By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Escambia County High’s football team rolled up its fourth win in five games last Friday (September 22), a 41-20 decision over Wilcox Central that was called off late in the second period.
Coach Vincent Harris said the key to the region win was simple.
“The kids listening, executing, doing what they were supposed to do, that was the big thing,” Harris said. “They did their jobs for the most part.”
ECHS is now 2-1 in Class 4A, Region 1 play and is tied with St. Michael Catholic, Bayside Academy and T.R. Miller for second place in league standings. Jackson, one of the state’s top 4 teams, is on top with a 3-0 record.
The Blue Devils defense turned in a solid performance, despite the Jaguars scoring twice in the second period. Harris said his defenders had little to do with the Wilcox scores.
“Our defense played really good,” Harris said. “Wilcox never really came alive. Jamarian (Robinson) threw a pick-6, then another pick, and those two interceptions caused that to happen. (Wilcox) scored a TD on the second series on a blown coverage, then they got the pick-6, then another interception. We let them come back a little bit.”
The team’s stats have not been posted yet, but Harris said Lorenzo Arnold and Marrion Hooks caught 1 scoring pass each; James Whatley had 2 rushing touchdowns, Tai Henderson ran for a score, and E.J. Thomas took a punt return all the way for the other ECHS TD.
Luis Garcia reportedly connected on 5 of 6 PAT kicks.
Play was halted when a melee broke out on the field in the waning minutes of the second period, and the remainder of the game was eventually canceled. The on-field fracas was relatively minor, Harris said, although there could be suspensions for players on either side who might have been ejected.
“The altercation didn’t last that long at all,” he said. “I can’t comment on any ejections until they (Alabama High School Athletic Association officials) make a ruling.”
The Blue Devils will go for win number 5 this Friday when Monroe County comes to town for ECHS’s homecoming game, a non-region showdown.
The Monroe County Tigers knocked off J.F. Shields in their opener but have surrendered a total of 155 points in three straight setbacks since then.