By PATRICK BYRD
News Sports Writer
The Escambia Academy Cougars geared up this week to face the Patrician Academy Saints of Butler, Alabama for their Senior Night. The teams last played each other last year, also on Bachelor Field, when the Cougars beat the Saints 34-14. This was a big region game, as it would heavily affect the Cougars’ regional rankings. The Cougars were ranked fourth in the AISA Class II Region 2 rankings; this would remain after the game.
The Cougar senior players stood as the captains on the field; this included Jacob Lee (#1), Christian Crook (#3), Cameron Ball (#12), Tuari McGhee (#55), and Nick Cain (#60). The Cougars won the toss and chose to receive the first kick.
Four minutes into the first quarter, a 1-yard carry brought the Saints the first touchdown of the game. Their kick was no good, bringing the scoreboard to 6-0.
In the very last play of the first quarter, Patrician scored another touchdown with a 10-yard carry. They completed the 2-point attempt, bringing the score to 14-0.
Three minutes into the second quarter, Patrician gained another touchdown with a 63-yard carry into the endzone; a bad kick left the score 20-0.
Three minutes later, Patrician scored again with a 6-yard carry. The kick was good, and the score was now 27-0.
The Cougars responded with a 10-yard pass from Lee to Samorion Clark (#22) with 20 seconds left before halftime. Lee’s kick was good, putting the Cougars on the scoreboard at 27-7.
Patrician received at the start of the second half, and the Saints used this 2 minutes later to score another touchdown with a 2-yard carry. The no-good kick left the score at 33-7.
One minute later, the Saints intercepted a 30-yard pass to regain possession of the ball. In the next play, a 75-yard pass completion brought them another touchdown. The PAT was unsuccessful, leaving the score 39-7.
With 2 minutes left in the third quarter, a 20-yard carry brought Patrician another touchdown. The kick was successful, bringing the score up to 46-7.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Patrician scored their final touchdown of the game with a 50-yard carry. The unsuccessful kick left the score at 52-7.
With 38 seconds left before the end of the game, the Cougars put 6 more points on the board with an 11-yard pass to Cameron Ball (#12); the kick was no good, and the final score was 52-13.
The Cougars gained 117 yards throughout the game. Fifty of these were passing yards, 39 by Lee and 11 by Clark. Ty McCants had the most receiving yards at 22; Clark received 16; and Ball received 12. Sixty-one of the rushing yards were gained by Crook, and Clark gained 22. Ball and Luke Bell (#9) had the most tackles at 3 each; Bell also had an assist.
The Cougars will be on the road for the rest of the season, visiting the South Choctaw Academy Rebels in Toxey for non-region play next week. You can support the Cougars from home by tuning into the livestream on EA’s Facebook or YouTube pages or by listening to the broadcast on WBZR 105.9.