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Escambia Academy will hit the road once again this week as the Cougars face No. 8 Bessemer Academy.

The Cougars enter the week 3-2 overall, while the Rebels sit at 4-3.

BA’s only losses were Tuscaloosa Academy, Autauga Academy and MRA out of Mississippi. All three losses were to ranked teams.

Last week, EA defeated Patrician Academy 35-7 behind a strong offensive performance by Jason Davis and Shannon Wheat, who scored two touchdowns apiece.

EA head football coach Hugh Fountain said Bessemer’s overall team speed stands out to him.

“They’re big and strong and quick on the defensive front,” he said. “They’re just solid like they’ve always been. They’re always solid in the kicking game.”

Leading the Rebels’ offense are Jarvis Dancy, a junior, at running back and Joshua McMillon, a senior, at running back and wide receiver. Dance has racked up 620 yards and scored four touchdowns, while McMillon has 358 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and 354 yards on 24 receptions and one score in the air.

Quarterback PJ McDonald, a junior, has 1,075 yards and 10 touchdowns on 71-of-101 in passing.

Fountain said McDonald is an elusive quarterback, but their offense comes down to Dancy and McMillon.

Defensively, Judson Hogeland, a senior, has 48 tackles so far this season. Lebbeus Overton, a freshman defensive end, has 38 tackles and 10 sacks.

Fountain said a challenge for the Cougars will be negating the Rebels’ speed.

“Anybody you’re playing somebody like them, of course you want to hold the ball,” he said. “Whether you can or can’t, it relies on their being a good team. We’re just going to have to come out and play good, balanced football and get after it very hard.”

Last season, the Cougars 31-7 to BA at home.

Fountain said the boys played hard during the first couple of possessions, but let up the rest of the game.

This year, it’s going to be a competitive game, he said.

“They’re obviously one of the better teams in AISA,” Fountain said. “We’re their homecoming opponent. We’ve been on the road — three out of the last five games — that it’s nothing new to us.”