The 2026 regular football season begins this week for most Georgia high schools. ECI will open their season Friday night at Rountree Stadium when they host their longest-running rivalry opponent, the Metter Tigers.
Last Friday, the Bulldogs traveled to Wrightsville to take on Johnson County in their final preseason scrimmage. ECI had opened the preseason the previous week with its split-squad Red and White scrimmage. The Johnson County scrimmage was conducted under limited-game conditions, including dead punts and kickoff returns.
The Bulldog JV team played the opening quarter. ECI moved the ball to the Trojan 30-yard line on its opening possession, but Johnson County put the first points on the board after a Bulldog fumble was returned 73 yards for a touchdown, giving the Trojans a 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs answered on their next possession. Hunter Fulmore found the end zone on a 54-yard touchdown run, Lawson Frye's extra point was good, tying the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The two varsity teams played the remaining three quarters, with ECI taking the first possession. The second quarter belonged to Johnson County, as the Trojans built a 21-7 advantage with 55 seconds remaining in the first half.
After running only three plays in the quarter, the Bulldogs turned to the passing game with less than a minute left in the half. Davis Johnson connected with Dylan Steele on a 34-yard pass, with Steele making a leaping catch to set ECI up at the Johnson County 36.
On the second play of the drive, Johnson found Ab Marsh, who weaved his way through the Trojan defense for a 34-yard touchdown. Frye's extra point cut the Johnson County lead to 21-14 with 34 seconds remaining in the half.
The Trojans added 14 more points in the second half, but the Bulldogs continued to battle. ECI put together a 70-yard, 10-play scoring drive, capped by Johnson's 25-yard touchdown pass to Vaiden Kirkland.
Down by 14, the Bulldogs had another opportunity to pull within a touchdown late in the scrimmage. ECI drove inside the Johnson County 10-yard line and faced a first-and-goal from the six, but the Trojan defense closed ranks and kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone.
Johnson County ran out the clock, taking the combined varsity-JV scrimmage by a 35-21 score.
Despite the final score, there were several bright spots for the Bulldogs. ECI rushed for 203 yards, with Fulmore leading the way with 75 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson had an outstanding night through the air, completing all nine of his attempts for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Kirkland led the Bulldog receivers with three catches for 43 yards. Ste’von Sinkfield caught two passes, while Marsh, Steele, Chase Johnson and TJ Weaver each finished with one reception.
Frye was perfect on extra points, going 3-for-3 on the night.
With the scrimmages now behind them, the Bulldogs turn their attention to the games that count. ECI begins a six-game non-region stretch Friday night against longtime rival Metter, which moves up to Class AA this season. The Bulldogs will host the Tigers at Rountree Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
