By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Escambia Academy (EA) officials announced recently that the school’s football team has been accepted into the Alabama Independent School Association’s (AISA’s) Class A, which consists of about a dozen schools that will compete with only eight players on the field at a time.
EA’s first foray into eight-man competition, which was implemented by AISA three years ago, makes the Canoe-based independent school at least the 12th AISA member to drop into the “lesser” classification, mainly due to dwindling enrollment that has cut the number of potential student-athletes.
According to published reports, EA Head Coach Larry Nichols agreed the lack of players who signed up for this year’s team was the major factor in the school’s decision. Had EA not made such a decision, he said, the program might have been temporarily put on hold.
“We fell back because we didn’t have enough players,” Nichols told reporters. “They (AISA officials) give you a certain amount of time to get the roster up. If you don’t make the certain requirement, they go to an eight-man roster.”
The state association requires a roster of “at least 25-30 players” to compete in the standard 11-man makeup, and Nichols said EA had only 14 potential players as summer drills drew near.
The rules are the same in the 8-man format, which is a fast-paced game that usually features a lot of points. It’s the makeup of the teams that will be most different.
Offensively, each team will have a quarterback, three down linemen, three wide receivers and one running back. Defensive units will consist of four down linemen, two linebackers and two defensive ends.
According to a schedule posted by MaxPreps, the Cougars will open their season, and a new chapter in the school’s football program, on August 22, when they travel to play Snooks Christian Academy. They also have contests against North River Christian, Southern Prep, Coosa Valley, Trinity Christian, Cornerstone Christian, Evangel Christian and Macon East-Montgomery.