Jaguars score 5 TDs in 1st half, win 40-8

“We’ve got a long way to go.”

That’s all Escambia County head football coach Rico Jackson had to say after the Blue Devils fell 40-8 to Hillcrest-Evergreen tonight on homecoming.

This is the second-straight year ECHS has lost on homecoming. Last year, the Blue Devils fell 41-6 to Satsuma.

Things didn’t get off to a good start for the home team in front of a big crowd in Atmore. Hillcrest scored five touchdowns in the first half, and led 34-8 at halftime.

Hillcrest-Evergreen’s Brandon Rudolph took the opening kick off 81 yards for a touchdown to help the Jaguars draw first blood.

After the opening score, the Jaguars went ahead and scored an additional two touchdowns in the first quarter. Hillcrest’s Kobe Bradley scored on a 3-yard rush, and quarterback Ryan Nettles found Bradley for a 47-yard touchdown pass with 14.1 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Escambia County got on board early in the second quarter after a Jordaun Patterson connected with Darrien Abrams for a 69-yard touchdown pass with 11:11 to go in the first half.

Part of the Jaguars’ monster first half were the Blue Devils’ turnovers. ECHS had four turnovers in the first half.

The Jaguars tacked on two additional scores on a 4-yard pass from Nettles to Andray Pope, and a 2-yard rush from Tyson Nicholson.

Hillcrest scored its last touchdown on a controversial call after Nettles found Malik Reynolds for a 21-yard score. Jackson argued Reynolds bobbled the ball after crossing the end zone after the catch.

ECHS visits Satsuma next week to continue region play.