Escambia Academy has canceled two games the Cougars had scheduled to play against Florida public schools.

EA was forced to cancel its planned games on Friday, Aug. 22, at Northview, and Friday, Sept. 19, at Jay.
EA coach Hugh Fountain said the Florida High School Athletic Association did not approve the games, because EA is not a member of an organization that is part of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA). EA is in the Alabama Independent School Association, which is not affiliated with the NFSHSA.

Fountain said EA will leave Sept. 19 as an open date, and will instead pick up a game against visiting Lancaster Academy (Tenn.) on Friday, Sept. 5.

The Cougars have not yet found an opponent to play on Aug. 22, but Fountain said he is hopeful that Restoration Academy may be able to play EA at Faulkner University in Montgomery on that date.

EA will play in a scrimmage this Friday at Glenwood in Smiths Station, where the Cougars will face Deerfield Academy (Ga.) and Southland Academy (Ga.) starting at 6 p.m.

Northview coach Sid Wheatley said he was disappointed the game had to be canceled.

“It would have been a good game to play for both teams,” he said. “Coach Fountain has a great program and it would have been great gate receipts for us.”

NHS will open the regular season at Bozeman, Fla., on Aug. 29.