Heading to play-offs
By PATRICK BYRD
News Sports Writer
The Escambia Academy Cougars were on the road once again as they travelled to Greenville, Alabama to play football against the Fort Dale Academy Eagles. The teams last played each other in the 2019 season, when they played two times. The latter game, the first round of playoffs, resulted in a 48-28 Cougar home win.
The Cougar captains, Devin Kelly (#5), Grant Sasser (#24), and Nick Cain (#60), met the Eagle captains at midfield for the coin toss, which the Cougars won. They decided to receive in the first half.
The first touchdown came with 2 minutes left in the first quarter after a 3-yard carry by Ty McCants (#2) brought the Cougars 6 points. Sasser’s kick was no good, leaving the score at 6-0.
The next touchdown was made 3 minutes into the second quarter by Christian Crook (#3) with a 20-yard carry into the end zone. The PAT was unsuccessful, bringing the score up to 12-0
The next Cougar touchdown would come after Kelly intercepted a 40-yard pass and rushed to the end zone for a pick 6. Sasser’s kick was good, making the score 19-0.
The Eagles put themselves on the scoreboard with 1 minute left before the half with a 15-yard carry. The kick was good, bringing the score up to 19-7.
Six minutes into the third quarter, the Eagles scored once again with a 25-yard pass to the end zone. The kick was good, and the score was 19-14.
The Eagles scored once again at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 40-yard pass. The successful PAT gave Fort Dale the lead with a 21-19 score.
Minutes later, a 40-yard carry by Fort Dale brought them another touchdown. The good kick brought the score up to 28-19.
The last blow of the game was a Fort Dale touchdown gained by a 5-yard carry. The kick was good once again, giving Fort Dale the 35-19 win.
The Cougars gained a total of 203 yards throughout the game, with 95 passing yards by Jacob Lee going mostly to McCants and Kelly. Lee and Crook tied for most rushing yards at 44. Luke Bell (#9) made 4 tackles, 1 assist, and a tackle for loss; McCants and Brodie Phillips (#59) followed closely with 3 tackles each.
The Cougars will enter the playoffs this week as they travel to Lafayette, Alabama to battle the Chambers Academy Rebels. As always, the game will be livestreamed on Escambia Academy’s YouTube and Facebook pages, and it will be broadcasted on WBZR 105.9. Be sure to tune in and support the Cougars as they fight to extend their season!