes for a comeback. Hopes fell short quickly for the visiting team as T.R. Miller scored on the first drive of the half on a 5-yard run. After the score and extra point boot, the Tigers controlled, 36-0, as the clock struck zero and entered into the fourth quarter.
With attempts at a comeback lost and Miller’s secondary line of younger players on the field for the fourth quarter, ECHS’s Anthony McCants gained the only points for the Blue Devils with just under 5 minutes left in the game as McCants scored on a short 2-yard quarterback keeper. ECHS missed the extra point kick, and the clock ran out as the Tigers defeated the Blue Devils, 36-6.
For the Blue Devils, times have been hard. In earlier interviews with ECHS head coach Scott Mason, Mason explained that many factors, including the COVID virus, have been creating havoc among the Blue Devils, but as this year continues on and a young team finds its footing, ECHS should become a solid contender.
The Blue Devils will continue the season schedule on the road this week as the team will travel to face Mobile Christian on Friday, September 3.