“It’s like a rebirth.”

That’s how Escambia County head football coach Rico Jackson described the Blue Devils’ season opener this week.

The Blue Devils kick off their season against Wilcox Central. Last year, ECHS beat WC 24-16 in Camden to win one of their two games all year.

“We’re excited,” Jackson said about Friday’s game. “It’s like a rebirth. They get to go out there and prove themselves. They get to show how much they’ve improved from the spring.

“This is our first home game, and we want a big crowd and get this (win),” he said.

During the jamboree game last week, the ECHS varsity squad played the first three quarters. The final quarter was designated for the junior varsity players. The Blue Devils lost 34-18 to Class 6A B.C. Rain.

“We played a good 6A team,” Jackson said, adding that the game will help ECHS as it prepares for this week’s game against Wilcox.

Jackson said the Jaguars have some good players, including wide receivers Japatrick Blackmon and Kelvon George, running back and linebacker Denteria Campbell and quarterback Johnathon Hayden.

One thing that the Blue Devils are working on for the game is communication, Jackson said.

“We’re working to get on the same page,” he said. “We’re working on us.”

Kick off Friday in Atmore is at 7 p.m.