By By Chandler Myers
Escambia Academy’s Cougar football team begins another grueling season on the gridiron on Aug. 29 in an effort to win a state title.
Cougar head football coach Heath Gibson said the schedule is always tough, but that this seasons might be even more rough.
The Cougars open with two non-region games hosting Patrician Academy and visiting Autauga on Sept. 5.
The Cougars other non-region games include a trip to Marengo Academy on Oct. 3, and hosting Bessemer Academy in the finale on Oct. 31.
The team from Bessemer is the reigning class 3A state champions and have won several games the last few seasons.
Bessemer will be a great game to host at EA and will be a tough game, according to Gibson.
The AISA and AHSAA have different methods of choosing non-region games with coaches in the AHSAA being able to choose their opponents.
Gibson said it is different when opponents outside of the region are chosen because the coaches in AISA do not get to select the team.
Region games begin on Sept. 12 as the Cougars play host to Southern Academy and then travel to Pickens on Sept. 19.
They return home for to play Wilcox Academy on Sept. 26 and then take a break from the region the next week.
The Cougars will face to travel two weeks in the middle of Oct. as they face Clarke Prep. on the 10th and travel to Meadowview the 17th.
Their last region game will be at home against Monroe to renewing the rivalry since the teams have not played in two years.
Region play will be the toughest part of the schedule, according to Gibson.
He said the region the Cougars have is extremely rough on all the teams involved.
He added whichever team benefits from healthy players will more than likely win.