By By Matthew Nascone
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils open the season Friday against Alabama Christian Academy at home in the friendly confines of Herbert Barnes Stadium at 7 p.m. and head coach Kyle Davis said his team is ready to start the season.
"I can't wait to get started and neither can the guys," Davis said. "We have been hitting each other for so long, we want to hit another team. We just have to make sure we get out there and execute."
This year's meeting between the two teams is the first ever and Davis said that presents a challenge.
"We were able to scout them a little bit, but it is always tough to play a team you have never played before," he said. "But if we execute our game plan then we will have nothing to worry about."
Davis said the team has practiced hard to prepare for the season and he said the team would have to come ready to play Friday.
"We have asked a lot of the guys we have playing both ways and now we need them to step up for us," Davis said.
The little scouting Davis has done of Alabama Christian has showed him they are a big team.
"They will run the wing T offense and that always gives defenses fits," Davis said. "And they are very well coached. Coach (Gregg) Baker has done a good job with the team in his first year with the program. But we just have to play our game of up-tempo offense and defense and we will be all right."
ECHS and Christian will have one thing in common on the field. They both have quarterbacks who can tuck the ball and run with it. And Davis said that is one thing the team will have to watch out for.
Before the teams hit the field the Blue Devils will have a community pep rally tomorrow. Before the pep rally the community will be able to "Meet the Blue Devils" at 5 p.m. The pep rally will begin at 7 p.m.