The Escambia Academy Cougars dominated the Coosa Valley Rebels in the first round of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) playoffs with a 45-14 victory Friday in Canoe. The win advances the Cougars to 9-2 on the season.
EA never trailed in the contest and also drew first blood when Patrick McGee returned a punt 90 yards for the game's first score. The Cougars missed the ensuing 2-point conversion, but led 6-0 with 7:25 left in the first quarter.
The Cougars added points with a field goal for the first time since 2014 when kicker Sam Martin put the ball through the uprights with a 33-yarder, making the score 9-0 with 52 seconds left in the first quarter of play.
The Rebels failed to capitalize on any possessions and EA continued to dominate when Shannon Wheat scored with an 11-yard run in the second quarter. The PAT, kicked by Martin, was good and put the Cougars up 16-0 with 8:41 left in the second quarter.
EA's Jason Davis capitalized on an interception and scored on a 3-yard run. Martin once again had a solid kick and the Cougars led the Rebels 23-0 in the second quarter.
Coosa Valley finally got on the scoreboard with a 52-yard pass from Brayson Edwards. The PAT was no good, making the score 23-6 with the Cougars still in the lead.
Wheat received the ensuing kickoff and ran for a 70-yard touchdown return, putting EA up 29-6. Martin's extra-point kick sailed through the uprights and the Cougars ended second-quarter scoring leading 30-6.
With neither team adding points in the third quarter, Davis opened up play with a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter. Chase Bell added points with the 2-point conversion, making the score 38-6 with 9:54 left in the game.
The Cougar's Brandon Gulsby added to the lead with an 8-yard touchdown run. The extra point was scored by Martin, putting the Cougars up 45-6 with 10:28 left in the fourth quarter.
The Rebels scored on a 2-yard run by Jacob Brooks and a successful 2-point conversation led to the final, 45-14 tally.
The Cougars finished the night 213 yards of total offense, with 178 coming on the ground. Davis led the Cougars in rushing with eight carries for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Daughtery McGee had seven carries for 40 yards. Quarterback Jabe Dawe rounded things out with 35 yards through the air.
The Cougars move on to play in the AISA Class 2A semifinals, as they host Edgewood Academy Friday night in Canoe. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
