Cramps and small mistakes are to blame in Escambia County Middle School’s first loss of the year at home to Saraland Middle School. The Eagles lost 46-6.

“The other team is a good team,” ECMS coach Barry Larkin said. “They were tough and they’ve got a good kicker that will help them at the high school level.”

Giving up 46 points is a departure for ECMS, which in two previous games, both wins, the defense allowed six and 20 points respectively.

“The defense’s engine ran out,” Larkin said. “We had a lot of problems with cramps and had kids complain about being tired.”

He said cramps forced him to sub-in players who didn’t have as much game experience.

Larkin said despite the loss he’s proud of his team.

“I’m proud of my kids,” he said. “They played until the last second.”

The Eagles managed a second-quarter touchdown scored by eighth-grade quarterback Fred Flavors.

The Eagles are coming off wins in their first two games, a 22-8 win over Chickasaw and a 44-20 win over Ernest Ward. They host Ernest Ward on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and finish the season with a game on Thursday, Oct. 10 against UMS-Wright at home at 5:30.

Larkin said he feels good about the final two games of the year.

“I’m thinking we can beat (Ernest Ward) if we play them like we played them last week,” he said. “I feel like we can win and I hope we can go 4-1.”