Escambia County High School Head Coach Lev Holly is holding out hope for a playoff berth following the Blue Devils’ 48-12 road loss to the Thomasville Tigers Friday night.

Holly said his young team has fought hard thus far in the season but needs to win their next three region games in order to have a shot at the state title.

“We still have Monroe County, Hillcrest-Evergreen and Andalusia,” Holly said. “We’ve got to win out if want a shot at the playoffs.”

Despite the final score, Holly said his team showed a great deal of heart in their loss against a team that won the state championship just two years ago.

“We were right there, it was just that experience they have,” Holly said. “We had a good plan, but we were outmanned up front and we felt like we ran away from it. We’ve just got to make plays. That’s the bottom line.”

Holly said, as has been the case in past games, offensive production was not a problem, but red zone play remains an issue for the Devils.

“We drove the ball the whole game, but put ourselves in bad situations,” Holly said.

The Tigers got on the board first Friday to lead 7-0, but a 13-play Blue Devil drive, capped off by a rushing score from Gordon Brooks left the first quarter score close, at 7-6.

Thomasville scored once again on their next offensive possession, but a 12-play, 75-yard drive from the Devils ended in a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Johnson to receiver Tyjustine Brown, leaving the score 13-12, in favor of Thomasville at halftime.

Holly said things got out of hand in the second half as the Tigers ran away with 34 unanswered points.

Holly and the Devils look to bounce back from the loss next week during ECHS’ homecoming game versus Monroe County. Game time is set for 7 p.m.