A boost in enrollment at Escambia Academy means stepping up to the next level of competition in athletics with the Cougars’ football program moving from AISA Class AA to Class AAA.

The step up in class was announced in February by the AISA with the release of the 2012 football schedule coming recently.

For the Cougars, the schedule features some familiar programs, but also adds in some schools that Escambia Academy has not seen on the gridiron recently.

The season opens on Aug. 24 with a region game against the Fort Dale Academy Eagles and closes on Oct. 26 with a game against a cross-region opponent Macon-East.

In region play, the Cougars have been placed in the west where they will face Fort Dale, Hooper, Monroe, Morgan and Pike Liberal. Fort Dale and Monroe have been constants on the Cougars’ schedule the last four years, with the Volunteers from Monroeville also facing EA in the 2009 AISA Class AA semifinals.

Outside of the region, the Cougars will take on Sparta, South Choctaw, Clarke Prep, Southern and Macon-East. South Choctaw, Clarke Prep and Southern are notable opponents that were in the Cougars’ region the previous two seasons, while Macon-East in the only opponent from the east region in Class AAA.

2012 Schedule
Aug. 24 – Fort Dale*
Aug. 31 – Hooper*
Sept. 7 – Monroe*
Sept. 14 – Sparta
Sept. 21 – Morgan*
Sept. 28 – Pike Liberal*
Oct. 5 – South Choctaw
Oct. 12 – Clark Prep
Oct. 19 – Southern
Oct. 26 – Macon-East
*Region Games