Escambia County’s 41-6 homecoming loss to Satsuma tonight doesn’t indicate how much the Blue Devils are getting better each week, head football coach Royce Young said.

“We’ve got a number of guys who are getting better and better,” Young said after the game.

The Blue Devils’ defense held the Gators at bay during the first quarter, and kept the good guys in it in the second until a late touchdown before the break.

Young said SHS is a good football team, the best it has been in several years.

“What everybody’s seeing now is all of a sudden Satsuma got good,” he said. “They didn’t get good all of a sudden. They were where we are and have been for a while. They’ve been in the weight room, and they’ve been doing the things behind the scenes that don’t show up on the field.

“(SHS head football) Coach (Justin) Thomas and his staff have done a great job,” he said. “He and I have talked quite a bit since I took this job. They inherited pretty much what we inherited. Over the years, they’re getting to where it’s (better play) now showing up.”

Young said the Blue Devils will keep working and eventually will get there.

ECHS drove the field after recovering a turnover on a punt, and punched the ball in from the 1 to draw first blood in the opening quarter. Jeffrey Wilson scored the first touchdown of the night.

Then it became an Andrew Barfoot show for Satsuma.

Barfoot proceeded to throw four touchdown passes over the next three quarters to pull away.

The Satsuma quarterback connected with Peyton Reed for a 47-yard strike in the first, found Luke Montalvo on a 26-yard rout in the second, connected with Trace Presnall for a 21-yarder in the third and Anthony Springfield for 13 yards in the fourth.

The Gators also had touchdown runs from Nick Kritner — 3 yards — and Blain Gurley — 1 yard — in the win.

Early on in the game, the Blue Devils stayed in a fight with the visiting Gators as senior quarterback Devon Robinson used his feet and arm to keep the opening drive alive.

Young said Robinson is learning about how to play as an effective play caller.

“He’s not forcing the ball anymore,” Young said. “He tucks and runs, and he’s a great athlete. He can make great plays with his feet.

“He got out of football for a while, and came back last year, but was a receiver,” he said. “He’s a receiver, but a first-time quarterback. Every week, he just gets better. He’s one of those guys that wants to get better, and that’s the key.”

ECHS visits Thomasville next week. Kick off is at 7 p.m.