BY HEATHER STONE
SPORTS WRITER

The W. S. Neal Eagles ran away with a 27-6 victory over the Escambia County High School Blue Devils Friday night, improving to 2-0 in their first home game of the season. The Eagles had a total of 234 yards rushing and 29 yards passing in the win, while holding ECHS to only 105 yards total, 83 of which were rushing.
The Eagles had no turnovers in the game, and the entire team worked for the win. Head coach Doug Hoehn said, “I’m pleased with no turnovers, and I’m especially pleased with some of the kids who had to go in and play for some of the kids who were cramping.”
The Eagles gained 133 of their total 260 yards of offense in the first half, 118 of that rushing, while holding the Blue Devils to only 3 yards rushing and 16 yards passing before halftime.
W.S. Neal gained a total of 10 first downs in the game and held Escambia County to only two.
Coach Hoehn gives some of the credit for the win to the support the team receives from the school. “Whenever we get to play in front of our own folks, it’s important, and the kids are excited about it. We had a good pep rally today. Kim Waller does a great job with the band, and that really helps our kids. Kelli Grace does a good job with the cheerleaders. Our faculty are great. They build the kids up. The hype just gets bigger and bigger each Friday, and we need that. The kids need to know they’re supported,” Hoehn said.