Blue Devils top Clarke County 21-15; win 1st homecoming in 6 years

Published 1:13 am Saturday, October 5, 2019

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“If I had to describe this game, it would be that we played with controlled rage, we shot ourselves in the foot, but we grew up.”

That’s how Escambia County head football coach Scott Mason described the Blue Devils’ 21-15 region and homecoming win over Clarke County Friday in Atmore.

With this victory, the Blue Devils improve to 4-2 overall, and 3-1 in Class 4A, Region 1. ECHS hosts Andalusia next week in region play. AHS beat Williamson 21-0 on Friday.

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Additionally, this homecoming win was Escambia County’s first in six years.

Before the game began, the weather rolled in, delaying the start time to 8 p.m. as severe thunderstorms swept through the area.

Mason said the team was elated, until it rained before the game.

“When it rained, it took half of our offense away from us,” he said. “We’re not big enough and physical enough yet to be that down hill running team I want to be.”

Leading 14-7 with 8:27 left in the second quarter, the second delay occurred. Officials stopped the game because of lightning, and play didn’t resume until approximately 9:35 p.m.

Late in the second quarter, and after recovering a punt with 35.9 seconds to go, ECHS senior quarterback Jacob Hammac connected with Keon Malone on a 31-yard strike to go up 21-7 after a successful extra point kick by Aaron Colvis.

With the ground being wet, turnovers ruled the third quarter.

Clarke County answered late in the third with a 2-yard touchdown rush from Jaryian Jackson up the middle. The Bulldogs couldn’t get the PAT kick off, but scrambled and converted the 2-point conversion, instead to cut the lead.

The Blue Devils held a shifty Bulldogs offense, notably on third and fourth down late in the fourth quarter, and sealed the win by intercepting Jackson with 49.1 seconds left.

Mason said even though the game was mistake filled and penalty ridden, the wind has changed in Atmore.

“We’re not the same bunch we were when I got here,” he said. “They’re not the same bunch they were five years ago. It’s changing, and I feel it. It’s hard to turn around a ship, but once you get it lined out, you’ve got it.

“We’re fighting against things that happened two, three years ago,” he said. “It’s engrained in them to have let downs. Winning is a teachable thing. We’ve just got to get sharper.”

In other region and county actin, W.S. Neal defeated Monroe County 51-12.

Amon Craig and I. Bonam scored two touchdowns each; and Ezekiel Smith, Samuel Bosarge and Dashawn Smith added one score apiece to help lead the Eagles in the win.

WSN had 314 yards on offense, compared to MCHS’s 166.

Next week, WSN visits Williamson.

Bessemer Academy 31, Escambia Academy 17

Escambia Academy led 17-14 at halftime and lost four fumbles in the second half to fall 31-17 at Bessemer Academy Friday.

EA head football coach Hugh Fountain said the Cougars only punted one time to Bessemer’s four in the deciding half.

The Cougars racked up more than 300 yards of offense, compared to BA’s 230.

EA hosts Hooper Academy next Friday for homecoming.