After early-morning Red Dawn practices before school and hot afternoon scorchers during the first week of school, the 2026 ECI Bulldogs finally took the playing field Friday night for their second annual Red & White scrimmage game.
Much like last year’s split-squad contest, which ended in a 12-12 tie, this year’s two teams were evenly matched. When the final whistle sounded, the Red team had claimed a narrow 14-12 victory.
Before the game, the Bulldogs hosted an open house, giving fans an opportunity to tour the new football training facility. There was no admission charge for the scrimmage, but Bulldog fans were encouraged to contribute items needed for the upcoming season. As usual, the fans showed their generosity with plenty of support.
The stands were packed, with fans also lining the fence to watch the action. Those in attendance saw several good runs, passing plays and defensive stops from both veteran players and some new faces who have been waiting for their opportunity.
The White team controlled the first quarter, taking the opening kickoff and driving down the field for the game’s first score. Lawson Frye put the first points on the board with a 20-yard quarterback keeper. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the White team with a 6-0 lead.
The Red team struggled with numerous false-start penalties during the opening quarter but finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter. Red quarterback Davis Johnson appeared to be stopped for no gain, but he broke free and found the end zone from five yards out. The extra point was good, giving the Red team a 7-6 advantage.
The Red team extended its lead later in the first half when Chase Johnson scored on a touchdown run with 3:41 remaining. The successful score made it 14-6 heading into halftime.
The White team answered with its second touchdown in the third and final quarter. Freshman Justin Nobles found the end zone for the final score of the night, but the Red team held on for the 14-12 victory.
The Bulldogs will continue their preseason this Friday night when they travel to Wrightsville to face Johnson County in a scrimmage game. The format will most likely follow the usual preseason setup, with the two varsity squads playing three quarters and the two JV squads playing one quarter.
ECI will open the regular season at home on August 21 when the Bulldogs host Metter. Metter moved up to Class A Division I this season following the GHSA’s latest realignment.
