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Escambia County Tops Miller In OT; Tate Falls To West Florida; Clarke Beats Escambia Academy

Friday night was the first regular season games for Escambia County High School and Escambia Academy in Alabama, and the Tate Aggies played a little preseason football in Florida.

Escambia County 35 T.R. Miller 34 (OT)

It was a nail-biter in Atmore Friday night as the Escambia County High School Blue Devils beat the T.R. Miller Tigers 35-34 in overtime.

The Blue Devils took the lead 7-0 in the first with a five-yard run from Rico Stallworth. But Miller answered with an Anthony Herbert touchdown to even it up at 7-7 in the first.  Herber scored again, and with a missed point after, the Tigers held a 13-7 lead. The Blue Devils would strike again just before the half with Chris Smith in for six for one yard out. A good extra point, and the Blue Devils were up 14-13 heading into halftime.

Stallworth added another TD in the fourth. A good extra point, the Blue Devils were back on top 21-13. The Tigers picked up a two-yard touchdown and missed the two-point conversion to make the ECHS lead 21-19 . Smith was in again with about two minutes to go in the ballgame from a couple of yards out. After a missed extra point, ECHS was on top 27-19.

But it was not over, as the Tigers scored again and made a two point conversion to tie the game 27-27 with under a minute on the clock.

In overtime, T.R. Miller drove to the one and was in for six. The kick was good, and Miller was up 34-27. The Blue Devils took possession and drove to the one. On fourth down, Stallworth was in again for a one-yard touchdown. It was Stallworth again for the two-point conversion, and the Blue Devils took the win 35-34.

For the T.R. Miller Tigers, it was their first game without Coach Donnie Rotch on the field or in the stand. Rotch, who died in a traffic crash earlier this month in Brewton, was honored by his beloved Tigers with special helmet decal.

For Escambia County High School, Friday night was the regular season coaching debut for former Northview High School  Coach Mark Heaton.

Escambia County will be on the road next Friday against B.C. Rain while the T.R. Miller Tigers will travel to Bayside Academy.

West Florida 21 Tate 20

The regular season in Florida does not start until next Friday night, but the West Florida Tech Jaguars and the Tate Aggies met in a Kickoff Classic Fiday night at Woodham Middle School. The Jaguars came out on top, 21-20.

Defense was not the name of the game for either team; both teams scored on every drive before the clock ran out. Antawn Carter scored for the Jags on 76-year, 10-play drive. Then it was Tate’s turn, with quarterback Nathaniel “Thumper” Grice with a 34-yard TD run. A missed two-pointer, and the Jags were up 7-6.

The Jags drover it in again, capped by a touchdown pass from Kyle Faxlanger to Jake Morris. 14-6. It was Tate’s turn to score again, with Lorenzo Long, a running back, with a 27-yard run. On West Florida’s next drive, Faxlanger tossed to Jake Morris for another TD. The Aggies answered after a 14-play drive ending with a three-yarder  running back Josh Dees. Long got the two point conversion.

Last year, the Aggies won the matchup 35-0.

The Aggies will be at Washington High School next Friday night at 7:30 in a non-district game.

Clarke Prep Academy 51 Escambia Academy 30

It was a tough night on the road for the Escambia Academy Cougars as they lost to  Clarke Prep Academy 51-30.  It was the first regional game of the year for the Cougars (1-1, 0-1).

The Gators had just over 500 yards on the ground in their defeat of the Cougars, who were ranked ninth in the Alabama Independent School Association going into the game.

Escambia Academy will be at home in Canoe, Ala., next Friday night as they host Jackson.