By Staff
Zack Brooks
The Escambia Academy Cougars kicked off their first game since Hurricane Ivan with a bang as they clobbered the Evangel Christian Lions 53-14 in Montgomery Friday night.
"We played an excellent ballgame on both sides of the ball Friday night," Escambia Head Coach Heath Gibson said. "I am really proud of our coaches and players, especially our seniors, because they did not lose their dedication or focus after a rough seven days off."
Big plays were in abundance all night as the Cougars used a dominant offensive line and long plays in the running and passing game to roll up 593 total yards for the game.
The game did not start well for the Cougars as they fumbled the ball on three consecutive series deep in Evangel territory to start the game.
But the big-play Cougars could not be held down for long as Kevin White rumbled down the field 39 yards for a touchdown behind a beautiful downfield block by Bruce Smith to make the score 6-0. J.R. Hall missed the extra-point so the score remained 6-0.
After a Lion punt on their next possession, the Cougars scored again on a Josh Montel 57-yard rainbow to Bruce Smith to give Escambia a 12-0 lead. The two-point try was no good so the score remained 12-0.
On the on ensuing kickoff, Evangel fumbled the kickoff and Cody Norton recovered deep in Evangel territory at their 20 yard-line. Norris Brooks then wasted no time as he took the next play 20 yards for a touchdown to give the Cougars an 18-0 lead. Brooks then took the two-point conversion in to give the Cougars a 20-0 lead.
The Cougars scored their last touchdown of the half when White took the hand-off and dragged two Lions in for a touchdown from four yards out to make the score 26-0 heading into half-time.
"I was really impressed with the way our seniors stepped up and took control after we fumbled the ball three times in the first half," Gibson said. "We showed our character tonight and I'm proud of the direction we are heading as a team."
The second half started the same way the first half ended as the Cougars used a Bruce Smith 50-yard kickoff return and a 48-yard Montel to Smith touchdown pass to score a 32-0 lead.
Then with 9:13 left in the third quarter, the Cougar defense scored a touchdown of their own, as Montel intercepted a Lion pass and took it 80 yards for a 38-0 Cougar lead.
After a Lion punt on their next possession, Smith scored his third touchdown of the night with a 10-yard scamper to make the score 45-0.
The Cougars then scored their last touchdown of the night on another outstanding 35 yard pass by Montel to Cody Norton in the corner of the end zone to make the score 53-13.
"Our offensive line really stepped up and had an excellent game for us tonight," Gibson said. "Tyler Wilkens, J.R. Hall, Joe Drew, Oliver Petty, and Matt Amerson have really done a great job for us the last two games."
Kevin White lead the Cougars in rushing for the night as he had 189 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.
Norris Brooks, Bruce Smith, and Ethan Brooks also had good games on the ground as Norris Brooks had 124 yards on ten carries and a touchdown, Smith had 28 yards on four carries, and E. Brooks had 40 yards on five carries.
Josh Montel had the best game of his career Friday night for the Cougars. He passed for 191 yards on 6/10 passing and three touchdowns. The big recipient of Montel's passes was Bruce Smith as he had 118 yards on three catches and two touchdowns.
Zach Thomas and Bucky Dawson lead the Cougars on defense Friday night.
Thomas had seven tackles for the Cougars and two pass breakups and Dawson had six tackles and one quarterback sack.
The Cougars next game will against Dixie Academy at home Friday night at 7:30.