By By Adam Robinson
sports editor
In a game that looked like it was going to be dominated by safeties, an exciting fourth quarter for the W.S. Neal Middle School Eagles turned to sadness as a tremendous late comeback ended with a 10-8 loss to Escambia County Middle School Thursday night in East Brewton.
It was just the first loss on the season for W.S. Neal as they fell to 2-1.
After trailing 4-0 at the end of the third quarter due to two safeties, W.S. Neal was finally able to put some points on the board thanks to a defensive safety of their own to cut the Escambia County lead to 4-2 with just 4:45 left in the game.
After an interception on offense after the free kick turned the ball back over to Escambia County, the Eagles of Escambia Middle School added to their lead after an 11-yard touchdown to make the lead 10-2 with 2:45 left in the game after the two-point conversion failed.
The W.S. Neal Eagles would not give up, after a 20-yard run by T.J. Davis moved the ball to the midfield stripe. After an eleven-yard run on the next play by Ashton Elliott moved the ball to the 39-yard line, two negative rushing plays moved the ball back to the 46-yard line. After a penalty on Escambia County moved the ball to the 41-yard line, W.S. Neal quarterback Elliott connected with Davis again on third down for a 31 yard pass reception to moved the ball to the 10-yard line setting up a first-and-goal with just 37.6 seconds to go.
Elliott then connected with Gene Owens for a 10-yard touchdown cutting the lead to 10-8 with 29.2 left in the game. After on onside kick was recovered by W.S. Neal, an incomplete pass on first down and an interception on second down ended the valiant comeback as Neal lost 10-8.
Marquese Banks led W.S. Neal in the rushing category as he had 42 yards on the night. Davis finished with 22 yards rushing and 31 yards receiving on the night. Elliott was 4-for-9 passing with 47 yards and three interceptions.