The ECI Bulldogs traveled to Millen Friday night to face Jenkins County in their annual matchup. For the past two seasons, this rivalry has been decided by just one point, with each home team winning in overtime. Although the Eagles moved from Region 3 to Region 5 this season, the rivalry remains as competitive as ever.
If you like offensive football, Jenkins County was the place to be Friday night.
The two teams combined for 839 total yards, including 706 rushing yards. ECI led the way on the ground with 398 yards, while the Eagles finished with 313 rushing yards.
Fans witnessed touchdown runs of 88, 57, 73, 69 and 43 yards during the game, with four of those scores coming on explosive runs.
They also witnessed a touchdown that may be remembered for a long time.
Older Georgia Southern fans will immediately know what is meant by “The Run.” During the 1999 Division I-AA national championship game, Georgia Southern running back Adrian Peterson broke several tackles leaving defenders on the turf on his way to a memorable touchdown against Jim Tressel’s Youngstown State. Paul Johnson’s Eagles went on to win the national championship. Johnson moved on to coach the Ramblin Wreck at Ga Tech, while Tressel would take the Ohio State job a couple years later.
Friday night, ECI senior running back Ab Marsh provided the Bulldogs with their own version of “The Run.”
ECI received the opening kickoff and marched in 11 plays before Marsh scored from one yard out for the game's first touchdown. The extra-point attempt hit the upright, giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead.
Jenkins County answered quickly. Just three plays into the ensuing drive, the Eagles broke loose for one of their three long touchdown runs of the night to take a 7-6 lead.
The Bulldogs responded with three touchdowns in the second quarter.
TJ Weaver found an opening on the left side of the Eagles' defense and raced down the sideline for a 43-yard touchdown. Davis Johnson then got some help from his friends when he found himself crossing into the end zone from nine yards out.
Then came the play that had the Jenkins County radio crew still talking about it during their postgame comments.
Marsh took a handoff and found a small seam in the Eagle line. Instead of going down, he began breaking tackles, twisting and turning his way through the Eagles' defense. Several defenders were left behind on the grass as Marsh continued his run before crossing the goal line on a spectacular 59-yard touchdown.
With ECI unable to convert its extra-point attempts or two-point tries during the first half, the Bulldogs went to the locker room holding a 24-14 advantage.
The Bulldogs continued to pull away in the third quarter.
Chase Johnson turned on the afterburners early in the quarter, breaking free for an 88-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good, extending the ECI lead to 31-14.
Marsh added his third touchdown of the night late in the third quarter, pushing the Bulldogs' advantage to 37-14.
Jenkins County added a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but Marsh answered again, scoring from one yard out for his fourth touchdown of the night and putting the final Bulldog points on the board.
Marsh led the Bulldog rushing attack with 171 yards on 19 carries and four touchdowns. Chase Johnson added 122 yards on just three carries, an impressive 40.7 yards per carry. TJ Weaver finished with 49 yards on two carries, while Malcolm Steele added 35 yards.
Quarterback Davis Johnson completed 5 of 9 passes for 133 yards. Ste Sinkfield caught two passes, while Marsh, Steele and tight end Vaiden Kirkland each caught one.
The Bulldogs will play their last non-region game on October 2 against Lincoln Co. Both the Bulldogs and Red Devils are off this Friday and will have plenty of time to prepare for the top 10 match-up.
The Red Devils dropped one spot in the Class A rankings this week to number 2, while the Bulldogs are hanging around at number 10.
