By Staff
Arthur McLean
In a gut-check goal line stand, the Escambia County Blue Devils reversed their fortunes when it counted won their first game of the season beating the Jackson Aggies 28-27 for hmecoming.
The Blue Devils were facing a game-losing situation late in the fourth quarter when the Blue Devil defense stepped up at the goal line and stuffed a two-point conversion attempt by the Aggies, keeping them short of the victory.
The Blue Devils had to hang on to get the win, as the Aggies had taken control in the second half after Escambia seemed to control the first half.
Escambia scored first behind a big run from Kendrick McNeal and a 40 yard pass completion to Chris Andrews at the goal line. Jarrod Jefferson punched it in from there. The PAT was good to make the score 7-0.
After getting a hand on a Jackson punt, Escambia drove down to the 21 when Calvin Hartley caught a first and 15 pass and was tackled at the goal line. McNeal took care of business from there, punching for another score. With the PAT, the Blue Devils lead 14-0 in the half.
After halftime, Jackson came storming back, scoring two touchdowns in less than eight minutes.
Jackson took their first possession of the half in to score, but missed the PAT to make the score 14-6 Blue Devils.
Jackson then returned a Blue Devil punt all the way back to the original line of scrimmage on the Blue Devil 14. Jackson scored and made the two-point conversion tying the game 14 all.
It looked like Jackson was going to run away with it in the second half when, on the next Blue Devil possession the Blue Devils threw up a pic six for 70 yards, and the Aggies went up 21-14 after the PAT.
The Blue Devils came back and on a quarterback keeper, the Blue Devils tied the game at 21 all.
Escambia stopped a fake punt by the Aggies, and McNeal took the pass down the middle of the field to put Escambia up 28-21.
Late in the fourth, Jackson got another touchdown, but the Blue Devil defense held on the two-point conversion to win the game 28-27.