By By Chandler Myers
It was three yards and a puddle of mud for Escambia Academy Friday night as the Cougars were able to run all over the Autauga Generals, 30-6.
Despite an hour rain delay and wet field conditions, the Cougars (2-1) were able to keep their footing and chalk up 343 yards on the ground and put on a show for the home crowd.
EA head coach Heath Gibson said he was proud of the effort his team put forth in picking up the team’s second win of the season.
The Cougars were able to score early in the first half on a 5-yard run by senior running back Jon Dean, who also added the two-point conversion. The second half was scoreless as the Generals were not able to get anything going offensively or overcome the Cougars’ stingy defense. EA took an 8-0 lead into the locker room.
The Cougars came out running again in the second half as Dean raced his way into the end zone from 58 yards out and added another two-point conversion to add to the home team’s lead, 16-0.
The General’s again were unproductive offensively, rendering the ball to the home team. Escambia Academy marched the ball down the field and Dean capped it off with a 1-yard run following a facemask penalty. Sophomore running back Jaylen Henry added the two-point conversion to give the Cougars a commanding 24-0 lead.
In the fourth quarter, sophomore fullback Braxton Chastang added to the Cougars’ lead as he danced his way into the end zone from 28 yards out. The two-point conversion failed, but EA maintained a commanding lead, 30-0.
With just over a minute left to play, Autauga was able to thread a pass between to defenders to score from 10 yards out. The two-point conversion failed.
Gibson said winning the second game of the season was huge for his team’s confidence and even bigger since it was in conference.
As for the difference in the game, Gibson said it was his team’s ability to play hard from the time the whistle blew.
“We were really physical in the game and took it to them and then wore them down by the third quarter,” he said.
The Generals Head Coach Mike Sims agreed.
Dean led the Cougars with 188 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions on 25 carries. Henry ran for 62 yards on nine carries and Cowboy McGhee had 48 yards on eight carries.
Sophomore linebacker Ethan Linam anchored EA’s defense with 14 tackles. Cowboy McGhee added nine tackles and senior defensive lineman Will Hendrix had five tackles and one sack. Dean also finished the night with five tackles.
Next week, the Cougars travel to Greensboro to take on a powerful Southern Academy team.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.