By Staff
Arthur McLean
After taking a loss to Faith Academy, the AISA's no. 1 team, the Escambia Academy Cougars opened their first home game of the season looking for some redemption, and they got it, poundingTaylor Road of Montgomery 53-6.
The night belonged to EA, with the Cougar defense shutting down Taylor Road and giving the offense a short field most of the night. Throughout most of the first half, the EA offense started its possessions in Tiger territory.
The Cougar running game came alive Friday night, led by tailback Norris Brooks, fullback Kevin White, and wingback Bruce Smith.
Smith, who was slowed by leg cramps in the Cougars' first game, showed no ill effects Friday night, with a 28-yard scamper, shaking would-be tacklers and running over one Tiger to make it to the end zone for the Cougars' first score.
A blocked punt on the next possession made it Cougars ball on the 34, and the EA rushing machine went back to work.
White softened up the middle of Taylor Road with two punishing runs before quarterback Josh Montiel rambled down to the 12 on a keeper. Brooks made it to the one before White punched it in for the Cougars' second score of the night.
Taylor Road was unable to take advantage of a terrible kickoff when the Cougar defense stuffed the Tigers on Buckie Dawson sack, coming off his defensive end position.
On EA's third possession of the night, Brooks, on a third and seven play, rambled 29 yards for the score.
After an EA interception, of the Tigers, Smith took the misdirection cutback 20 yards for the Cougars' fourth score of the night, making it 28-0.
Taylor Road started blitzing in the red zone, and finally stopped the EA juggernaut late in the first half, but the Cougars would come out and roll up 25 more points in the second half.
EA hosts Sparta Friday night at 7:30.