By By Lindsey Sherrill
The Escambia Academy Cougars faced Patrician Academy at home Friday night in a 26-14 defeat.
Patrician jumped to a quick lead on a touchdown with a 2-point conversion early in the first quarter and a touchdown with a missed extra point in the second. Later in the second quarter the Cougars scored on an eight yard pass to Norris Brooks to make the score 14-6 Patrician. EA's Cody Norton and Josh Montel each recovered a Patrician fumble but the Cougar's were unable to cash in on the recoveries and Patrician scored once more for a half time score of 20-6.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. In the fourth Norton intercepted a Patrician pass to begin the scoring drive for the Cougars. EA scored on a Kevin White 13-yard run and a 2-point conversion. Patrician made one more touchdown to end the game with a 26-14, EA defeat.
Turnovers were a huge factor in the loss. The Cougars fumbled six times, losing two and recovering four. Quarterback Josh Montel went 3-8 passing for 40-yards and two interceptions. The team had six penalties for a loss of 60-yards.
"We've got to work on the turnovers," said assistant coach Stacey McFall. "You can't win games on turnovers."
Offensively, the team had a total of 43-yards passing. Brooks had two receptions for 22-yards. White rushed for 46-yards on 13 carries, and Dalton Murphy rushed for 45-yards on three carries for 113 total rushing yards.
The Cougars punted three times for an average of 38-yards. Craig Montel and Joe Drew lead the team in tackles with eight each. Robert Hardy, Steven Shirley, and Buckie Dawson each had seven tackles, and White and Norton had six tackles each.
The team, now 0-2 for the season, will travel to South Choctaw Academy next Friday night.