By By Adam Prestridge
Tears were shed Friday night as Escambia Academy’s dream season was put to a sudden halt as the Monroe Academy Volunteers shut the Cougars out for the first time this season 20-0.
With the win, Monroe Academy (10-2) advances to the AISA Class AA state title game at Troy University next Friday night against Edgewood Academy.
Volunteers Head Coach Mitchell Tuberville said his defense’s ability to stop the potent run game of the Cougars (7-6) made the difference.
The Cougars finished the night with only116 yards of total offense with 100 yards coming on the ground.
EA Head Coach Heath Gibson said he knew going into the game that it would come down to turnovers, and turnovers proved to be the difference in the game.
The Cougars were able to get three turnovers in the game, a fumble recovery on the Volunteers’ first drive of the game, an interception early in the third quarter and a fumble recovery late in the third, but were unable to capitalize on any of them.
The Volunteers scored on their second drive of the game and just before halftime, both on one-yard runs, to take a 13-0 lead into the locker room. The Volunteers added a score late in the game on a two-yard run to clinch the win, 20-0.
Despite the loss, Gibson said he was proud of his defense.
As for the season, Gibson summed it as the best in Escambia Academy history, and he hated it to end for his seniors and the team’s loyal fans.
“We had a great bunch of seniors, I hate to lose everyone of them, they did a great job,” he said. “It could have been very easy for everybody to walk out of here after an 0-11 season, and now we just played in the second round of the state playoffs. It’s a testament to them.”