Cougars fall in close game to No. 2 Glenwood
Published 11:17 pm Friday, August 28, 2020
Escambia Academy's Landon Sims throws during last week's game. The Cougars defeated Patrician tonight 49-24 in region action. | Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance
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T.R. Miller downs Escambia County; Flomaton tops Ariton on the road
Escambia Academy fell 24-22 to No. 2 Glenwood Friday night at Bachelor Field in Canoe.
The No. 6 Cougars and Gators were notched at 14-all at halftime.
To start the third quarter, Glenwood’s Aaron-Joshua Harris returned the opening kick off for a touchdown at the 11:46 mark.
Harris scooped up a pooch kick, found room in the middle and found paydirt a short distance away.
In the first half, the Gators scored on a blocked punt and a pick six.
EA head football coach Hugh Fountain said it was a frustrating loss because the team kept hurting itself.
“We just killed ourselves,” Fountain. “They’re a really good team, we weren’t able to do the little things. You can’t be a really good football team, and do those type of things.
“We just didn’t do the little things right in those critical moments,” he said.
Soon after the Gators’ kick off score, the Cougars took advantage of a fumble recovery and answered on their next possession.
Cougars running back Bubba Nettles ran it in 3 yards for the score with 6:28 left in the third qurater. Daughtry McGhee ran it in for the 2-point conversion and EA led 22-21.
Defensive penalties on the Gators’ next offensive possession put the Phenix City team well into Cougars territory, where kicker Garrett Hall nailed a 31-yards with 3:27 left for the deciding score.
In the fourth quarter, the Cougars (1-1) tried for a field goal with 8:51 to go, but a delay of game penalty brought the ball back.
Fountain said he felt like his kicker wasn’t in range, and instead, called for a play. Quarterback Landon Sims was sacked on the next play.
“It might would’ve been a better choice,” Fountain said of the field goal.”I said, ‘Hey, we might as well go for a play.’ We had been making plays offensively and they weren’t stopping us.”
Late in the fourth, the Cougars put together a couple of good drives.
Next week, EA visits Patrician Academy to start AISA Class 2A, Region 2 play.
Fountain said it’s going to be quite important for the team to practice well next week.
T.R. Miller 29, Escambia County 0
Despite a 29-0 loss to T.R. Miller, Escambia County head football coach Scott Mason said he was proud of his team’s effort Friday.
“We were much better, much improved,” Mason said, a week after a season-opening 26-0 loss to Bayside Academy. “We had several kids out this week for several reasons, including illness. We took some precautions. That hurt us. We lost two running backs, and were down to one tonight.
“We have a ot of young kids having to play,” he said. “We had two tough opponents early. With no spring, they’re having to grow up now. They’re having to learn the hard way.”
TRM’s Orlando Gandy Jr. punched it in from 2 yards with 1:17 left in the first half, and with the extra point, the Tigers went ahead 15-0.
Landon Barrentine scored the first TD of the night on a 2-yard dash; and Miller Hart completed a pass to Wyn Brittan for the 2-point conversion earlier in the first quarter.
Mason said his defense played well in the second quarter.
“Our defense is solid,” he said. “Offensively, that’s where it’s showing up right now. We’ve got such young kids on the O-line and a young quarterback. We have some freshmen playing in skill positions. They made some mental errors that effected us. It’s just the nature of it.”
Next week, the Blue Devils host Mobile Christian, who beat UMS-Wright 25-24 in overtime.
Flomaton 29, Ariton 20
Flomaton defeated Ariton 29-20 in its season opener on Friday night.
Canes head football coach Doug Vickery said he thought the players played well.
“We didn’t play a game last week, and this was Ariton’s second game,” Vickery said. “It was an adjustment for some young guys. We had some young guys learn to play and adjust on the fly.
“Overall, physically we played well,” he said. “Defensively, in the second half, we adjusted well.”
Jaheem Durant led the Hurricanes with 184 yards on 35 carries and two touchdowns; Zeb Vickery went 4-for-6 with 58 yards a a score; and Deontay Averette had 42 yards on three carries and a touchdown.
Flomaton compiled 341 yards of offense in the win.
Vickery said the game was a good road environment for the younger players, adding that this only helps the team get better.
Vickery said the Canes were down some starters, but didn’t say for what reason.
Next week, FHS is slated to play Maplesville in a no contest game.
