EA advances to AISA Class 2A state semis

Escambia Academy defensive coordinator Mike Sims gave one objective to Shannon “LoLo” Wheat late in the second quarter — score.

Wheat took the ball 71 yards for a touchdown on a kickoff with 3.9 seconds left in the first half for his second score of the night to help lead the Cougars to a 45-14 victory over Coosa Valley at Bachelor Field in Canoe.

Wheat scored his first touchdown some 8 minutes earlier from the 11 after Jabe Dawe caught an interception less than a minute earlier.

In addition to Wheat, Jabo Davis added two touchdowns from 2 and 6 yards.

EA head football coach Hugh Fountain agreed that the Cougars’ defense played well, along with the offense.

“They didn’t hold us very much,” Fountain said. “We had a lot of penalties early in the game. We seemed to move the ball up and down the field on them. I thought we played pretty good in the game.”

With the victory, the fifth-ranked Cougars advance to the AISA Class 2A state semifinals, where they’ll host Edgewood next week. Edgewood beat Clarke Prep 42-0 tonight.

The penalties Fountain referred to occurred after EA went ahead 6-0 in the first quarter. Three touchdowns were called back due to penalties.

In the third quarter, Coosa played with vigor, and EA answered. Things got heated early in the period with two players being ejected.

Fountain said the boys ran the ball well, noting that they utilized a multitude of running backs.

“We seemed to have a good mojo of the game,” he said. “We were really establishing the run.”

Fountain said it was a good environment tonight as it did feel like playoff weather. The temperature dipped to the mid 40s by the horn.

EA got on board when senior running back Patrick McGhee ran a punt return back 85 yards for a touchdown with 7:25 in the opening quarter. He later exited the game late in the first because he wasn’t feeling well, Fountain said, and sat the rest of the game out.

To set the one later in the first half, EA’s Daughtry McGhee caught an interception one handed. Chase Bell had an interception as the clock expired in the first half.

The following are the scoring plays of the game:

 

First quarter:

• McGhee ran the ball back 85 yards on a punt return;
• Sam Martin kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52.6 seconds left;

 

Second quarter:

• Wheat ran the ball 11 yards for a score;
• Jabo Davis rushed the ball 2 yards;
• Coosa’s Reid Maddox caught a 52-yard touchdown reception;
• Wheat ran the ball back 71 yards on the ensuing kick off;

 

Third quarter:

• Davis rushed 6 yards for a touchdown with 9:54 left, and Bell converted a 2-point conversion;

 

Fourth quarter:

• Brandon Gulsby rushed it in from 7 yards;
• Coosa’s Brayson Edwards rushed it in from 1 yard out with 2:05 left.