By By BRIAN BLACKLEY
Advance Managing Editor
In the opening game of the new season, Escambia Academy was outgunned by defending state champions Clarke Prep who claimed a solid 44-6 win over the EA Cougars Friday night in the season opener.
Clarke Prep jumped on the board early and held the Cougars scoreless until the fourth quarter when sophomore Kevin Adair hustled for a 25-yard touchdown run. The scoring drive set up with long runs by freshman Brandon Moore in front of an EA home crowd.
Cannon said his team is veteran poor, with only two seniors on the squad.
The Clarke Prep Gators have eight seniors on the team along with 10 juniors.
Throughout the night, the Cougars struggled to move the ball through the swarms of Gators that played hard against EA's offensive line. The Gators' overall team size proved to be another setback for EA who found that their opponent's experience was matched by strength and size.
Adair was EA's top rusher, earning 61 yards on 13 carries throughout the night and a touchdown.
In rushing, Moore followed with seven carries for 39 yards. Rounding out the field were Robert Hardy, junior, with eight carries for 13 yards and Shaun Sirmon, senior, who carried seven times for 13 yards.
Sirmon proved to be one of EA's top defensive players, racking up 14 tackles from his linebacker position. Cody White, junior defensive back, chalked up 12 tackles and was followed by freshman defensive lineman J.R. Hall who had nine tackles and junior defensive back Bradford Price who had eight tackles.
David Daniel, junior tight end, threw one pass on a misdirection play for eight yards.
Next week, EA goes on the road to play Monroe. Kickoff time is 7:30 p.m.