By Staff
Arthur McLean
Escambia Academy ran into a tough Faith Academy team on the road in Mobile Friday night. The Cougars fell in their season opener 37-6 to a very good Faith team that was ranked No. 1 in Class AAA Region II in the AISA last year.
Faith took the lead early in the first quarter and never looked back. A quarterback option from the six as the buzzer sounded made it 14-0 Faith.
The Cougar offense had a spark to start the second quarter, when quarterback Josh Montiel rolled to his right and hit a 17-yard pass completion. But Faith's defense stepped up and stuffed the Cougars.
The Cougar punt was blocked and a kick out of the endzone resulted in a safety.
Faith got the ball at the 50, and three plays later, Faith's Sam Biscoe broke an inside counter play for 40 yards and another Ram touchdown.
On their next possession, EA again looked to have the big play on its side, this time with Montiel hitting big tight end Buckie Dawson dragging down the middle for a 60-yard completion to the Faith 36. But again, the Ram defense stuffed the Cougars and EA turned it over on downs.
Faith constructed a 50-yard drive to within the 10, but missed a field goal as time expired in the half.
The Cougars started the second half turning the ball over on downs deep in their own territory, and Faith made them pay for it with a 10-yard quarterback keeper to make it 30-0 Faith.
The Cougar defense started to tighten up in the second half, by stuffing Faith's first run plays. A Ram fumble at the 9-yard-line, gave EA the ball and the momentum.
Montiel, who threw well on the run, completed another long pass to Zack Thomas from the EA 14 down to Faith's 36, a 50-yard pass completion. But again, the Cougars were forced to turn the ball over on downs.
Faith followed with a 50-yard catch and run to make the score 37-0 with 11:47 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Cougars finally got the running game on track behind fullback Kevin White, picked up a tough first down. Montiel followed with a QB keeper and then a short pass to Dawson. White followed with another hard run to get the Cougars to the 29.
The drive took EA to the 11 before an offsides call pushed them back. But on third and 14, tailback Norris Brooks took the toss from Montiel over the right side and broke through the Rams defense for the Cougars' only score of the night. The PAT was blocked.
"What can you say after a game like that," said head coach Heath Gibson. "We'll get back this week and get ready for Taylor."
EA hosts Taylor Road Friday at 7:30 p.m.