By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils continue to struggle after falling 41-6 against the Williamson Lions last Friday (October 8). With the loss, ECHS falls to a record of 1-6, while the Lions advance to a 5-3 record.
Williamson and ECHS remained scoreless at the end of the opening quarter, but the Lions broke out with just over 4 minutes left to go in the first half with an 18-yard rush into the endzone. After a successful 2-point conversion, Williamson led 8-0.
During the next play, the Lions recovered the ball on kickoff. As a result of the play, Williamson gained another score by way of a 13-yard run. After a Lions’ successful extra-point boot, Williamson extended the lead to 15-0. With just under a minute left to play in the first half, the Lions struck again by way of an 8-yard touchdown pass, but a 2-point conversion attempt was halted by ECHS. At halftime the Blue Devils trailed Williamson, 21-0.
The Lions started third quarter scoring with a 5-yard run into the endzone.
After a successful extra point boot, Williamson extended the lead to 28-0. Following the Lions score, ECHS began to breathe signs of life when Blue Devils quarterback Dakota Despain connected with Lorenzo Arnold on a 58-yard pass for a touchdown. The ECHS extra point kick missed and the Blue Devils trailed, 28-6.
Arnold’s touchdown was ECHS’ only score.
Williamson closed out the third quarter with another 24-yard scamper and good extra-point kick, and extended the lead to 35-6. The Lions scored for the final time with 2 minutes left to play in the game with a 25-yard rush, but failed on a 2-point conversion attempt.
After the dropped game against Williamson ahead of homecoming week, Mason expressed his frustration. “It is sad,” head coach Scott Mason said. “We keep beating ourselves. Mental errors and mistakes have to stop in order for us to win. If we want to become successful, we need to stop throwing away our chances. We need to stop drawing penalties and make plays when we need to.”
This week the Blue Devils square off against, according to Mason, a more evenly matched team for homecoming. The W.S. Neal Blue Eagles are 0-7 on the season and will travel to face ECHS on homecoming week for region action.
According to Mason, a homecoming region win would help build spirits for the Blue Devils, and the team is looking forward to facing off against the neighboring rival this Friday, October 15, at 7 p.m.