After 12 days, high school football is back in the Pensacola area.
Schools reopen today after being out more than a week for Hurricane Isaias, and Escambia High School makes its return to the field when it travels to Fort Walton Beach.
Here's what to know and a prediction for the matchup. After Pensacola Catholic beat Freeport on Oct. 7 in the lone game featuring Escambia and Santa Rosa County teams the last two weeks, I'm now 48-17 on the season.
Escambia (1-4, 0-2 District 1-4A) at Fort Walton Beach (3-4, 2-0 District 1-4A)
When: Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Where: Steve Riggs Stadium
Last meeting: 2023-Escambia 37, Fort Walton Beach 0
Key players: Escambia QB Cornelius Barge Jr., RB Jaquez Luttley, WR Javontae Gray, LB Cardel Wilkins, DB Cortell Cunningham, DL Tobias Johnson, DL Justus Payne, DB Zamonte Files; Fort Walton Beach QB Lavon McDaniel, RB Elijah Donson, RB Tyshaun Montgomery, WR Cannon Wilbur, WR Landon McKuhen, LB Jrue Lee, LB Micah Johnson, LB Judah Witherspoon-Seay, DL/OL Xavier Richardson, LB Carmello Thomas, FS Keishawn Bradley, DB Dylan Baughman
Quick look: Both teams have been waiting a long time for this one. Escambia last played on Oct. 1 and was skunked 41-0 by Choctawhatchee, a 4A state semifinalist a year ago. Fort Walton Beach last played Oct. 2, suffering a stunning 31-26 loss at Navarre. This one was supposed to be on Oct. 16 before it was pushed back three days.
Okaloosa County reopened schools on Thursday, meaning the Vikings have had a bit more time to prepare for this one. Escambia practiced Saturday and will play two games in four days, with their next game against Milton on Oct. 22 at Emmitt Smith Field.
Fort Walton Beach has been much better against Pensacola area teams at home, beating Pensacola 41-6 and Milton at Steve Riggs Stadium by a combined score of 69-6. Coming west has been a different story, as the Vikings won at Gulf Breeze 35-21 but also lost at West Florida and Navarre. They're also playing for head coach Josh Pulliam, who is currently undergoing treatment for adenocarcinoma.
Escambia had played all close games before being thumped by Choctaw, with its first four games all decided by possession games. The Gators have a talented defensive front led by two FIU commits in Johnson and Payne, but have struggled at times defending the pass. They've been anemic on offense too, scoring just 43 points in five games. The talent is there on both sides the ball, but hasn't put it together just yet. It may be a tough ask to do it on the road after a turbulent week.
Prediction: Fort Walton Beach 20, Escambia 14
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: What to know as Escambia football returns after Hurricane Isaias