The Bulldogs hosted Johnson Co. Friday when the Trojans visited Rountree Stadium in their second rivalry game of the season.
Although not in the same region any longer, the Trojans and Metter were still the two rivals the Bulldogs had on their non-region schedule this season that they play each year.
The Bulldogs defeated the Trojans Friday, not allowing Johnson Co. to score until the third quarter, to take the low scoring game, 15-7.
“This was a typical ECI vs Johnson Co. game,” commented coach Chris Kearson. Both teams laid it on the line and fought tooth and nail to the last whistle. They always do a good job preparing for us and we knew it was going to be a fist fight. I’m proud of the growth of this team and what the future has in store for them.”
The Bulldogs controled the first half against the Trojans, holding Johnson Co. to just 41 yards of offense, 4 yards in the first quarter and 37 in the second.
The Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and marched from their own 23 to a first and goal at Trojan 9 yardline on 17 plays before a holding penalty pushed them back to the 19. Unable to push it across from there, the Bulldogs called on kicker Oisin Matthews. The junior split the uprights to put the Bulldogs up 3-0.
The Bulldog defense would add to the ECI lead on the first play of the game for Johnson Co. James Parker snagged a Trojan pass and ran it back for a 45 yard pick 6 to put the Bulldogs up 9-0 in the first quarter.
Neither team was able to put points on the board in the second quarter with the half ending in a 9-0 Bulldog lead.
Finding success on the outer edges of the Bulldog defense, the Trojans put their first points on the board in the third quarter to make the score 9-7 with 4:30 left in the quarter.
The Bulldogs began their next scoring drive on their own 44. Setup by a Brian Steele 28 yard run on the first play, Tyle Foreman extended the 2 point lead on a 22 yard scamper to the corner of the endzone for a Bulldog touchdown. Two point try was no good and the Bulldogs led 15-7 late in the third quarter.
With just one score and two point coversion away from tying the game the Trojans got the ball down to the Bulldog 5 yardline midway in the fourth quarter.
Hanging on to a 8 point lead the Bulldog defense stood the wall forcing JOCO to turn the ball over on downs at the ECI six yardline with 5 minutes still left in the game.
The Bulldogs grounded out 3 back breaking first downs, taking a knee 49 yards later to run out the clock and preserve the 15-7 win.
The Bulldogs rushed for 220 yards, while limiting the Trojans to just 130 yards.
Leading rushers for the Bulldogs were Brian Steele 9 carries for 77 yards, Eric Boddiford 13 carries for 64, and Tyler Foreman rushing 9 times for 54 yards.
The Bulldogs have one more non region game this Friday before they begin region play against Portal on October 13.
Friday they will travel up to Jeffeson Co. High School to face the Warriors at Warrior Stadium.
