The ECI football team will make the trip to McRae Saturday, November 16, to face Telfair County in the first round of the Class A Division 2 playoffs. The Bulldogs will enter the playoffs as the number 4 seed with a 7-3 season record.
Telfair is number 1 seed after defeating Wilcox Co 30-28 Friday to determine the champion from region 4 with an 8-2 season record. This is the first ever region championship for the Trojans. Telfair knocked ECI out of the playoffs in 2022 in the first round.
Region 3 seeding was already determined two weeks ago with Metter, Jenkins, McIntosh and ECI; the playoff teams in that order.
ECI faced Metter Friday night in the last regular season game. Although having no meaning in the final region seeding, the two teams are each other’s biggest rivalry with bragging rights on the menu.
The Bulldogs jumped on the Tigers early in the first quarter 10-0 and had all the momentum before Metter reeled off 28 unanswered points the last 3 quarters to defeat the Bulldogs 28-10. After conducting a flawless first drive to open the game, the Bulldogs struck first on the fifth play of the game. Jackson Kennedy faked the defense, keeping the ball to ramble 33 yards to the corner of the endzone to put the Bulldogs up 7-0 early in the opening quarter. The Bulldogs extended their lead on their next possession with a Oisin Matthews 35-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs up 10-0 in the first quarter. Metter got their first points of the game midway through second quarter. A Kennedy pass was picked off on a diving interception by the Tiger defender deep in Bulldog territory. Metter scored a few plays later to close the Bulldog lead 10-7 at halftime. The Tigers took their first lead of the game 13-10 with 6:16 left in the third quarter. Penalties after big gains and turnovers plagued the Bulldogs the second half and they could not muster another scoring drive. Metter put 15 more points on the board in the fourth quarter to give the Bulldogs their third loss of the season, 28-10.
In other region 3 vs region 4 first round playoff games, Metter will host 4 seed Hawkinsville, Jenkins Co. will host 3 seed Wheeler Co. and McIntosh will travel to Rochelle to face number 2 seed Wilcox Co.