2024 Team Previews
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Escambia Academy Cougars |
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Head Coach: Gex Billups (second season) Career Record: 1 season, (3-8) At Escambia Academy: one season, (3-8) Stadium: Bachelor Field |
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall Record: 285-285-6 (50.0%) Last 25 years: 158-129 (55.0%) (Rank: 13 in the AISA) Since 2010: 113-57 (66.5%) (Rank: 5 in the AISA) Last Playoff Appearance: 2023 Last Region Championship: 2020 Last Winning Season: 2021 Last Losing Season: 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class: AA
Region: 2
Record: 3-8 Region Record: 1-3, (fourth) Playoff Record: First round loss to Chambers Academy by a score of 55-18. Final ASWA Poll: Not Ranked Scoring: 293 (26.6) Defense: 388 (35.3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class: AAA
Region: 2
Strength of Schedule: 52-53 (50%) (13th in the AISA, 8th in Class AAA) Region Strength: 21-26 (45%) Non-Region Strength: 31-27 (53%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2024 Preview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Escambia Academy finished the 2023 season with a disappointing 3-8 record. With their 1-3 region record and a fourth place finish in Class AA region two, the Cougars earned a spot in the playoffs in 2023. Escambia Academy's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Chambers Academy by a score of 55-18. The Cougars lost as many games as in any season since 2008. Since 2010, Escambia Academy has gone a combined 113-57. Their 66.5% winning percentage ranks 5th in Class AAA over the past fourteen seasons. Over the past 25 seasons, Escambia Academy has managed to compile a record of 158-129. Their 55.0% winning percentage ranks 8th in Class AAA and 13th in the AISA. Graduated All-State Players: Escambia Academy lost AISA All-State defensive back Quinton Odom to graduation. He was named to the first team last season. Also graduating was teammate defensive lineman Zeke McElhaney. Head Coach: The Cougars are led by head coach Gex Billups who is entering his second season at the helm. His team finished with a 3-8 record in his first season at Escambia Academy. Under his direction the Cougars have qualified for the playoffs once. They have not won a region crown with Coach Billups. Season Outlook: The Escambia Academy Cougars will play in Class AAA region two during the 2024 season. The Cougars move up in classification to Class AAA. They may find the going slightly tougher with the move. The Cougars have a good shot at one of the last two playoff slots in region two this season. They have qualified for the playoffs every year since 2010 and are hopeful to continue that streak in 2024. Season Opener: The Cougars open the 2024 season on the road against non-region opponent Jackson Academy on Friday, August 30 at McCorquodale Stadium. Last year the Jackson Academy Eagles finished with an overall record of 9-3 and in second place in Class A region two. The Eagles lost in the semi-finals round of the Class A playoffs to Lowndes Academy by a score of 48-14. Escambia Academy and Jackson Academy have met a total of 22 times on the football field. The Cougars have a 12-10-0 record against the Eagles. They last met in 2023 with Jackson Academy winning by a score of 46-18. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.
Luverne 'Toad' Wise was the first female football player in Alabama and may have been the first in the country. She was a kicker for the Escambia County Blue Devils in 1939-40.