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Cougars to battle Hooper for playoff spot

Escambia Academy has an important region contest this Friday as the Cougars face Hooper Academy for homecoming in Canoe.

The Cougars fell 31-17 to Bessemer Academy last week during a non AISA Class 2A, Region 2 contest. EA sits at 3-3 overall, and 2-0 in region play.

For EA to clinch a berth in the playoffs and secure home field, it will need to win this Friday’s game. To win the region title, EA will need to win the next two games. Next week, EA visits South Choctaw in region action.

EA head football coach Hugh Fountain said this week’s game is very important for the program, not only for playoff purposes, but because it’s homecoming.

“For us, the most important thing about this week is the game itself,” he said. “All of the activities, and everything culminates to the game on Friday night. Everything leads to that.”

During last week’s loss, EA racked up more than 300 yards of offense, compared to Bessemer’s 230.

Hooper defeated Fort Dale, a 3A school, 41-24 on Oct. 4 during regular-season action.

Fountain said HA has size and speed in places, and like to spread and throw the ball.

Fountain said it’s going to be important for the players to play well, especially now that the key part of the season begins.

“I think throughout the first part of the season, we have progressively gotten better,” he said. “But, we’re still continuously making the same mistakes. We’ve gone back and tried to look at those mistakes we’ve made, and tried to get better.

“We’ve got to learn to have more discipline on a drive, and not turn the ball over, and just not have any mental mistakes,” he added.

Kick off at Bachelor Field is at 7 p.m.