Written by Jim DeWitt

Faith Academy (2-3) fell below the .500 mark Friday, Sept. 24, falling to non-region foe Escambia County (4-1) 28-17 on Homecoming night.

The game was a tale of two halves. The Rams, behind the running of Cameron Westry and domination by the offensive line, controlled the first half to lead 17-14 at intermission.

Escambia County head coach Mark Heaton and his staff made the necessary adjustments at halftime, Westry went down with an injury, and the Blue Devil defense pitched a shutout in the second half.

Bracy Murry gave the Rams a quick start, returning the opening kickoff out to the Faith 49-yard line. From there, the Rams launched a 51-yard scoring drive, capped by Westry's 3-yard scoring run. Garrett Gartman kicked the PAT to give the Rams a 7-0 lead with 8:32 remaining in the first quarter.

The Faith Academy defense quickly came up with a stop, forcing a Blue Devil punt, and the Rams began moving the ball effectively on the ground with the running of Westry and Jacoby Ruffin. However, the Rams elected to throw the ball on a third down play deep in Escambia County territory and Blue Devil defensive back Demetric Henderson picked off Charles Drinkard's pass and raced 75 yards for a touchdown. Tyler Nero kicked the PAT for a 7-7 tie with 3:00 minutes to play in the period.

Less than two minutes later, Faith answered with a 21-yard touchdown run by Westry. Gartman's PAT gave the Rams a 14-7 lead with 1:05 left.

Escambia County tied the game early in the second quarter on a 31-yard scoring pass from quarterback Ricco Stallworth to running back Neiko Williams. Nero kicked the PAT to make it 14-14 with 10:49 to play.

Gartman booted a 27-yard field goal at the 1:00 mark to give the Rams a 17-14 lead at the half.

Escambia County took the lead early in the third quarter. The elusive Stallworth hit Davi Salter on a 47-yard touchdown pass and Nero kicked the PAT for a 21-17 lead with 10:32 to play.

The Blue Devils closed out the scoring with 9:55 left in the fourth quarter on Christopher Smith's 4-yard run.

Faith Academy hosts Spanish Fort (4-1) Friday, while Escambia Academy travels to Thomasville (5-0), ranked No. 2 in the state among 4A schools.