By Staff
Zack Brooks
The Escambia Academy Cougars continued their run of dominance in AISA play this week as they used a terrific defensive performance to notch their second shut out of the season 34-0 over the Meadowview Trojans.
"Our defense really played a great ballgame tonight," Escambia Head Coach Heath Gibson said. "They came out and set the tone for the game and did not allow Meadowview to get much of anything going on offense."
The Cougar's defense forced four turnovers on the night. Josh Montel and Bruce Smith had an interception a piece and Josh Johnson and Zach Thomas recovered a fumble apiece.
Both teams came out in the first quarter with strong defenses as neither offense could get much of anything going and the score remained 0-0 at the end of the quarter.
But the Cougars got on the board in the second quarter as Kevin White scored touchdowns from 34 and 15 yards out and J.R. Hall kicked both extra-points to give Escambia a 14-0 lead at halftime.
White then started the second half with his third touchdown of the game from one yard out to give the Cougars a commanding 20-0 lead.
The Cougars passing game got into the act on their next possession as quarterback Josh Montel hooked up with tight end Bucky Dawson for a 73 yard touchdown pass behind a tremendous downfield block by wide receiver Bruce Smith to make the score 26-0. Hall's extra-point was good on the play and so the score moved up to 27-0.
On the first play of the Trojans next possession, the Cougar defense stepped up and caused a fumble which defensive tackle Josh Johnson recovered at the Trojan four-yard line to give Escambia excellent field position.
The Cougars wasted no time on taking advantage of the turnover, as Norris Brooks took the next play four yards for a touchdown to make the score 33- 0. Hall's extra-point was good so the score was 34-0.
The Cougars defense and ball control offense handled things the rest of the way, as they ran down the clock and won the game 34-0.
I can not say enough about the way our defense played," Gibson said. "They played a complete game tonight and never let up their intensity." "Our linebackers especially played well tonight," Gibson said. "Kevin White, Norris Brooks, and Joe Drew really played a great game tonight."
White and Brooks lead the Cougars in tackles on the night. White had nine and one fumble caused, while Brooks had seven tackles and several big plays in the Trojan backfield. Comerback Zach Thomas also had a big game for the Cougars as he had six tackles and two passes deflected.
White led the Cougars on offense with his biggest rushing game of the year. He had 211 rushing yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns, and also one catch for four yards.
Brooks and Bruce Smith also had good games on the ground for the Cougars. Brooks had 57 yards on seven carries with one touchdown and Smith had 72 yards on five carries.
Josh Montel had a good game throwing the ball for the Cougars. He completed three passes out of four attempts for 108 yards and one touchdown. Dawson and Brooks caught Montel's three completions with Dawson catching one ball for 73 yards and a touchdown and Brooks catching two passes for 35 yards.
The Cougars next game will be against 6" ranked Abbeville Academy on Friday night in Abbeville. Game time will be at 7:30.