Escambia Academy overcame a sloppy start to dominate visiting South Choctaw Academy, 44-10, on homecoming night in Canoe.

The Cougar running attack picked up steam during the game with Tim Finklea gaining 142 yards on 14 carries, Gordon Brooks rumbling for 84 yards on seven carries and Kris Brown earning 76 yards on only three carries.

Although it was a homecoming game, Coach Hugh Fountain said he expected to have a tough game against South Choctaw, a team that runs the wing-T offense. The score at halftime was 24-10.

“They’re physically tough,” Fountain said. “We got the job done with big plays in the second half.”

South Choctaw went three-and-out after receiving the opening kickoff. The Cougars took over and immediately went to work with two runs by J.P. Sawyer that picked up 20 yards. Finklea added a 3-yard carry and Sawyer added another 4 yards.

A fumble by quarterback Brett Gorum gave the ball back to South Choctaw, but it was fumbled back to EA on the very next play with 7:09 left in the first quarter.

Brooks, Sawyer, Gorum and Finklea all combined for 22 yards on the ground before Gorum found Scott Brantley for a 27-yard pass. Gorum then ran in a touchdown from 24 yards out.

The kick was no good and EA led 6-0 with 3:48 left in the first quarter.

South Choctaw’s Harley Busby and Joe Turner combined for the bulk of the carries during the ensuing drive. Wesley Miller finished off the drive with a 27-yard field goal that cut the Cougars’ lead to 6-3 with 10:19 left in the second quarter.

Gorum had two carries for 22 yards and Finklea added a 9-yard run during the ensuing Cougar possession, before Brooks broke through with a 30-yard touchdown run. He also had a 19-yard carry during the drive.

The Cougars missed the two-point conversion, but led 12-3 with 7:20 left in the second quarter.

South Choctaw quarterback Adam Bonner fumbled on the ensuing drive, but the offense recovered the fumble. Bonner made up for the fumble on the very next play, connecting with John Phillips for a 67-yard touchdown.

Miller’s extra point try was true and South Choctaw trailed by just two points with 6:27 left in the second quarter.

Brooks got the home fans back in the game on the very next offensive play, running for a touchdown from 63 yards out. Brantley missed the kick and EA led 18-10 with 6:06 left before halftime.

After South Choctaw turned the ball over on downs, EA went to work with 4:43 on the game clock in the second quarter. Sawyer and Finklea carried the ball for the first four plays of the drive before Brooks added a 9-yard dash.

Sawyer then picked up 7 yards before Finklea closed the drive with a 13-yard run. The conversion was no good and the Cougars led 24-10 at halftime.

Brown fumbled to end EA’s first drive of the second half, but South Choctaw gave it right back after four plays.

The Cougars went to work with Finklea picking up 63 yards and a touchdown on six straight carries. Brantley’s kick was good and the Cougars led 31-10 with 4:48 left in the third quarter.

South Choctaw’s Bonner fumbled on their next drive. The fumble was picked up by Brown and he ran it back 97 yards for a Cougar touchdown. The Brantley kick was good and EA led 38-10.

South Choctaw was forced to punt on the ensuing drive and the Cougars took over on their opponent’s 46-yard line. Finklea broke a 29-yard run, while Sawyer and Brown added 13 yards to put the ball at the 2-yard line.

A false start on the Cougars backed them up to the 7-yard line and Mason Carraway got consecutive 1-yard carries before backup quarterback Kevin Gumapac scored from 5 yards out. Brantley’s kick was no good.

EA’s next game is this Friday night at Clarke Prep Academy. Kickoff is 7 p.m.