Escambia Academy raced to a 35-0 halftime lead and coasted to a 35-14 homecoming win over visiting Hooper Academy Friday night.
The Cougars (4-3) will be back in action this Friday night when they travel to South Choctaw Academy.
“It's always tough to focus with homecoming activities, but I was proud of how we started,” said head football coach Hugh Fountain. “Fumbles seem to be a big problem that we need to correct. We do play hard and that makes any coach happy.”
The victory moved the Cougars to 3-0 in region play and they can clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win over South Choctaw this Friday.
Jason Davis opened the scoring for EA on a 2-yard run early in the first quarter and Orlando Medea added the PAT to give EA an early 7-0 lead.
Landon Sims then hit Ty Williams on a 39-yard touchdown pass and Medea's PAT gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Daughtry McGee scored on a 12-yard run to open the second quarter and Medea's PAT gave EA a 21-0 lead.
Sims connected again with Williams on a 72-yard touchdown run and following Medea's PAT, the Cougars had stretched the lead to 28-0.
It was Sims to Williams again late in the second quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass and following Medea's PAT Escambia Academy took a 35-0 lead at the half.
Hooper added a touchdown in the third quarter on a 58-yard run and one in the fourth on a 29-yard pass for the final margin of 35-14.
Sims and Williams connected for 229 yards in the game and Williams caught a school record three touchdown passes in the first half on seven catches for 205 yards.
Fountain also said the defensive line of Jayson Helton, Randal Bonds, Tyrese Smith and Brady Howell held the Hooper offense to negative yardage until the Cougars emptied the bench early in the third quarter.
On the night, EA picked up 191 yards rushing and 229 through the air for a total offensive effort of 420. Hooper had 83 yards rushing and 29 yards passing for a total effort of 112.
Sims connected on eight of 13 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns.
