Escambia Academy rode a stifling second-half defensive performance to a 26-14 win on the road at Clarke Prep.

The game was tied 14-14 at half before the defense took over in the second half, said coach Hugh Fountain.

“The defense played well,” Fountain said. “In the second half we only gave up 25 total yards. We held them to 18 yards rushing in the second half.

“That’s awesome for us,” he said.

The offensive side of the ball also went well for the Cougars, who picked up 310 yards on the ground. The Cougars scored on a 1-yard run by quarterback Brett Gorum and a 16-yard run by Gordon Brooks in the first half.

Tim Finklea added touchdowns of 22 yards and 25 yards as well.

Fountain said the offensive line had to play well against a big Clarke Prep team, and they did. The Cougars racked up 170 yards on the ground in the first half and 140 in the second.

The defensive line played well too, he said. The Cougars gave up 92 rushing yards in the first half and 18 rushing yards in the second.

“It was a heck of a game for us on the line,” Fountain said. “We did a great job playing up front.”

The win is the fifth straight for the Cougars, who last lost to Monroe Academy on Friday, Sept. 13. EA is 7-2 on the year and has already locked up a playoff spot. The Cougars travel to Greensboro on Friday to take on Southern Academy, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.