By By Matthew Nascone
The Escambia Academy Cougars had no answer for the defending AISA Class 2A state champion Southern Academy Cougars Friday night in Greensboro.
Heath Gibson's Cougars did not have that offensive explosion Gibson was hoping for and they lost 49-0.
"We moved the ball, but we kept shooting ourselves in the foot with penalties," Gibson said. "They were just bigger, stronger and faster than us. We played scrappy football, but they just pushed us all over the field. They looked like the defending champs."
The Cougars' (0-3, 0-2 in AISA Class 2A Region 1 play) one ray of light came near the end of the first half when freshman kick returner Gavin Salter returned a kick 90 yards for a touchdown, but the play was called back due to an illegal block penalty.
"At that point the score was 21-0 and it would have been 21-7, but the penalty killed us," Gibson said. "And it took the wind right out of our sails and we could not come back from that."
Sophomore quarterback Jon Dean was 1-for-6 passing the ball for 17 yards and the one completion was to junior wide receiver Blaine Garrett. Dean also toted the rock 14 times for 66 yards. Senior fullback Ethan Brooks carried it 12 times for 65 yards and junior tailback Kaweta Coon had 40 yards on 11 carries.
On the defensive side of the ball, Dean and sophomore defensive back Tank Mitchell led the team with six tackles apiece and sophomore linebacker Cameron McGhee added five.
The Cougars host Jackson Academy at Bachelor Field Friday at 7 p.m.