By By Chandler Myers
Escambia County’s return to Class 5A this season was an uphill battle that head coach Kyle Davis was ready to take on.
The Blue Devils finished with a 3-7 record, but were competitive in every game, losing four games by two touchdowns or less, and suffered their worst defeat to Vigor, which won the Class 5A state championship.
By being competitive in every game played this season despite stepping up to a higher classification has led for Davis to be named the Atmore Advance’s 2008 Coach of the Year.
Davis said being named the area’s top coach is a good way to end an up and down season.
The process of moving an athletic program up in classification is not an easy step to make especially in football.
The level of competition grows because of the size of players and the depths due to amount of students at the higher classified schools.
Davis said he knew his first year in 5A would be tough, but added his coaches and players were up to the challenge.
Davis’ thoughts on moving up to 5A were seconded by another area high school coach.
Escambia Academy Cougars head football coach Heath Gibson said Davis deserves the honor of Coach of the Year because of the job he does with his players.
The hard work of the Blue Devils throughout the season did not bring the success of a winning record, but it did bring hope.
Davis said he atones the success this season to his players and coaching staff’s work ethic.
Davis is looking ahead to 2009 because of the progress made by his team.
He said that the experience of playing schools in 5A and 6A really taught the players and coaches about what works and what does not.