Escambia County is riding a wave of success this week as the Blue Devils will clash with No. 3 Hillcrest-Evergreen in Atmore.

The Blue Devils defeated Monroe County 54-0 last week to start off region play, a week after dispatching Wilcox Central 42-0. This is the first time ECHS has started its season 2-0 since the 2007 season.

“We’re excited,” ECHS head football coach Rico Jackson said about this week’s game. “Hillcrest has a good team. We feel like we do, too. We feel like it’s going to be a good game.”

Jackson added that the Blue Devils are going to make sure they’re going to do their part on the gridiron as well.

Jackson said the Jaguars (2-1) are good at cornerback, and have a defensive linemen (No. 42) who is also a standout.

“They have a lot,” he said. “We’re going to have to play well and make sure to not turn the ball over.”

Given that ECHS has seen recent success on the field, keeping focused on the task at hand hasn’t been an issue, Jackson said.

“(Keeping them focused) starts at practice,” he said. “Their confidence is great. That’s what we need. They just have to continue to put together good weeks of practice.”

Jackson said the team morale has been upbeat.

“It’s always better when you’re winning,” Jackson said. “We pray that they see the value of their hard work. It’s been really good.

“I think they’re seeing the fruits of their labor,” he said. “We have to go about it a certain type of way, whether it’s doing work in the weight room and classroom. All that stuff translates to game.”

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