By By Chandler Myers
Last Friday was a huge night for the Escambia Academy Cougars.
They picked up their first win of the year and broke an 11-game losing streak, which plagued them throughout the 2008 season.
This year’s squad is going to play at a much higher level and have a fighting chance at the postseason.
This week, they are traveling to Butler to take on the Patrician Saints, which won the AISA Class 1A state championship last year and cruised to a 54-16 victory over the Cougars last season.
This week’s game will be much more different than last year’s with several new Cougars on the roster and the remaining members of the 2008 team a year older and a year wiser.
The game should be a lot more competitive this year with both teams fighting for control of the ground game.
The intensity levels of both teams are sure to be high and players all over the field will be swarming to the ball.
This game is going to be a close competition, but this could be the Cougar’s season as they go on a revenge tour against the same opponents as last year.
Friday night will show whether the Cougars are for real, and I think they put up just enough fight in this game and come away with a 27-20 win.
The big game on the slate though is the Escambia County vs. T.R. Miller matchup.
This is a huge game as I learned last year after Miller’s 22-21 win.
Both teams are always playing hard and have a chance to win and a win sets the tone for their season.
Last year, I ate my words with Miller squeaking by the young Blue Devils squad.
This year, I don’t eat those words though and I’ll stick with the hometown team.
Atmore is coming home Friday night as the winner of the rivalry after beating the Tigers 34-24.
Chandler Myers is sports editor of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123 or by e-mail at sports@atmoreadvance.com