By By Chandler Myers
The tough get tougher and the Escambia Academy Cougars proved that all fall as they came back week after week and never quit as they played the toughest schedule in AISA.
The Cougars (0-11, 0-6) fought through a war of a season and closed it out with a 50-12 defeat to the Bessemer Academy Rebels Friday night. The Rebels are the three-time defending 3A champions in AISA.
Head coach Heath Gibson said the Rebels showed their greatness against his team and wished them the best in the playoffs.
The first half was a disaster for the Cougars as they were unable to gain any kind of momentum.
The one bright spot for the Cougars first half was a 40-yard bomb from senior quarterback Jeff Price to freshman wide receiver James Dean.
Price finished the game with that lone completion and 18 yards rushing on four carries.
Penalties set the tone for the Cougars who were penalized four times, which hurt the result of big gains.
Several big runs were broken by senior running back Kawetta Coon, but every time Coon cut through a hole a flag was thrown.
Gibson said penalties always kill a team and added they are even worse after a great play.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Rebels found success early and found it often as they were able to score 44 first half points.
The playmaker for the Rebels was their senior wide receiver Harris Gaston who reeled in a 25-yard touchdown catch from Rebels quarterback Garrett Pincotti. Gaston, an Auburn University commitment, showed his skill by playing the game in tennis shoes after leaving his cleats in Bessemer.
Gibson said Gaston is a great ball player with skills a coach dreams about.
In the second half, the Cougars came out fighting and were determined not to be shutout.
Coon came out with tenacity and rushed the ball hard every time he received a carry. Coon finished the game with 131 yards on 19 carries, two touchdowns and reached the 1,000- yard plateau on the season.
Gibson said the second half was about pride and giving the seniors something positive to go out on.
The EA football team never lost focus this season, according to Gibson.
Gibson said that the team came out everyday and knew it was going to be a battle. He added he is proud of the seniors for sticking with the team throughout the season.