The complete verse in Proverbs says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” The phrase has been used as a cliché many times in sports, but it seems especially appropriate when describing the ECI Bulldogs’ first four games of the season.
The Bulldogs have opened the season against four teams from higher classifications, including two teams that were ranked among the top five in Class AA when they faced ECI. While the Bulldogs from Athens have not faced adversity playing lessor opponents so far this season. Their coaches have yet to see how their team will respond to adversity when they reach the heart of the SEC schedule. That is not the case for the Bulldogs from Twin City.
Coach Chad Harper and his coaching staff have watched their team face challenges week after week. They have seen both the offense and defense battle from the opening kickoff until the final horn. If another football cliché can be used, the Bulldogs are battle-tested, and the experience gained from their first four games should serve them well as they turn their attention to the 6 Class A teams remaining on the schedule.
Another rainy Friday night did little to dampen the Bulldog faithful’s support for their team on Homecoming last week. ECI fans filled the stands and watched their Bulldogs fight until the very end, but the No. 4-ranked Bleckley County Royals eventually pulled away for a 42-7 victory.
The Bulldogs and Royals battled to a 7-7 tie after the first quarter before Bleckley County took control in the second quarter and carried a 28-7 advantage into halftime.
It took the Royals just six plays after the opening kickoff to put the first points on the scoreboard and take a 7-0 lead.
ECI answered with a 10-play scoring drive a couple of possessions later. The Bulldogs overcame two fourth-down situations during the drive before workhorse running back Ab Marsh took a handoff from Davis Johnson and powered his way into the end zone on a seven-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.
The second quarter proved costly for the Bulldogs. A fumble and an interception ended two ECI drives, and the Royals capitalized on both opportunities. Bleckley County added three touchdowns in the quarter to take a 28-7 lead into the locker room.
The Royals continued to use their size and depth to their advantage in the third quarter, adding two more touchdowns to extend their lead to 42-7 heading into the fourth.
ECI never quit fighting. The Bulldogs continued to battle throughout the fourth quarter and were driving toward the end zone as time expired, with ECI reaching the Bleckley County two-yard line when the final horn sounded.
The Bulldogs finished the night with 178 rushing yards. Ab Marsh led the way with 85 yards, followed by Hunter Fulmore with 37 and Davis Johnson with 32. Johnson also completed 3 of 8 passes for 26 yards.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs have gained valuable experience through a difficult opening stretch against teams from higher classifications. They still have two non-region games remaining before traveling to McIntosh County on October 9 to begin region play.
The Bulldogs will make the short trip across the river Friday night to take on Jenkins County. The Bulldogs and Eagles have each won at home in overtime during the past two seasons, with both games decided by just a single point.
Following the Jenkins County game, ECI will have a week off before traveling to Lincolnton to face the Lincoln County Red Devils, currently ranked No. 1 in Class A.
The Bulldogs have already been tested and challenged. Now they will find out how much that early-season experience has sharpened them as they begin the next phase of their schedule.
