Escambia Academy had its lowest rushing total of the season at 72 yards and despite an early flash was stuck in poor field position most of the night as Bessemer Academy rolled to a 31-7 win Friday night in Canoe, snapping EA's 12-game home winning streak.
“The poor field position hurt us all night,” said head coach Hugh Fountain. “The offense was bogged down with the lowest rushing output of the season.”
Escambia Academy (4-2) will look to rebound tonight (Thursday) when the Cougars travel to Hooper Academy for a AISA Class 2A, Region 2 battle. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
EA's Daughtry McGhee intercepted a Bessemer pass in the first quarter that set up a 6-yard scoring run by Patrick McGhee. Sam Martin kicked the PAT and the Cougars led 7-0.
The lead was short-lived with Bessemer scoring on a 4-yard run and adding the PAT to deadlock the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Bessemer's Jonah Thompson added rushing touchdowns of 14 and 62 yards in the second quarter and Jackson Stewart's two PATs gave Bessemer a 21-7 lead at the half.
EA's offense stayed behind the chains most of the second half. Bessemer stretched its lead to 28-7 early in the third quarter on a 38-yard run and Stewart kicked a 37-yard field goal to make the score 31-7.
Neither team scored in the fourth.
“We really did not play with the intensity level and togetherness as a team that we expect,” Fountain said. “We didn't run the ball well or tackle well. But you have give Bessemer some credit for that.”
In addition to the 72 yards rushing, Jabe Dawe hit on six of 13 passes for 52 yards to give the Cougars a total offensive effort of 124, also a season low. Patrick McGhee led the rushing attack with 52 yards on 14 carries. Chase Bell caught three passes for 32 yards.
Bessemer rushed for 290 yards and picked up 63 through the air for a total offensive effort of 353 yards
