Escambia Academy is still experiencing defensive woes after being it up on the scoreboard last Friday by the Patrician Academy Saints in a 45-28 loss.

The Cougars’ defense has now given up more than 40 points in their last two games and the third time overall this season.

Now at 3-3 and 1-2 in the region, the Cougars must buckle down in order to have a chance at the playoffs.

They are moving deep into their region play beginning with the Southern Choctaw Academy Rebels who visit Canoe Friday night.

Cougars head coach Heath Gibson said his team will have to get better at stopping the pass with that being the Rebels’ primary offense.

“We have charted them at throwing the ball 70 percent of the time,” Gibson said. “We have to work on our secondary play because we will see them air it out. I feel like we can stop their running game, so it will all come down to stopping the pass.”

To combat the passing game and cure woes in the secondary, the Cougars will put some different players on the field.

Gibson said he will give some of his athletes a chance to play both sides of the ball.

“We are going to try and put our best athletes on the field,” Gibson said. “We have been trying to keep guys like Jaylen Henry and Wesley Steadham on offense only, but it’s time to turn them loose on defense.”

Offensively, the Saints were ready for the Cougars’ spread option last week, so Gibson is adding a new set to the playbook this week.

Gibson said having another ball carrier back from injury will help the new formation.

“There is a new wrinkle that we are going to put in this week,” Gibson said. “We have Braxton Chastang back, so it will be something new that we can hopefully execute.”

The Cougars have come out flat lately having trouble scoring points in the first quarter of games.

Gibson said he hopes to get a fire in his team before the game kicks off, and he added to win his team will have to control the ball.

“We might do some inter-squad before the game this week to try and get a fire in them,” Gibson said. “We have to cut down on turnovers this week and make sure we play well in the secondary if we want to win this game.”

The Cougars and Rebels kick off at 7 p.m. Friday night in Canoe.