Web exclusive: Teams face tough tests Friday
Published 3:44 pm Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Escambia County High School and Escambia Academy both got wins Friday night, but face tough tests this week as the Blue Devils host Hillcrest-Evergreen for homecoming and the Cougars travel to Clarke Prep.
ECHS picked up its first win of the season, beating Monroe County 34-20.
“We played well,” Coach Lev Holly said. “I give the players all the credit. They made plays when they needed to make plays.”
He said the win gave them a boost going into Friday’s homecoming game against the 4-3 Jaguars. Hillcrest-Evergreen has one four straight games after starting 0-3 and is coming off a 32-24 win over Thomasville at home.
“Hillcrest is about as good as you’re going to find,” Holly said. “They’re a physical team.”
Holly said the Jaguars run the ball well and have a lot of speed. He said it would be important to stop the run on defense.
Escambia Academy is coming off a 44-10 win over South Choctaw on homecoming night. Like South Choctaw, Clarke Prep runs the wing T offense, said coach Hugh Fountain.
“They’re a very physical team,” he said. “They’re very big and physical.”
Fountain said Clarke Prep runs the wing T to perfection.
“If you don’t have every aspect of the wing T covered you’ll be in trouble,” he said.
The Cougars have finished region play and have locked up a playoff spot, but Fountain said the team won’t lose focus in this game.
“I don’t think we’ll have any problems with our focus,” Fountain said. “We respect Clarke Prep. They’ve beaten EA many times in the past.”
EA has won four straight games and sits at 6-2 on the season. Clarke Prep is 4-3 on the year with a 28-14 win over South Choctaw.
Northview hosts Freeport this week for its homecoming game.